Acrobatics
What is acrobatics?
The word "acrobatics" is coming from Ancient Greek language. Directly translated, it means "walking on toes". Today, acrobatics describes the art to move and balance your body in a demanding way. By no means, this implies acrobatics could only be done by highly professional (circus) artists. However, to me, acrobatics is a gentle art to learn more about yourself, your body, your possibilities and your limitations, and a way to extend these. Even if not everybody will be able to work on the same skills, acrobatics is for everyone who is willing to do it.
Forms of acrobatics
Acrobatis has many faces. Within time, there developed a lot of different forms and styles:
- Partner acrobatics
- Partner acrobatics is the form of acrobatics that is practiced in couples or groups with other people. Usually, one destinguishes between lower partners (also called "bases"), who for a stable basis, and upper partners (also called "flyers"), who move mostly without touching the floor on their lower partners. There are several different forms of partner acrobatics that differ in approach and intention.
- Aerial acrobatics
- Aerial acrobatics (or short just called aerial) describes acrobatics performed on vertically attached apparatuses. The most common aerial apparatuses are silks (also called fabrics), trapeze, lyra and rope. Further apparatuses are for example flying pole, straps, span sets, multichords and chains. For individual purposes, apparatuses are produced in all thinkable shapes like for example cubes, spirals and anchors. There are also aerial disciplines that use a harness.
- Acroyoga
- Acroyoga combines yoga, partner acrobatics and Thai Massage. In most acroyoga classes, you start with a yoga warm up to prepare your body for partnering. In the partneracrobatics part you focus on finding balance together and coordinate your movements with your breath. The basic position in Acroyoga is called L-base: The base lies on their back and brings up their legs, such that the flyer can move and pose on them. The Thai massage at the end of a class regenerates and refreshes the body.
- Tempo acrobatics
- Tempo acrobatics specializes on movements that require fast and dynamic movements to be able to perform them. These are for example the cartwheel, the round off, the flip or the back handspring.
- Acrobatic gymnastics
- Acrobatic gymnastics is a regulated form of acrobatics that mainly combines aspects form partner acrobatics and tempo acrobatics. In acrobatic gymnastics it is common to have competitions, where the participants are judged for their performances. Hence, acrobatic gymnastics requires regular and consequent training.
- Dance acrobatics
- Acrobati can gracefully combine with dance. What results, is called dance acrobatics.
- Parcour
- In Parcour, the aim is to move from one point to another overcoming obstacles. For example, you run on walls, balance over a narrow path or train precisoin jumps.
- Contortion
- Contortion focuses on extending flexibility and range of motion.
This list is far from being complete. There are a lot more styles of acrobatics, and there are constantly coming up new ones. To experience what acrobatics can be, try it out :)
You want to try acrobatics?
No problem! I teach regular classes, workshops, open trainings and retreats.
On the PAYA-Retreat, you can learn the basics of several disciplines within a week.