Confession: When I was in high school, I was on a sort of cheer squad. We weren't very sophisticated but we did know how to move (Brooklyn in the house!). One summer, we scored some acrobatics training and learned to climb on each other and make pyramids and stuff. I weighed in at about 97 pounds (still do . . . ) and was always the one being thrown around.
I knew nothing about yoga or Eastern philosophy, but I did love the gymnastics we mixed in with hip-hop moves during our half-time dances, and I think learning ease and lightness in my body really helped when I got into yoga. I hung up my pom-poms ages ago (thankfully), but lately I have been having the urge to again be thrown around.

So, I got really excited when I found out that there is a weekly beginner's AcroYoga class at the Mission Yoga Sun Room (held Fridays until April 23, when it changes to Wednesdays). I went last week and had so much fun. We started with some warm-up asana, simple partner poses, and assisted handstands. But the real fun was when we got to take each other into Folded Leaf and Front Bird. Folded Leaf is when you drape your body over your partner's legs and hang there to establish balance (me, above); Front Bird is when you push against each other's hands and fly like Superman (another student, left). In the midst of all this, we all gave each other some nice shoulder rubs.

I am one of those students who takes my yoga very seriously (and I think that's important in terms of dedication and proper practice), but to feel this kind of playful freedom with asana was exciting and empowering. The teacher, Jeremy Simon, gave great instruction and kept things specific, safe, and also really fun. I only got to fly once, and I am definitely going back for more.
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Photos by Pao Chiu