Acroyoga Safety: Spotting Basics
Acroyoga is safe when you respect a few basics. Almost every fall I see comes from skipping one of them.
1. Practice on a soft surface
Use a mat, grass or sand. Never start on a hard floor.
2. Warm up
Warm up your wrists and shoulders before you fly. They take a lot of the load in most poses.
3. Use a spotter for new poses
A spotter stands next to the flyer, close enough to catch them, and focuses only on the flyer's safety. Their job is to protect the head, neck and upper body, not to help push the pose up.
4. Talk to each other
Agree on simple words before you start, like "down" when someone wants to come out. Say what you need clearly and calmly.
5. Have a bail-out plan
Before you try a pose, know how you will come down from it. The flyer stays engaged the whole time, and the base keeps working from strong points, not joints.
Want the technique side too? Start with the 4 mistakes beginners make.
FAQ
Do we always need a spotter?
For any new pose, yes. Once a pose is solid and you both know how to come down safely, you can practice it without one.
What is the most common acroyoga injury?
Most problems come from falls on hard floors and from skipping warm ups. A soft surface and warm wrists and shoulders prevent most of them.