What Is Acroyoga? A Beginner's Guide
Acroyoga is a partner practice that combines acrobatics, yoga and a lot of trust. One person lifts, the other flies, and together you build poses that look impossible but rely on technique, not raw strength.
You will also see it written as "acro yoga" or "acro-yoga". It is all the same thing.
The three roles
The base is the person on the bottom, usually lying on their back, supporting the flyer with their legs and arms. The flyer is the person in the air. The spotter stands next to you and keeps the flyer safe while you learn a new pose.
Why it feels easier than it looks
Acroyoga works with alignment. The base stacks their bones so the weight goes straight into the ground, and the ground holds it. That is why people of all sizes can do it together. You can read more in what is bone stacking.
Partner yoga vs acroyoga
Partner yoga is stretching and balancing together, mostly on the ground. Acroyoga adds flying: one partner lifts the other off the ground into real poses.
Where to start
Most people start with three foundation poses: Bird, Throne and Whale. Find a soft surface, warm up your wrists and shoulders, and grab a spotter. The pose guide has every pose, and our how to do acroyoga page walks you through the first steps.
FAQ
Is acroyoga good for beginners?
Yes. Foundation poses like Bird, Throne and Whale are made for complete beginners, and you can start without any background in yoga or acrobatics.
Is it acro yoga or acroyoga?
Both spellings are used, along with acro-yoga. They all mean the same practice.