5 Unusual Yoga Classes to Spice Up Your Routine: Aerial, Laughter, Naked, Yin, and Hot Yoga

Keep it spicy

Consistency is undoubtedly the most reliable way to keep up with your health or fitness journey. With that being said, boredom is its  number one killer. Whether it’s weight lifting, running, biking, mountain climbing or fitness classes, it’s important to keep your mind and body challenged with new approaches to fitness routines and ways of movement. As human beings we crave to learn new things and this is no different when it comes to staying fit. If you are an experienced Yogi and you feel as though you tried every Yoga class under the sun, here are 5 unusual Yoga classes to help you spice up your Yoga game.

Aerial Yoga ( Yoga of the sky)

Aerial Yoga is performed on a silk hammock which hangs a few feet off the ground, now this may sound intimidating but you would be surprised how sturdy the hammock is. The height of the hammock allows you to relax and let gravity do the job for you while you melt into each stretch to the fullest. If the height is too overwhelming for you, try Aerial Yin Yoga instead where the hummock sits much closer to the ground and the pace of the class is much slower and easy going, not to mention that you will experience the most delicious stretch of your life. It is strongly advised to keep away from a big meal beforehand as you will be upside down alot!

Benefits

• Alleviates Back pain
• Deeper Stretch
• Increased Circulation
• Neck Pain Release

Laughter Yoga ( Find your inner comedian)

If someone told you that there is a Yoga class which requires zero Yoga asanas, is abundant in clapping, laughter and breath work would you believe them? Well it exists and it’s awesome! Laughter Yoga class will feel more like improv than actual Yoga. It typically begins with some simple breath work followed by different types of belly laughter led by the teacher. It may feel awkward and unnatural at first, however you will soon find yourself laughing uncontrollably because of the contiguous nature of laughter. 

Benefits

• Instant Mood Boost
• Improved Heart Health
• Connection With Others Through Laughter 
• Decreased Depression

Naked Yoga ( Downward-Facing-Dog will never feel the same) 

 It is just as it sounds, practising Yoga with no clothes on at all is just as old as the practise itself, originally known as Nagna Yoga this practise has become increasingly popular over the last few years. If you are searching for an ego-less and uninhibited experience, put Naked Yoga on your bucket list. If you are feeling shy or uncomfortable, try this practice in private or with a special friend. 

Benefits

• No Clothing Restrictions
• Body Positivity
• Feeling Of Freedom
• Money Saved On Yoga Clothing

Yin or Restorative Yoga ( The rebel sisters of Yoga)

It is super important to allow your body to heal with active recovery. Yin and restorative Yoga styles allow you to dive deeper into each stretch and your meditation practice. Although similar, Yin Yoga is slightly more active than restorative and can be surprisingly challenging, each position is held  anywhere from one to eight minutes and it is by far the best style for flexibility. The asanas may have different names, pigeon is known as swan to give an example. A Restorative Yoga practice is all about relaxing and letting go, it is abundant with props such as, Yoga blocks, blankets and bolsters in order to make each passive pose as comfortable as possible.

Benefits

• Increased Flexibility
• Increased Range Of Motion
• Lymphatic Drainage 
• Deep Meditative Practise

Hot Yoga (Sweat negativity away)

This practice is not for beginners. It is intense. Typically practised in a sauna-like room with temperatures above normal room temperature, Hot Yoga will make you sweat from places you didn’t know you could sweat from. The upside to this is that it allows you to search deeper and with less difficulty. It is fantastic for the joints and great for weight loss. It is highly recommended to keep hydrated throughout the class and post practice. 

Benefits

• Easy on the joints
• Weight Loss
• Challenging Workout 
• Increase Range Of Motion

Conclusion:

In order to stay consistent on your fitness journey, keep it fun and spicy, continue to change your routine, try as many different classes as you can. Learn to fly, laugh, take your time, get naked and keep it hot. I would love to hear about an unusual Yoga style you tried recently. What did you think? Would you do it again? If not, why not? Talk to me.