Antigravity class - YouLookFab Forum

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Antigravity class

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Last night I finally did something I've been wanting to try for a long time -- I attended an antigravity fitness class taught by a friend of mine. I was a little intimidated and a little tentative at first. I have a sore shoulder that I'm still trying to baby, and I'm way out of any kind of yoga practice so I'm not at my most flexible these days. But I did it and it was (mostly) fun! I gotta say, having that sling wrapped around my legs and hips was uncomfortable (I was reassured that gets easier), and I had a little headache afterward, but lots of water and a light dinner afterward helped that.

Anyone else try this? What did you think? It did make me feel like my spine was stretched out afterward, and I was careful with my shoulder, so my neck and shoulder felt ok afterward too.

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16 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

rachylou

Veteran

What IS antigrav?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hehe, here's a good introduction:

https://antigravityfitness.com

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

...another good way to make me look really, really awkward (not sure I need that!) But I'd be interested to know if you find, over time, that it's "better" than yoga.

rachylou

Veteran

I thought maybe that was it. Does this have another name? This is a performance art too, yes? I mean not the exercise class but like barre is ballet derived...

Janet

(website)

Veteran

LOL Emily, if anyone is going to look awkward doing this, it's me. I am sooooo not graceful. I also have a habit of face-planting at the times when the most people can possibly serve as an audience. Fortunately, I tend to recover quickly and with a big smile on my face, which gives me a certain "I meant to do that" air.

I want to take a yoga class again too. Not sure if the shoulder will do downward dog right now, but I'll have to test it out at home before committing to a class.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I do Iyengar yoga, and we use often a rope wall for leg stretches as well as some of the inversions, which look very similar to this. I prefer it to other schools of yoga, because the props help me find my way "in" to the poses without overextending myself. I think a lot depends on the teacher though. I shopped around.

And I'm not sure about yoga faces but I do have a tendency to grunt.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Interesting! I didn’t realize this was a whole fitness thing. My son, a former college athlete, has used an anti-gravity treadmill in his workouts. It’s especially a good way to stay fit if you’re nursing an injury. He does know some people who own them for home use, too.

elpgal

Veteran

Acro-yoga and pole climbing are the latest in things among my crowd. I am ever the try the first!

DizzyLizzy

I have been doing antigravity classes for three months. I found the front belt inversions really uncomfortable at first but not any more. I’m a similar age to you, and had shoulder and lower back issues for several years. All gone. The gentle and consistent stretching and decompression have worked magic.
I attend mostly ‘open’ classes 4 days a week (lots of stretching and inversions) and the occasional Air Barre and suspension fitness class (more cardio). I’m totally hooked. The only other excercising I do is walking.

Anonymous

Looks like a lot of fun!

Laurie

Veteran

This sounds really good. Keep us posted. I wish you were closer to Rockville, I have an amazing, wonderful yoga instructor who could ease you back in. The beauty of yoga is that you do just what you can/want to do, but it is very possible to get injured for sure.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

That's so true, Laurie! My physical therapist is actually NOT encouraging me to go back to yoga. She is convinced that many yoga instructors don't really know what they're doing and can cause more harm than good when people have neck/shoulder issues like I do. I'm not sure she would have recommended the antigrav class either.

Anonymous

I only do the yoga poses that make me feel good. I skip the ones that don’t.

As for gravity, my personal trainer wanted me to throw one of those weighted balls up in the air. Fearing the ball would come down on my head or feet, I told him I thought it best not to let go of the ball, lol. When I got home, I told my DD about it, and she suggested I practice at home with a helmet and steel-toed boots, lol.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Those look like so much fun! If classes were cheaper here, I'd love to give one a go.

I imagine a yoga teacher with a PT background would be ideal for you, but I have yet to meet one.

Laurie

Veteran

The difference between a good yoga teacher and a regular-to-bad one is vast...and like anything, it's really (really) hard to come by good ones. My husband and I stopped into Kripalu in Stockbridge, MA last week for a night on a circuitous trip to New London. I took 2 classes and found the teachers to be extremely average. I expected it to be spectacular. The place was super interesting, though!

My teacher is working on a project to stream her classes online, broken into 15 minute increments that focus on a specific area. So you could build a 30-60 minute practice that avoids injured areas. I'm so excited because I could seriously take a class with her 7 days a week, and this will be a great way to do that. Will keep you posted.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Laurie, a streaming class sounds interesting! Part of my problem is that I don’t have a really set routine so it’s hard to commit to a weekly class. And everything is a drive — I’m so all over the place these days. Maybe I need more structure in my life! Hard to do with hubs in TX so much.