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Class Review

Class Review: AntiGravity Aerial Yoga

You'll leave this class both exhilarated and deeply relaxed.
By Chelsey Plumlee |
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Photos courtesy The Four Seasons
The Class: AntiGravity aerial yoga at The Four Seasons Resort and Club in Irving.

The Appeal: Aerial yoga’s pitch promises a deep stretch, stronger muscles, and better blood flow. After watching a few videos, it looked so fun I had to try give it a try.

The Instructor: Meg Plotsky has worked in the fitness industry for more than 25 years. She holds a laundry list of certifications as well as a degree from the University of Illinois. She led class with a kind of authority that encouraged us to push ourselves while remaining safe (very important when dangling upside down).

The Space: The Four Seasons’ new owners are putting the finishing touches on their completely revamped facility. From fully equipped locker rooms to state-of-the-art equipment, the space is everything you could want in a sports club. Inside the studio, the AntiGravity silks are hung evenly throughout the room in two rows so everyone has plenty of space to work.

Who’s There: This was a small group of women and one man. All appeared to be between 35 and 55 at a mix of fitness levels.

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How It Went: Plotsky began class by teaching us about the hammocks and how to prep for entry. The silks are layered and much larger than I expected them to be. The proper technique is to grab an edge of the fabric and shake it out so you can sit at the center, maintaining your balance.

Once Plotsky confirmed that we were all sitting safely in our hammocks, she walked through the room and helped each person flip backward into the first inversion pose. I felt a slight strain in my back and neck as I slowly relaxed into the deep, intense stretch called Spiderman. That first flip backward made my heart race. The fear of sliding out of the silk fabric sunk in as my head began pounding with the pressure of blood rushing from the lower half of my body.

I focused on breathing and tried not to panic as I imagined my eyeballs popping out onto the floor. I finally cooled off and allowed my arms to drop over my head toward the floor. After the initial shock, I was comfortable flipping around to poses like Cannonball and swinging in the hammock.

As class came to a close, we stretched our fabric and wrapped ourselves in a pose aptly named Cocoon as Plotsky turned off the lights and guided us through a meditation. I left feeling both exhilarated and deeply relaxed.

The Aftermath: My shoulders and abs were sore, and several capillaries in my face and hips burst from the pressure of the inversion poses. These burst capillaries are a common occurrence for some people and disappeared after a few days. Once my face cleared, I was shocked by how great my skin looked. My skin glowed as if I’d just had a photofacial!

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Loved: Swinging while holding plank pose was so much fun that I didn’t realize how much work I was doing until my shoulders began aching the next day.

Hated: The broken capillaries were terrifying. I will be much more aware of my body’s signals to take a break next time.

Difficulty Level: Almost any fitness level can excel in this class. The positions we practiced required minimal cardio experience and little flexibility.

Bottom Line: The space is beautiful, the instruction is thorough, and the class is fun. If you’re looking to mix up your yoga routine, this class is a must try.

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