The number of American yoga practitioners has increased from 20.4 million in 2012 to 36 million practitioners in 2016, according to The 2016 Yoga in America Study by Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal. Are you one of the few that haven’t tried out this relaxing past time yet? Don’t fret. There are many types of yoga, of varying difficulty and ease, and five interesting classes we bet you’ve never heard of that are available right here in St. Augustine.
Equine Om
Yoga on a horse?! Yes, that’s a real thing. Downdogz Yoga Studio offers Equine Om, an integration of horses and yoga. Equine Om allows you to practice your asanas (or postures) and meditate on their horses, or if you have your own, Equine Om can come to you. They offer hourly sessions, a three-hour basic integration, and a continuing education program for yoga teachers.
Aerial Yoga
Looking to live out your dreams of being a trapeze artist? Why not try Aerial Yoga (sometimes called antigravity yoga) at The Yoga Room in St. Augustine Beach. Aerial Yoga can look intimidating, but it’s acceptable for students of any age and ability. And, no acrobatic talents are actually required.
The Aerial Yoga sequences are completed while supported by a fabric suspended from the ceiling. Being in the air allows many yoga practitioners to achieve postures they otherwise wouldn’t have for years. It can even alleviate back problems as your spine is able to lengthen. Be sure to pre-register for this class at The Yoga Room.
SUP Yoga
SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) Yoga is the perfect past time for St. Augustine’s hot summers. A combination of yoga and time spent on the water is a definite win-win. First Coast SUP offers beginner SUP Yoga classes and Sunset Yoga.
The instructors show you the basics of stand up paddleboarding and then anchors away for some yoga poses while floating on the water. Call ahead to make a reservation.
Baby and Kids Yoga
Are you a new mom ready to try out yoga, but don’t want to spend time away from your newborn? Belly Luv Maternity Studio offers Mommy and Me classes for newborns and pregnant mothers, as well as Kids Yoga classes for children through age 11.
The Mommy and Me classes are for babies who aren’t yet crawling, and moms who have clearance from their doctors. At 18 months, the kids are ready for their own yoga class, Little Om. Children ages 5-11 are welcome in the Big Om kids class. Sign up your little ones for some fun and relaxing yoga time at Belly Luv today.
Laughter Yoga
When you think of yoga, most of the time it doesn’t involve laughter. It’s all about looking inward and keeping your mind on your mat. Now & Zen Studio offers a Laughter Yoga class where the participants feed off of each other’s giggles and fall into fits of laughter.
According to Psychology Professor Charles Schaefer from Fairleigh Dickinson University, forced laughter works because your body doesn’t know it’s fake. He claims that, “once the brain signals the body to laugh, the body doesn’t care why. It’s going to release endorphins; it’s going to relieve stress as a natural physiological response to the physical act of laughing.” Combining the natural endorphin booster of laughter with yoga seems like a no brainer. View their schedule for the next Laughter Yoga class at Now and Zen.
Are there any other out of the ordinary yoga classes we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
