Feature a Friend:
Meet Holly of Aviana Yoga
If you’ve been following Fashion Trends and Friends for some time, you are aware that I’ve been on a health and fitness journey for two years. Initially on my journey, I lost over 50 pounds. To read that blog: click HERE. Once I lost the weight, my goal shifted to fitness and finding fitness activities that I could actually go and do and be excited about doing. To read that blog: click HERE. The first class that I tried was aerial yoga and loved it from the start! Luckily, my gym offered classes once a week. Once I started taking the classes, I never stopped! Aerial yoga was something that I could definitely get excited to go and do each week. Then the pandemic came along this March and my gym closed down. WW (Weight Watchers) had to go to virtual meetings. During one of the weekly meetings, a member mentioned that there was an aerial yoga class being offered near by and was being offered outside in trees. As you can imagine, I looked it up immediately and have been able to attend classes all spring and summer outside in trees! FTF hopes you learn more about aerial yoga and enjoy my interview with Holly!
How Did You Get Interested and Started in Aerial Yoga?
Holly answered, “I found aerial yoga as a way to support my body in ways in which traditional mat yoga practices could not. I come from a background of riding and massaging horses for a living, which led to my body sustaining some injuries which inhibited the progression of my mat yoga practice from expanding into inversions. When I came across the aerial yoga hammock as an option to receive support while being able to invert, new doorways of possibility opened up for me. At the time I discovered it, I had already branched into teaching Stand Up Paddleboard yoga so it seemed only natural to step further along the path of alternative yoga options as ways that I could help open new doorways in people’s mind to what is possible for them.”
My friend Diane is in the red hammock/silk. This was Diane’s first time doing yoga ever.
What Are the Benefits of Aerial Yoga?
According to Holly, the benefits include: “Healthy complexion, immune boosting, deep tissue muscle release, core strength, improved balance, and connection back to your inner child for FUN, playfulness and POSSIBILITY! It is also very balancing to the nervous system.” I know that Holly had a hard time answering this question as there are countless benefits. She covers all of them in her book, which is mentioned below.
What Type of Training is Required to Become an Aerial Yoga Instructor?
Holly recommends that someone attains their 200 hour certification in yoga and then branch into at least a 50 hour certification in aerial yoga. The program that Holly offers is a 50 hour program that provides everything a yoga instructor needs to feel comfortable creating a safe space for sharing this amazing practice with others. I’ve had two other yoga instructors both of which were trained by Holly! Both of them were great yoga instructors! Holly also consulted on setting up the gym where I practice aerial yoga.
What Other Interests Or Passions Do You Have?
Holly stated, “I love gardening, foraging, Stand Up Paddleboard, travel, hiking, and playing with my dog. I’m looking forward to hopefully getting trained in paragliding since I fell in love with it in Costa Rica; and it truly allows you to have wings!” Maybe the next fitness activity I should try should be Stand Up Paddleboard yoga! Have any of you tried it?
What Is Your Overall Goal and Mission?
Holly responded, “To stay anchored in compassion, emanate love, and continue to grow as a person that is connected to the earth and helps others see their potential and possibility to live with greater integrity and in harmony with nature; the nature of themselves and the nature of the earth.” I can tell you that Holly exudes all of these!
What Classes and Services Do You Offer?
Holly currently offers aerial yoga in the trees at her homestead and is branching back into studio offerings at SOMA Studio in Batavia. At her homestead, you can receive 1 hour aerial yoga session for up to 3 people at a time as well as massage therapy sessions out of the healing room. The massage sessions are offered by Michael Toniolo and all of Holly’s students receive 20% off a relaxing massage. Holly offers sisters’ circles with each full moon and new moon on the property. She will be closing the season with a women’s campout at her homestead.
At SOMA Studio you can find workshops for children’s aerial yoga, restorative aerial yoga (that is with the hammock low to the ground) and playful hip height aerial yoga.
“In this colorful yoga guide Holly gracefully outlines the benefits of aerial yoga while offering a playful insight on essential oils, chakras, and the idea of embodying the goddess within.”
Being able to continue my aerial yoga practice at Holly’s homestead has been such a gift during the pandemic! It’s also a beautiful and relaxing sensory experience: the sun shining on your skin through the trees, the birds singing, the smell of the evergreen trees, the chickens clucking! I leave feeling relaxed, refreshed, stretched out and centered each and every time. If you live in the area and would like to join me, please leave a comment or email me! So far all the friends that have attended have loved it! I thought aerial yoga in my gym was amazing until I did aerial yoga in the trees!
How to Connect with Holly and Aviana Yoga
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Have you ever tried yoga? I’d highly recommend you give it a try and seek out an aerial yoga opportunity! You won’t regret it! What’s your favorite fitness activity or routine? Leave us a comment! We love to hear from you!
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