Upside Down Yoga—Swing Like a Monkey!

This article comes via our elephant sponsor, YOGABODY. Honestly, who doesn’t want to have fun, workin’ it in these poses.

Getting Started with The Yoga Trapeze:

If you’re like most yoga students, you have a love/hate relationship with backbends. You love the way backbends make you feel—the release, the opening, the flexibility—but you hate doing them. Let’s face it: backbends can be so intense!

As a yoga teacher, I’ve never been a huge fan of yoga props as they slow down the rhythm of a class; but the truth is, the right prop at the right time can make a world of difference. With that in mind, I’d like to introduce you to the newest yoga device that students are crazy for (and rightly so).

It’s called, The Yoga Trapeze.

While simple inversion slings have been around for decades, The Yoga Trapeze is unique in that it offers multi-level handles that transform the device into a fully-functional yoga, at-home gym, with a near-infinite number of pose variations possible including core work, upper body strength, and, of course, spinal traction.

But who needs an “infinite” number of poses, anyway? You probably just want to know how to get started, right? Here are three of the most-beneficial, signature poses that have made The Yoga Trapeze so popular.

The “7-Minute Hang” Pose:

This is by-far the simplest and most-practiced pose on The Yoga Trapeze, and for good reason. During traditional yoga practices, it’s impossible to get the gravity-induced traction on your spine that you can achieve instantly on The Trapeze.

How to Practice:

• Double wrap your legs around the main sling straps

• Use your hands to slowly lower down

• Grab elbows overhead or just let your arms flop (like mine in the photo)

• Hang for up to 7 minutes for incredible traction on the spine (naturally increases space between the vertebra)

Level of difficulty: beginner

Passive Wheel Pose

Wheel pose is a classic yoga posture, but for many, it’s too intense to hold for more than 10 breaths. Using The Yoga Trapeze, you can hang passively (no strength needed, just release) for minutes at a time. This allows you to truly release and lengthen the connective tissues of the upper and middle back in particular, which are much more difficult to access with on-the-mat yoga practices.

How to Practice:

• Spread your legs wide apart and bend at the knees

• Grab the longest handles, and using your hands, slowly lower back

• When you’re all the way back, release the handles and hang

• If you’re more flexible, grab your ankles (not necessary, but nice)

Level of difficulty: intermediate

Flying Spider Pose

This crazy looking Yoga Trapeze posture is fun to practice and simpler than it looks. It’s excellent for building functional core and upper body strength, and even while entering and exiting the pose, you’ll find the focus and balance needed quite challenging.

How to Practice:

• From the 7-Minute Hang Pose (featured above), bend your elbows and reach up to grab the longest handles

• Holding the handles firmly, move your chin away from your chest—looking up toward your bum

• Next, bring your arms straight out in front of you, like you were Superman

• Once your arms are straight, shoot your legs straight back in a wide V-shape behind you (it’ll feel natural)

Note: reverse the process to come out, make sure to hook your legs before you do anything

Level of difficulty: advanced

Try for Just $1?

Thousands of yoga students in 49 countries are using The Yoga Trapeze, and we’ve discovered that most students just want to try it first before they decide if they want to buy it.

With that in mind, YOGABODY Naturals is currently offering The Yoga Trapeze on a 30-day trial basis for just $1 with free shipping anywhere in the world. If you love it, keep it and pay the discounted rate of just $166. If not, just return it and pay nothing.

Start Your $1 Trial Here!