LONG HILL, NJ - The word hammock may conjure up visions of relaxing in the backyard with a tall lemonade, but at Core Connection Studio in Long Hill Township, it takes on an entirely new meaning. Enter the beautifully renovated historic Elm Street School building and new yoga wellness studio in downtown Stirling and discover a revolutionary approach to exercise called AntiGravity Yoga that uses, believe it or not, a hammock.
AntiGravity Yoga is designed to create a unique low impact cardiovascular workout, while strengthening the musculoskeletal system. It uses the trademarked AntiGravity Hammock, a structural fabric that is connected from two overhead points. Acting as a soft trapeze, the hammock is used to support suspension techniques leading to advanced inverted poses. This new fitness regime combines traditional yoga principles with elements from aerial acrobatics, dance, pilates and calisthenics to realign the body and spirit.
Core Connection Studio was the first to deliver AntiGravity Yoga to New Jersey when it opened its doors in December 2009, to what owner and fitness guru Dana Hedden of Bernardsville describes as an overwhelming response. "We filled the first two workshops this weekend," said Hedden.
A personal spiritual awakening during a trip to the Mayan Riviera inspired Hedden to create her studio, which offers a variety of classes in ballet bar, fitness, pilates and yoga, with an emphasis on AntiGravity Yoga.
Speaking to the benefits of Antigravity Yoga, Hedden said, "I have a challenge with my back, and the decompression in the hammock releases the pain. And it’s fun. I think it’s like being a kid at the playground. There is some element of trust, and feeling of elation that follows when you succeed."
Hedden also has a special interest in the restorative aspects of the hammock, and in working with people with disabilities. "We have one student named Ella who has Cerebral Palsy, and has challenges with her balance, so we’re developing a program for her," said Hedden.
On Saturday, January 16, Certified instructor and Creative Director at AntiGravity Inc., Shelly Bomb, taught a Restorative Bliss AntiGravity Yoga workshop. According to Hedden, "the response was so positive, people were wait-listed. We decided to host another one and will donate part of the proceeds to the Haitian Relief Fund."
An AntiGravity for Athletes workshop was held Sunday, January 17, and taught by visiting instructor and founder of Anti-Gravity Yoga, Christopher Harrison.
A former Broadway dancer and world-class competitive gymnastics specialist with a background in acrobatics, Harrison first used AntiGravity as a fitness and entertainment brand for aerial performances. He said, "I designed [the] apparatus for people to fly on stage."
Harrison explained, "Two years ago, we found that performers were getting super strong, stretching their spines, and didn’t have to go to the chiropractor. I thought the apparatus would be great as a fitness technique."
Harrison was the first to use the apparatus looped as a hammock or swing rather than a rope. "This was because our company members were not circus performers, but athletes and dancers so it was safer to have a seat at the bottom of the hanging fabric," said Harrison, whose trademarked fitness technique has expanded into an international franchise.
"Some people fear it will be too hard, but everyone leaves feeling it’s a great success. It’s not just for dancers and athletes. Many of our students are housewives," said Harrison.
Casey Sabol, a personal trainer from Warren, said she took Harrison’s workshop in order to try what’s new and different in the industry. "This is a new twist. And, the space is beautiful," said Sabol, who selected a hammock along a stretch of windows looking over a canopy of trees, next to fiancé Chuck DeTorres, also of Warren.
DeTorres remarked, "It’s something new to try. I’m a plumber, and if it helps my back, I’m all for it."
All courses are taught by certified instructors like Bomb. "I specialize in the restorative version of AntiGravity in which we focus on techniques that develop [the] mind body connection and serve to restore and repair all the parts of the body. The hammock is lowered to one inch above the floor, removing a lot of the physical challenge yet giving us opportunities to deeply move into all the joints, particularly the hips and all of the spine at zero compression," said Bomb.
For more information, contact: Core Connection Studio at the Elm Street School, 331 Elm Street Long Hill Township, NJ 07980, (908)647-2676, www.coreconnectionstudio.com