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Acro-yoga offers new experience, exercise in Marietta

Photo by Janelle Patterson Anna Bordonada, 27, of Elizabeth, left, balances on a slackline with Cat Bigley during an introductory slackline yoga class in Muskingum Park.

MARIETTA — Trying to calm her heart and trust her own strength, Becky Goings pushed off the ground to balance for but a few moments on a 2 inch strap in Muskingum Park.

“I have to remember to breathe,” she said.

“Keep that lead toe laser-beamed to the ground,” coached Marietta fitness guide Cat Bigley. “Beautiful, look at you!”

Bigley hosted a slackline and acro-yoga class in the park Tuesday evening, welcoming both those who planned for the workout with yoga mat in hand, and those passing by along the River Trail.

“There’s magic in somebody believing you can do it,” she said. “It’s a trust exercise with yourself just as much as with your partner.”

Suspended between two trees in the park a slackline, much like ratchet straps used to secure trees, outdoor gear and even deer to the tops of vehicles, gave a heightened level of balance to Bigley’s students Tuesday.

“This helps with strengthening my back and my muscles, I have vertigo and it helps me fall smarter just as much as keep my balance,” said Goings, 37, of Marietta.

“When I’m off the slackline and having problems I’ve learned how to recover better and fall safer so I don’t get hurt.”

Bigley hopes to grow the slackline community into a consistent class, she’s even planning for indoor classes at Betsey Mills by winter.

“For now I’ll hold them outside on Tuesday each week weather-permitting, and then also have the lunchtime yoga at the farmers market each Tuesday at noon and will have rooftop yoga this Saturday at the Lafayette at 7 p.m.,” she said.

Anna Bordonada, 27, of Elizabeth, was walking past the class with a friend and stopped to give the slackline a try.

“It was surprisingly challenging just sitting on it,” she said. “It’s cool that it’s such a workout even though (Bigley) makes it look easy.”

Bigley said the ultimate goal of slackline isn’t to not wobble, but to allow your core strength to work with the movement.

“People think movement is failure, but it’s not,” she said. “You ride with the movement and let it be a part of your practice.”

She also alternated between flying and basing acroyoga with Goings, allowing for further balance and stretching exercises to flow organically.

“You move with their body, supporting where they need it and guiding them,” Bigley explained.

For more information on outdoor slackline, acro- or regular yoga classes held by Bigley follow SWAGG studio on Facebook.

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