Love at First Flight, brings the elevating benefits of yoga to new heights. Photo provided

Traditional yoga involves floor-based stretching activities, aiming to improve flexibility, circulation, strength and general well being.

Since May 2019, Love at First Flight, located at 1305 N. Willow Ave., #100, in Clovis, has been taking the discipline to new heights for the Fresno and Clovis area, featuring aerial yoga – literally taking the activity of yoga to the skies.

Aerial yoga consists of traditional yoga postures while suspended from hammocks, freeing the participant from the boundaries of a solid (or padded) surface, and allowing users to more freely achieve the potentially challenging poses that make up yoga exercises.

Owner and instructor Teresa Jaquez said that the activity, while potentially nerve wracking to try for the first time, makes the practice potentially easier for beginners.

“You don’t have to have yoga experience; you don’t have to have aerial experience,” she said. “Anyone can do it.”

Love at First Flight offers a variety of classes from group gym-style classes to individual private and group classes, as well as a number of unique offerings including “mommy and me” courses, inviting participants to bring their children and (for ages 2-6) introduces children to the activity in a fun way.

“We hit all age groups,” she said. “I enjoy bringing families together, bringing friends together and having people find something that they enjoy to move their bodies.”

 

Jaquez said that people are initially nervous to try aerial yoga, but once they get their first experience, she said they fall in love with it.

“I take pictures in class, that’s a big thing, so that they can take it home,” she said. “I love that first picture because when they’re first in it – that first smile, you never get that again.”

Jaquez said that customers also come in with their spouses, one of whom is often more apprehensive about the activity.

“They’ll think they’re going to hate it, but seriously, the guys are naturals,” Jaquez said. “They’re upside down in like two seconds.”

 

Jaquez was first introduced to aerial yoga while taking a “silks” course at CalArts, which focused on climbing and aerial acrobatics. After taking an intro workshop in aerial yoga in Los Gatos, Jaquez said it was “love at first sight.”

That thought coined the name of Jaquez’s studio.

Classes start at $15 for new clients to take conventional yoga classes, with aerial yoga courses starting at $25 for new clients. Package deals are also available and include three-, five- and ten-class packages, as well as monthly memberships.

“I think mostly it’s just having a space for you to come in and leave things out the door,” she said. “Not that it’s going to make anything go away, but it’s a great stress reliever just having that time for you on your mat or in the hammock.”