I honestly have never liked yoga because every time I've taken a class I want to curl up and go to sleep right there in the middle of the gym. Well today, I experienced yoga at new heights...and I was anything but groggy at the end...I felt completely dominated, in a good way!

Certain New York City Crunch gyms offer a one-hour class called "Anti-Gravity Yoga," which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. We each have a hammock, which hangs from the ceiling from two hooks in a "U" shape with the bottom on the "U" falling slightly below each person's waste. The class begins with each person sitting on their hammock and swinging (as you would on a playground swing) to become familiar with the hammock's feel. Then each person lets the hammock engulf them (picture a giant cocoon that can hold up to 1000 pounds) while taking some relaxing breaths...so far so good.

Next we climb out of the hammocks and use them to do some stretching exercises with either one foot or one hand on the ground. Before I know it, I'm hanging upside-down with my legs wrapped in the hammock in Monkey's Pose...defying gravity! Then we were flipping forward and backward in ways that I did not think my body was capable of. At this point I thought the class had reached its peak...but no! It had just begun.

Honestly, the last 30 minutes were even more wonderfully challenging. Feet and hands were here and there and at some points I did not know up from down. What I do know though, is that I endured the coolest full body workout ever and am seriously considering joining Crunch solely for this class. I don't know how someone didn't think of this sooner. If you do this class once or twice a week your entire body will undoubtedly benefit. AND, because it is a form of yoga, so will your mind. Plus, the instructors were incredibly helpful and willing to give personal instruction to new comers like myself.

So get off of your butt, hands, and feet and swing into the next generation of yoga!

-Ashley Johncola