I have always believed that female athletes have "wings." Usually, I think of these instruments of flight in the figurative sense - yet this past week, I was literally given wings doing the latest yoga trend!

Anti-Gravity yoga is a new yoga routine created exclusively for Crunch Fitness. While it follows similar movement and core body realization of traditional yoga, anti-gravity yoga is an acrobatic performance in a large, white hammock. Instead of utilizing a mat, the fabric acts like a swing or trapeze.

Standard sun salutations, step aside.

I must admit that yoga has always been a difficult activity for me. My muscles are more compact than long, and while I can touch my fingers to my toes; my coordination is usually left at the door. In addition, having stitches in my head five times didn't provide additional trust to hanging outside down in a sheet of draped fabric.

Yet, to my surprise, I felt safe, secure and strong throughout the entire class. Not having gravity work against my body actually allowed me to stretch my muscles without back or neck strain. And it was fun! I felt like a newly winged butterfly!

Downward-facing dog, for example, I wrapped the hammock against my waist, pulled my hips up and back to lengthen. And because my fingers and toes were merely brushing the ground, my spine lengthened with each breath. I also performed numerous inversions hanging upside down, handstands and suspended movements that a mat would never allow.

The last five minutes of class was warmed by literally lying in my hammock, curled up like a caterpillar in a cocoon, gently swaying back and forth.

Anti-gravity yoga was a technique created by gymnasts for the sake of exploring the air, yet has been modified to fit into the yoga mold and cater to the everyday athlete…winged athletes...female athletes.

-Ashley Koehn