MICK Jagger practices it six times a week to maintain his trim 28-inch waist and maximum flexibility for the 12 miles he’s said to strut during every live performance while fitness gurus have recently heralded it as the next big thing in health and wellbeing.

Vayu Aerial Yoga combines aspects of yoga, dance, aerial arts, and pilates and a local dance teacher and yoga practitioner is now offering classes in this area.

Using the support of the swing people are able to challenge the body moving through various postures, as well as allowing the nervous system to relax. It also incorporates strength and the lengthening of the muscles isometrically to create core strength and balance.

Inverting the body while suspended in the air is said to not only provide many physical benefits such as spinal decompression but also expands the mind.

Rachel Freeman, based in Whitbourne, has been practising yoga for 30 years and teaching aerial dance for 20 years. Two years ago she decided to unite the two elements and offer Vayu Aerial Yoga.

She says this type of yoga was developed to create space physically and mentally, by opening up the body through various postures, using a custom designed yoga hammock.

Rachel added the Vayu practice takes the body to a much deeper level. “At times we focus on the fascia, a thin, delicate, stretchy webbing of tissue connecting or holding together all other tissues inside the body.

“It is very important in holding muscles, tendons, and other internal parts together, as well as ensuring healthy movement. The fascia is prone to becoming sticky and knotted with use so we use the breath and certain postures to ‘iron out’ the fascia, returning it to a smooth and silky state.

“We also work with the deep psoas muscles that connect the lower spine to the top of the femur bones, running deep within the pelvis and often holding physical and emotional tension.”

Anyone interested in trying Vayu Aerial Yoga should contact Rachel on 07870 429 528, email rfvayu@gmx.com or visit https://rfvayuyoga.wordpress.com/

She says anyone who goes along should take a yoga mat and wear snug-fitting, stretchy comfortable clothes free from zips, buttons, poppers and Velcro. Also bring some water for hydration.

Classes start gently with people sitting in the hammock warming up. They are close to the floor with lying and sitting postures, progressing to a series of standing postures and inversions. Sessions finish with a floating relaxation.

Rachel’s classes are held in Whitbourne from 6pm to 7.30pm on Sundays and 10am to 11.30am on Mondays each week. They are also held at the Clover Mill, Malvern, on Sunday afternoons, at the Malvern Cube on Monday evenings (16 to 26 years) and a monthly workshop is held on a Sunday at the Cube.