Gemopedia
Gymnastics🇺🇸United States21st century

Acroyoga

Officially AcroYoga (AcroYoga International)

PARTNER PRACTICE combining YOGA, ACROBATICS, and THAI MASSAGE (developed early 2000s SF Bay Area by JASON NEMER + JENNY SAUER-KLEIN). 2-3 practitioners work in ROLES: BASE (lies on back, feet up), FLYER (balances on base's feet + hands, held aloft), SPOTTER (safety guide). Sequences: ACROBATIC (dynamic + gravity-defying holds), LUNAR (therapeutic massage-based), SOLAR (dynamic + playful). Practiced in COMMUNITY JAMS in parks worldwide; not competitive but has performance + festival circuit; foundational for FLYING TRAPEZE + CIRCUS partner-acrobatics.

⏱~60 min🌤both

Quick facts

Category

Gymnastics

Type

Individual

Players

2–3

Duration

~60 min

Where played

both

Country of origin

🇺🇸 United States

Estimated origin

Founded 2003 by JASON NEMER + JENNY SAUER-KLEIN in San Francisco Bay Area; blended Nemer's acrobatics background with Sauer-Klein's yoga + Thai massage; AcroYoga International trademark 2006; global teacher-training network 100+ countries by 2020; not competitive but massive community-jam culture.

Olympic

No

Popularity

regional

How it works

Objective

PRACTICE partner acrobatic holds + flowing sequences safely; deepen trust + communication.

Rules

Basic rules

  • ROLES: BASE (foundation on ground) + FLYER (elevated on base) + optional SPOTTER (safety)

    Signature 3-role structure.

  • COMMUNICATION: verbal + tactile cues throughout — 'BAIL' means safe exit + release

    Signature partner communication protocols.

  • 3 PILLARS: SOLAR (acrobatic + playful), LUNAR (therapeutic + Thai massage), YOGIC (union + meditation)

    Signature 3-pillar framework.

  • PROGRESSION: START with FOUNDATIONAL POSES (throne, foot-to-hand, bird) before advanced flows

    Signature pose progression.

  • SPOTTING: on hands-and-knees near practitioners, ready to catch or guide fall — NEVER stand directly under

    Signature spotter positioning.

  • NOT COMPETITIVE: no ranking or judged competitions; performance + jam culture

    Signature non-competitive ethos.

Scoring

Not competitive — no scoring; class or jam feedback based on execution + trust + safety.

Win condition · N/A — practice-oriented.

Equipment

  • YOGA MAT (standard 6 mm)

    Standard yoga mat.

  • COMFORTABLE FITTED CLOTHING (yoga leggings + tank top)

    Standard yoga clothing.

  • SPOTTER (recommended human safety guide, not equipment)

    Signature human spotter.

  • OPTIONAL: SILK HAMMOCK, YOGA WHEEL, MEDITATION CUSHION

    Standard optional yoga equipment.

Terminology

Base
Person on ground supporting flyer.
Flyer
Person elevated by base.
Spotter
Third person providing safety guidance.
Bail
Safe exit command from pose.
Foot-to-hand
Foundational pose — flyer's feet in base's hands.
Bird
Foundational pose — flyer horizontal on base's feet, arms out like bird.
Washing machine
Continuous rotational transitions between poses.
Jam
Informal community practice gathering.

Where it is played

Governing bodies

  • AcroYoga International (trademark + teacher training)

    Founded 2006 · USA (originally San Francisco)

  • Acro Revolution (alternative teacher training organization)

    Founded 2010 · USA

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

  • Jason Nemer (US, co-founder)
  • Jenny Sauer-Klein (US, co-founder)
  • Daniel Scott (US, prominent teacher)
  • Rufus Wagner (US)

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-28.verified