Floating Yoga

(picture taken by myself of instructor Sam Manchulenko)
(I got into this position too!) 

Swing low, sweet yogi
published in The Projector
My experience with floating yoga! 

I’m upside down. My legs are wrapped around a piece of fabric suspending me from the ceiling. As I let go, my back cracks a couple of times and my head falls towards the floor. No, it’s not acrobatics, its called floating yoga.

When you see five bright orange hammocks hanging from the ceiling, you know this is a different kind of yoga. Yoga Public, located at 280 Fort Street, is the first studio in Winnipeg to offer floating yoga.

Floating Yoga is a simple, restorative, and meditative yoga class. For one hour, at room temperature, your body is held in the air by a swing of material. Slowly you sit inside and effortlessly stretch in a cocoon of fabric. 

“It’s a very nurturing feel to be wrapped,” instructor Sam Manchulenko said. “You’re really able to let go of everything and melt into the hammock. It’s kinda like you’re getting a gentle hug when you stretch.”

After training in San Francisco and New York, co-owner Ida Albo, director Sam Chisick , and instructor Sam Manchulenko, created their own floating yoga series here in Winnipeg. Right now, the program is offered as a 10-week co-ed session that started in September. Only four yogis can attend each class, experienced or not. The fifth hammock is for Manchulenko at the front of the class.

The room is lit by one lantern. Its glow sets a relaxing mood along with the sounds of Sacred Chants of Devi. It’s easy to dose off. Using the front wall mirror you’re able to follow Manchulenko into each pose. The soft fabric stretches and supports your body into positions that you might not be able to do on the floor.

“It’s antigravity in a sense, you can stretch further in a calm way without pressure on your joints,” says Chisick.

After an hour of relaxing floating yoga, the last step is to reacquaint your body with the floor. Each yogi grounds themselves by either massaging their legs towards the floor, sitting, or lying down.   

Don’t expect a workout from this floating yoga class. Go to de-stress, focus on your breathing, and improve flexibility.

After class, Sandy Waite, school administrator, who has been to 8 floating yoga classes, said “I’m peaceful, now it’s time to go to bed!”

Yoga Public, a sister business of Ten Spa at The Fort Garry Hotel, provides you with fancy lockers, toiletries, mats, and towels; but for this class all you need is some light weight clothing. Floating yoga is $21 per class on Thursday evenings at 8:30pm. To reserve your spot and learn more about floating yoga, call 204.947.9642.