Acro Etiquette
In order to have the most fun and enjoyable acro
experience possible, here are a few items for your
consideration. I'm all for people doing what they want.
Radical self-expression is good unless it interferes
with another person's safety, rights, or wellbeing. My
intention and vision is for everyone to be safe so we
can keep learning, growing and having as much fun as
possible!
We will do our best as a community to spread the
word about these etiquette guidelines. That said, if a
person repeatedly violates these points of etiquette,
hosts and or instructors reserve the right to ask him or
her to leave the class or jam. These are in no particular
order - they are all important.
1. Safety First Acro is a 3-person sport: base, flyer &
spotter. Falls happen when acro'ing, and they are a fun
part of it IF they happen in a safe context. A safe
context means the base and flyer know how to handle
a fall and a spotter is there if needed. However, when
leaning something new, it's ALWAYS a good idea to
have a spotter (or two or three!) to keep things as safe
as possible. If nobody is handy, then stop, wait, and
ask for some help. It's also a very good idea for bases
to get training on how to bring a flyer more safely to
the ground, and for the flyer to learn safe falling and
landing techniques. You are in charge of your safety
and the safety whomever you are playing with. If you
choose to play with someone who is reckless or you
have not had experience with then realize this is a
safety decision you just made for yourself. Also, not
all spotters are created equal, so choose your spotters
wisely. The goal of spotting is not merely that no one
gets hurt, but that the flyer & base feel so safe they
can thoroughly enjoy and commit to the moves they
are trying.
2. Slip & Slide When practicing acroyoga, balance
and counterbalance is very important, so it is critical
that you are able to hold the grip with your partner’s
hands, arms, feet, shoulders, etc. and have a stable
floor upon which to do this. Here are a few tips
around that:
• Human sweat is one variable that can make this
difficult. Bring a towel to wipe off. Men - when
basing on a group floor (like the Wonder Mats)
wear a shirt or set a towel down.
• Do not wear lotions, sun screens, or anything else
that is slippery.
• Do not bring or apply massage oils.
3. Be Here Now Give the gift of your full presence
when you play. Arrive to jams and classes 100% sober
and free from the influence of any chemical, drug,
herb, etc. Communication and situational awareness
are a crucial part of a good acro experience. Anything
that changes or modifies your ability to be fully
present puts yourself and other people at risk.
4. Be Clean Now Like in social dancing, there is a lot
of close physical contact with people when practicing
acro.
• If possible, take a shower before you show up to
classes or jams. If not, at least freshen your breath,
and wash your armpits and feet. Your other acroyogis will greatly appreciate it.
• Avoid strong perfumes and colognes.
• If you have long hair, bring something to tie it
back.
• Trim your fingernails and toenails.
5. Speak Your Truth It is always OK to say "Yes" or
"No" to an invitation to base, fly, or spot. You don't
owe anyone an explanation. If you don't feel
comfortable working or playing with someone, or if
you just don't feel like playing in that moment, just
politely say "No, thank you." If you are already flying
and do not feel comfortable doing the pose you're in,
or anything that is suggested or requested, remember
that "Down!" is the magic word. Also, if you ask
someone to play, and they tell you "No," remember
don't read into it, and go ask someone else. Just be
thankful that you're part of a community that is
comfortable enough to practice clear communication
with one another.
6. Share The Space Share the floor with other acroyogis. Be mindful about where you set up. Notice
where other people are set up and what spaces are
available. Set up in a way that leaves optimal space
for other people. Be sure to leave enough space
around you to allow for safe flying and falling. If you
or your flyer move or fall and hit another base or flyer,
it can be dangerous. Situational awareness is key.
7. Clothing & Accessories A huge part of acro is
about balancing. Over the years I've observed that
certain kinds of clothing tend to create problems and
even cause flyers to get dropped. Here are a few tips:
• Tight Flight: Wear clothing that is tight, but
comfortable and easy to move in. Loose or baggy
pants and shirts can interfere with your base's feet
and hands finding a shelf to hold you.
• Stretch Break! Very stretchy clothing can cause
flyers to slip off their base. Slightly stretchy is OK.
• The Science of Friction: Very slippery clothing
makes it very difficult for bases to balance their
flyers. Wear fabrics that won't slide off your base's
feet.
• Flyer Tuck: If it hangs down below your waist,
tuck your shirt into your pants, loose shirts can
interfere with your bases feet and hands.
• Pocket Guide: Empty pockets are good. No
pockets are better. Bases toes can get caught in
pockets.
• Bling: Remove all of your rings, necklaces, long
hair extensions, and other jewelry. Not only can
they get tangled up with your base, but can end up
creating pain, bruises, or even broken bones and
bling.
8. Build Community As with any group, there are
bound to be issues. If something comes up, please
communicate it with the person. If that doesn't resolve
the issue, talk only with the instructor or person
hosting the jam. Gossip just makes things worse and
sucks. However, talking about problems and working
as a community to resolve them makes things better
for everyone. If you have a complaint, figure out how
to turn it into a request and speak up! This is how we
all learn, grow, and get better.
As a side note, the acro community in Austin is
experiencing rapid growth. We have more classes and
jams than ever before, and we share and practice Acro
because we have a passion for it. None of us are in
competition, so let's cultivate respect and build a local
acro community that we can be proud of and grateful
to be a part of. Realize that diversity in style,
preference and opinion help enrich community. Know
also, that there are many amazing acro instructors,
workshops, and communities in other cities, states and
countries. In this regard, we are part of a larger global
community, so it's nice to keep that in perspective.
9. Know Your Limits Pay attention to your body. If
you are feeling tired, it's a good idea to take a break or
stop. If you hear yourself thinking or saying "Let me
do just this one more thing!" it's usually best to stop
before you do it. This keeps everyone safe.
10. Communication is Key Communicating what
you are going to do before you do it is very important
- this goes for beginners as well as experienced
practitioners. It's important for bases to let their flyer
know what they are doing. As a corollary to that,
flyers need to talk to their bases if they have
something they want to do. I've seen flyers just
spontaneously try to go into a pose without telling
their base, and then they wonder why they got
dropped. It's easy to get caught up in the moment, to
be inspired, and to try a move or pose. Channel that
excitement into your words and communicate. Good
communication is the oil that keeps the engine of
relationships running smoothly- just like any other
kind of relationship in your life. In this way, you can
think of acro as a great way to practice making your
whole life better.
11. Give Your Base A Hand Bases always appreciate
a hand down and up from their flyer. It's a nice
gesture, builds trust and rapport, and once you get it
down smoothly, it looks cool!
12. Leg Love If you love flying, give your base at
least a little leg love once you're done. No matter how
strong or experienced the base is, a little bit of leg
love goes a long way to help keep you and others
flying. And don't think they don't remember who does
and doesn't give leg love! If you don't know any
moves, just ask. They are easy to learn and you can
build up a great repertoire of Thai massage moves
pretty quickly. Also, the Acro classes around town are
a great way to learn Thai massage, which leads us
right to...
13. Thai Massage Thai massage is a great way to
wrap up the acro session. Other than warm up partner
stretching and a little leg love for your base after
flying, it's generally not recommended to do a lot of
Thai massage in between acrobatic poses. In
acrobatics you need to have tight bodies. Thai
massage loosens things up. So save the Thai massage
for the end of the jam/class.
14. The Sacredness of Touch Touch is healing & fun,
but realize that this is cultivated only when there is
mutual care and honor between those playing together.
Also, acro'ing can bring out a lot of difficult and
sometimes confusing things within a person, so give
patience and space to anyone if they seem to be
having an "off day." Although we are all equals, in
humility remember to consider your acro partner as
more important than yourself. For touch to remain
sacred, we all must be servants to one another.
15. Respect The Space & Leave No Trace After a
great time of fun, playing and doing things you didn't
think were possible, it's like icing on the cake to leave
the class/jam area clean, wonderful looking, and,
when appropriate, to leave a donation. It's wonderful
to be given permission to use the spaces we get to for
classes/jams, so we try our best to make our
appreciation tangible.
~Adapted from AustinAcroYoga.org article on Etiquette by John Richter