Jason Nemer and Jenny Sauer-Klein, an East Bay couple, were uninspired by the many different popular “factory-style” yoga classes available. So, the duo, both lifelong gymnasts and yogis, decided to invent their own brand of yoga. Welcome Acro Yoga, originally called Contact Yoga, which involves pairs, threes, or fours to perform poses. It incorporates circle ceremony, asana, partner flow, Thai massage, therapeutic flying, inversions and spotting, and partner acrobatics.
On Friday nights, all over the city, men and women dress in Speedos and sports bras, waiting for their chance to execute the downward dog pose or forward straddle, while suspended high in the air by their partner’s legs.
Jason Nemer and Jenny Sauer-Klein, founders of Acro Yoga
Jenny and Jason are giddy as they begin another Acro Yoga jam session, treating the studio like their playground. Jason effortlessly lifts Jenny’s petite frame, which is wrapped up into a ball, five feet above him, all the while talking to her and asking, “Are you OK?” Trust is essential in this practice, as well as communicating your needs and practicing the art of listening; the result is that couples become closer, emotionally and physically. Acro Yoga isn’t just an exercise to improve relationships, with your partner and/or others; it is also an intense whole-body workout.
Class starts with circle ceremony, which is meant to deepen the sense of community. Participants form a circle then embrace their neighbors by holding hands. Carolyn Cohen, a statuesque model-type and Nemer/Klein’s first ever Acro Yoga student, leads the group in stretching exercises. Touching, eye-contact, and even hugging are encouraged. “Namaste,” Carolyn says, after the pose is complete. “Just remember to breath.”
Yoga has long been known for aiding in breath control and allowing a person to gain a better understanding of his or her body. Acro Yoga takes this practice one step further, maintaining that people can form deeper connections with each other by allowing them to build strength, trust, intimacy, and physical playfulness during their yoga practice. This practice isn’t just for couples, albeit same-sex as well as hetero pairs often benefit from the practice; singles no longer have to be shy or worry about being the only one in class without a partner.
“Most people come to Acro Yoga classes by themselves,” says Lara Catone, a teacher and the Bay Area’s Acro Yoga community coordinator. “Partners are never required. We work in all different configurations [twos, threes, fours] and often same size groupings work best, so people don’t necessarily end up exclusively working with the person they come with.”
Since its conception in 2003, Acro Yoga has grown significantly. There are now 120 certified Acro Yoga teachers worldwide. In 2009, Jason completed the first-ever South American Acro Yoga tour in Perú, Argentina, and Columbia, where a number of Acro Yoga communities are forming. In October of this year, the debut Acro Yoga festival is scheduled to take place in Oakland at the historic Sweet’s Ballroom. The celebration will include four full days of yoga, acrobatics, Thai massage, music, and dancing with Acro Yoga teachers from all around the globe. In addition, several acrobatic and yoga retreats are scheduled during 2010 in Northern California, Chicago and throughout Europe.
“You will learn to speak the same language to each other,” Jenny says. “It gives 
you a way to communicate [with your partner.]”
Wild and dangerous yoga junkie and sun-tanning phobe, Kellie Ell is a former intern at the Gazette. She hopes to attend grad school in the fall, or plans on running away with the circus.
