FAQ
Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
In which language(s) are the classes taught?
Classes are taught in French and Swiss German. If necessary, English may also be used.
Are the venues accessible to people with reduced mobility?
Some are, others only partially, or not at all...
The Centre Rencontres (Courfaivre) is fully accessible. The building has no thresholds and there is a lift. Accessible toilets are available.
The Centre Taoma (Bienne) has an elevator, but you need to climb around 10 steps to reach it. The toilets are not adapted.
The Centre Pilates (Givisiez) does not have a lift and the premises are located on the 2nd floor. The toilets are not adapted.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.
Is financial support available if I have payment difficulties?
We are committed to offering prices that are accessible to as many people as possible, which is why we are currently working on introducing a pay-what-you-can pricing system in the near future (with three options to choose from depending on your means: ‘pay-what-you-can’, ‘standard’ and ‘support’).
Until this service becomes available, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Is it recommended to eat before a class or an Aerial Massage?
Whether or not to eat before a class or a massage is a very personal matter and depends on each individual’s metabolism. In any case, avoid heavy meals just before your session.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothing that doesn’t restrict your movement and isn’t too baggy
Opt for T-shirts rather than vests and leggings rather than shorts. You can exercise barefoot or wear non-slip socks.
For Aerial Yoga and Aerial Massages:
Please ensure you do not wear anything that might snag on the fabric: zips, jewellery (earrings, necklaces, watches, bracelets, rings, piercings, etc.)
Please do not wear heavy make-up or self-tanning products (as these may stain the fabric) and cover any wounds with a plaster.
What should I bring?
Please stay hydrated and bring your water bottle.
Yoga mats and various props (yoga blocks, straps, blankets, etc.) are available on site. However, you are welcome to bring your own equipment if you wish.
Are there changing rooms?
The Centre Taoma (Bienne) provides a coat rack for hanging jackets and bags, and a shoe rack at the entrance.
The toilets (women’s/men’s) are located on the landing, outside the studio.
The Centre Pilates (Givisiez) has two large changing rooms (W/M) which also include showers and toilets.
The Centre Rencontres (Courfaivre) does not have such facilities. You can get changed in an adjacent room or in the toilets (W/M).
QUESTIONS ON AERIAL YOGA
What is Aerial Yoga?
Aerial Yoga is a unique way to experience yoga!
Supported by a large piece of fabric (similar to that used in the circus arts), and sometimes suspended in the air, you will practise and experience the usual yoga poses (asanas) in a completely new way.
In Aerial Yoga, the fabric, or hammock, is regarded as a full partner that supports and facilitates the performance of certain traditional Asanas. Thanks to the hammock, and by making gravity our ally, Aerial Yoga allows the body and mind to unwind with ease and joy.
As in traditional yoga, there are many variations of Aerial Yoga, ranging from the most meditative to the most engaging.
Generally speaking, there are 2–3 possible positions for the fabric:
Hip height: the most common setting, for traditional sessions, which are generally quite dynamic.
Mid-shin height: for a session close to the ground and generally more focused on relaxation and letting go
Knee height: offering the advantage of making it easier for some people to get in and out of the hammock.
Who is this practice for?
Aerial yoga can be practised by almost anyone.
At Blossom Yoga, we are committed to offering a practice that is accessible to as many people as possible.
For safety reasons, participants must be able to walk and be able to lie down on the floor and get up again without assistance from another person.
What happens during a session?
The structure of a class will depend largely on the type of aerial yoga being taught, and each instructor will have their own approach.
Generally speaking, a session is designed to gently engage both the body and the mind.
The exercises offered strengthen and improve the flexibility of the whole body, enhance balance, promote awareness. They also give you a sense of grounding, help you work on letting go and building self-confidence.
In short, a wonderful opportunity to (re)connect with yourself!
At Blossom Yoga, you will mainly (but not exclusively) find the following options:
Flow:
The hammock is set at hip-flexor height.
Following a short initial meditation, a fluid sequence of various exercises involving ground support and a few more aerial poses. Depending on the session, the class may focus on a specific theme or remain more general. It then concludes with a final relaxation in the hammock and a short regrounding moment.
Low:
The fabric is set at mid-shin height. The practice is therefore closer to the floor.
The Asanas are also linked together in a fluid sequence, but the transitions are slower and the poses are held for a little longer.
Here too, a theme may be suggested for the day’s session.
Is it dififcult?
At Blossom Yoga, we are committed to promoting a practice that is accessible to as many people as possible. You don’t need to be flexible or have any prior yoga experience to join a class.
Using the aerial yoga hammock may feel a little unfamiliar at first, but you’ll soon find it becomes a valuable partner, supporting and guiding you through your practice.
Are there any contraindications?
Yes, Aerial Yoga may not be recommended, and precautions should be taken in certain cases (for example: uncontrolled high or low blood pressure, recent Botox injections, glaucoma, advanced osteoporosis, advanced osteoarthritis, severe spinal pain, inner ear disorders, severe susceptibility to travel sickness, recent prosthetic surgery, etc.).
If in doubt, it is always advisable to consult a doctor.
Ultimately, it is the participants’ responsibility to decide whether or not to take part and to inform us if you have a condition that could affect your health should you participate.
Good to know:
It is possible to arrange a private lesson to assess your capabilities and/or address your specific needs and limitations.
In summary:
Get in touch, come and have a go, and we’re sure to find common ground or a solution tailored to your needs!
QUESTIONS ON CHAIR YOGA
What's Chair Yoga?
Chair Yoga is a form of adapted yoga practised using… a chair.
The chair provides a stable base on which to sit and/or lean. It makes it easier to perform poses, stretches and gentle breathing or meditation exercises.
Who's this practice for?
Chair Yoga is for everyone.
It is particularly suitable for people with mobility issues, or for those looking for a gentler and safer form of exercise.
What happens during a session?
Generally speaking, a session is structured to gently engage both body and mind.
The exercises offered strengthen and improve the flexibility of the whole body, enhance balance, and promote awareness of the body’s centre of gravity and a sense of grounding.
Most of the time, you will practise whilst seated on a chair. It may also occasionally help you to stabilise yourself during standing poses.
A class usually begins with a short initial meditation, to help you settle into the moment. You will then be guided through a flowing sequence of various exercises.
Depending on the session, the class may focus on a specific theme or take a more general approach. It concludes with a final relaxation on the chair or on the floor.
Are there any contraindications?
There are certain precautions to take in some cases when practising Chair Yoga. For example: osteoporosis, hip or shoulder replacements, severe inner ear disorders, uncontrolled high or low blood pressure, etc.
If in doubt, it is always advisable to consult a health professional.
Ultimately, it is the participants’ responsibility to decide whether or not to take part and to inform us if you have a condition that could affect your health should you participate.
Good to know:
It is possible to arrange a private lesson to assess your capabilities and/or address your specific needs and limitations.
In summary:
Get in touch, let’s discuss it, and we’re sure to find common ground or a solution tailored to your needs!
QUESTIONS ON AERIAL MASSAGES
What are Aerial Massages?
"Partn’Air Yoga Massage © is a practice that combines guided stretching, inversions, suspension, acupressure, rocking and relaxation using an Aerial Yoga hammock. It is a lunar treatment that awakens sensitivity, touch and the ability to listen to one another. The practice of touch through massage is sacred. There are different ways to approach it, to create a connection with another. We are familiar with physical touch, skin-to-skin contact, but there is also the touch of the heart. The latter is quite different; it involves knowing how to listen in the silence of one’s being, allowing our personality, our beliefs and our convictions to fade away so that we may hear the silent paradigm of the other. As the body is the temple, there is no need for words, for this sensation from heart to skin, through this subtle listening, is awakened only by the practitioner’s lack of expectation and letting go. Partn’air Yoga massage is a touch of the heart.” (Delattre Mélissa)
Who can benefit from Aerial Massages?
The Partn’Air yoga massage © method is suitable for everyone!
It is designed to be a moment of pure relaxation and is not a form of therapeutic or medical massage.
For safety reasons, participants must be able to walk unaided and be able to lie down on the floor and get up again without assistance, or be accompanied by a carer.
What happens during a session?
The Partn’Air Yoga Massage © method offers a comprehensive treatment divided into three parts:
A preparatory session on the floor
Lying on the floor, you will enjoy a series of passive mobilisations. These will help you reconnect with your breathing and prepare your body for inversion and the movements in the hammock.
A guided sequence of passive stretches, inverted:
In an inverted positio, carried and supported by the fabric, you will experience a series of gentle, slow stretches.
A massage whilst lying in the fabric:
After the inversion phase, you’ll let yourself float, lulled by a full-body massage and gentle stretches performed in time with your breathing and the swaying of the Aerial Yoga hammock.
Each of these parts is optional and/or can be adapted to suit your needs or preferences.
Are there any contraindications?
Yes, Aerial Massage may not be recommended, and precautions should be taken in certain cases.
For example: uncontrolled high or low blood pressure, recent Botox injections, glaucoma, advanced osteoporosis, advanced osteoarthritis, severe spinal pain, inner ear disorders and severe susceptibility to travel sickness, recent fitting of prostheses, etc.).
If in doubt, it is always advisable to consult a doctor.
Ultimately, it is the participants’ responsibility to decide whether or not to take part and to inform us if you have a condition that could affect your health should you participate.
Good to know:
The massage can be adapted, with certain sequences avoided, to suit your needs.
In summary:
Contact us, let’s discuss it and we’re sure to find common ground or a solution tailored to your needs!