Christine Raffa, MA, LMHC, Clinical Psychotherapist

When I was 3 years old I climbed up my dresser and jumped off landing on the floor and splitting my head open requiring stitches at the local hospital. When my parents asked me why I jumped off the dresser,i told them I wanted to fly! That was the beginning of my quest for flying. I have always loved the sensation of jumping,flipping , and hanging upside down. When I learned of antigravity yoga classes being held in new York city the very next weekend I drove down to find out what the newest yoga fitness craze was all about. Fortunate to meet Christopher Harrison, founder of antigravity yoga, I was immediately hooked on the concept and wanted an antigravity yoga hammock to hang and play in at my house.

As a neuromuscular therapist I was blown away by the antigravity yoga teacher training I participated in ,June of 2010 with Christopher Harrison . My first thought about antigravity yoga was that it would be a cool, hip and fun technique to bring to Rhode Island. But to my surprise the therapeutic value was outstanding. My back and shoulders opened more in that training then they had in 15 years practicing more traditional yoga. Participating in the antigravity yoga teacher training in march 2011at Raffayoga deepened my understanding of this unique yoga practice and technique developed by Christopher harrison.

The AG Hammock uses your body weight much like manual traction to decompress the joints and leverage deep therapeutic supportive stretching While learning to breathe ,and relax and release. It's a practice in the present moment your daily worries are not the first thing on your mind when your hanging upside down or jumping to do a back flip.

Currently in development with Harrison is the Antigravity yoga therapeutics a modular of training created specifically in conjunction with the ag franchise to incorporate rehabilitative techniques and sound methodology for lengthening the spine, decompressing the joints, improving vestibular balance and stimulating the pituitary gland.

I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to learn this fun, creative yoga practice. I am grateful to have the opportunity to own the first Antigravity Yoga franchise in New England. See you around and upside down!

Jane Viscolosi - Certified Baptiste Power Yoga Instructor, RYT 200

I was introduced to AGY summer of 2010 while dealing with a shoulder injury. I was afraid to try it because I thought I would make the problem worse…. secretly I was afraid I would not be good at it and not be able to do it because I wasn’t strong or thin enough (and that I was too old!). In the winter of 2011 Christine suggested I take the week long teacher training with Christopher Harrison. I decided I would give it a try because at the time I felt like my body (for my joints sake) needed to be decompressed and I love going upside down.

I have to say that Anti-Gravity Yoga is therapeutic for sure (after my 40 hours of training my shoulder felt much better) but what I really love about this style of training is that it is so much fun. From the effects of swinging, hanging, flipping, stretching and strengthening I feel great on every level for a couple of days after a practice. Regarding inverting there are so many health benefits. The silk hammock allows us to sustain the inversion for longer periods of time without the wrist or neck compression of handstands and headstands.