"Challenges in life do not stop, but with yoga they are much more… entertaining," says yoga instructor Lyudmil Drenski. In addition to being a source of health and wisdom, the eastern teachings helped him rediscover himself in a number of difficult moments.

Lyudmil Drenski is an electrical engineer by profession. After two years of training at the National Sports Academy he became a certified yoga instructor. We meet at the yoga studio where he is currently teaching.

"Yoga became part of my life back in 1994," he recalls. "It can be said that it was accidental, though I have learned over the years that there are no accidental things. It all started with an interview with Ventseslav Evtimov the founder of yoga movement in Bulgaria. It has provoked my interest and maybe I've been carrying it all the time in me. Yoga just appeared in my life and became part of me. Later, I met Ventseslav Evtimov myself and I have not stopped developing for 25 years. Aerial yoga was an addition to my practice at the time when I could no longer do yoga because my legs could not move. I had a swing that I began to use more often and this gave me the opportunity to continue my practice. I had taught yoga before, and after seeing the positive effect of aerial yoga, I decided to teach it to others."

Equipment for the exercises includes hammocks attached to the ceiling. The origin of aerial yoga can be found in several places in modern times – from Spain and America.

"Once a native Indian yoga teacher came to our studio and upon seeing the swings, he exclaimed: ‘This was written in the Vedas!,’” recalls Lyudmil Drenski. This practice was mentioned in ancient sacred scriptures, not exactly with this type of swing, but in general.”

According to Lyudmil Drenski, aerial yoga would be appropriate for all if the program was created for a particular problem. If a person has exercises with an instructor who knows how to work with the swing, a wide range of activities can be done. Group activities are not appropriate for everyone due to different physical condition of each person. Aerial yoga is particularly suited to children. "Most of them have no limitations with the swings. The main problem is keeping their attention, so yoga practice should take the form of a game," says the instructor.

In the exercises with the swings, all the muscles are used and the function of the vestibular system is improved... Still, Lyudmil Drenski is categorical that the results are very individual.

"We should not forget that aerial yoga, as well as yoga practice in general, is an auxiliary activity. They cannot be a major treatment, but can support a particular type of treatment – whether it is alternative or traditional. Some people feel happier and positive, while others are not comfortable with the swings. The whole program is important – if you practice twice a week aerial yoga and do nothing else, the results will be zero, you will just enjoy some nice walks to the studio and back. The treatment of any disease is very complex. It starts from the mind, goes through nutrition, spiritual attitude and the overall awareness of the world in which we live."

English: Alexander Markov