Catharsis In Personal Connections
The word flight has a whole different meaning for Max Lowenstein and Liz Kong. Their social media is flocked with photos of the two performing what appear to be impossible feats of acrobatics. But according to the two acroyoga teachers at the Yoga Movement, these positions don’t require great feats of strength.
The two met when Lowenstein moved to Dallas from Florida and was seeking a partner to continue his acroyoga practices. His dedication required him to have a partner with the same steadfast commitment to practice every day. Mutual friends connected him with Kong, and the duo have been holding each other up ever since.
After attending a five-day workshop, Kong and Lowenstein saw how acroyoga fostered healing in each other, and they decided they wanted to share those therapeutic benefits. Both became certified and started teaching the class over a year ago.
Combining the physical components of acrobatics and yoga with Thai massage, Lowenstein and Kong’s acromovement class, which takes place twice a week, helps develop communication, trust, strength, and stability in the air.
“Well, just like yoga, people usually come for ‘asana,’ or the posture, and they leave class feeling so calm,” Lowenstein said. “You relate things on the crash pad to your life. The two main things are trust and communication.”
And while that may sound similar to what is preached at a trust seminar, Lowenstein and Kong said that these qualities go beyond the actual acroyoga practice.
“We know people who whose relationships have been on the rocks and they started going to yoga for date night and they ended up getting married,” Lowenstein said.
Touch also plays an important role. Accoridng to Kong, acroyoga helps facilitate what she calls “safe touch.”
“For a lot of people, touch, especially in our society, is shied or frowned upon,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be romantic … but it’s all about how do you facilitate that type of environment with someone and feel safe?”
From individuals flying solo to couples looking for a date night, people in their 20s to people in their 60s, the two have seen a wide variety of people attend their classes, regardless of skill level.
“We have different variations and modifications for if they want to try something more advanced or stick with the basics,” Kong said.
Along with their classes, the duo have started their own brand, Max and Liz Acro. Part of their goal was to see acroyoga spread throughout Dallas. Not only have they been able to reach local audiences, they have started to be recognized across the country.
“At first we thought our brand was going to grow in Dallas, butit turns out people have inquired for our services in different places,” Lowenstein said.
Those inquiries have launched their upcoming travels to lead private lessons and workshops in several cities nationwide.
“Our main goal was to promote healing and spread the love,” Lowenstein said. “If we empower people in Dallas to kind of keep doing that, then we’re freed up to travel and have a broader reach on more people.”
