ACROYOGA MONTRÉAL

AcroYoga Montreal offers technically sound, safe, fun and
creative acroyoga infused with 45 plus years of movement arts
experience, embedded in the history, method and application of social
justice. Knowing our place in the world only happens when we know our
world.

At Acroyoga Montreal there is no separation of acroyoga, yoga, and
reality. To live apart from this world is not the goal but to transform
ourselves and our societies rooted in a deep understanding of the
Social, political and economic systems & institutions we engage in
on a daily basis.

The evolution of AcroYoga beyond its traditional flow and movement
through the fusion of the form with other movement arts and techniques
(i.e. dance, b-boying [break dancing], and martial arts) to create a
contemporary aesthetic that knows no boundaries or forms yet represents
the body in motion in all its expressions.

Just like b-boying, AcroYoga will become an attitude and lifestyle –
not just steps or forms, but an ever-changing chameleon that adapts to
the practitioner and their environment. Long live AcroYoga in all its
forms and expressions.

AcroYoga combines acrobatic concepts with a yogic consciousness. The
seed for AcroYoga was planted in 1998 with the introduction of Yoga into
the Special Blend Repertoire. They coined the term acroyoga in 1999 to
describe their movement fusion of acrobatics, dance and yoga.

It took full bloom in Winnipeg (Manitoba) during an early morning
hotel room Jam Session, 12-4 am, with Daniel Aubin of the Acromaniacs
(an acrobatic duo from Hamilton) in March 2003. After exchanging
insights and techniques, we concluded that Yoga and Acrobatics have a
common ground; “being in the moment".

The application of bandhas (internal locks) dristi (gaze) ujiay
breath (sounded breath) and vinyasa flow (synchronization of movement
with breath) to a partner acrobatic practice gave birth to Acro Yoga.

Incorporating aesthetics from various dance forms ( B-boying, (break
and street dance) – modern – jazz – ballet, improvisation, and
mask-work) gave birth to AcroYoga Fusion: the fusion of AcroYoga with
dance aesthetics. Being ‘in the moment’ and in balance with another
person is the essence of AcroYoga.

Jessie and I have 3 children and own and operate a yoga school. Our
hobby and passion has been Acro-Yoga.It is very sacred (and fun) to us
when we do have time to celebrate this art form. Our form of AcroYoga
has morphed organically out of our dance. We didn’t create anything new
all we did was put our personal expression on movement forms that
already existed and remembered sequences that have been in the universe
since the beginning of time. To claim ownership of an organic process is
against everything we stand for.”

-Eugene Poku & Jessie Goldberg.

This list like all history is subjective. Just because it isn’t
documented doesn’t means it didn’t happen. There were and are
individuals in this world who should be on this time line but I have
never heard of them so I cannot list them. I apologize for this. If
anyone has information and documentation of anyone else who should be on
this list please contact me.

-Eugene Poku

Krishnamacharya

Year: 1938

Description: Some basic backbends.

Link:Krishnamacharya AcroYoga Video

Acrosage

Year: 1985

Developer: Benjamin Marantz

Description: It is a combination of massage with acrobatics. He laid the groundwork for all the basic flying transitions.

Link:www.acrosage.org

Contact Yoga

Year: 1980’s

Developer: Ken Nateshvar Scott

Description: Laid the foundation for the therapeutic aspect of partner/acro-yoga.

Link: contactyoga.com

Acroyoga Montreal (AYM)

Year: 1999 Term AcroYoga 1st used in Canada by AYM

Year: 2003 AcroYoga Fusion 1st used in Canada by AYM

Developer(s): Eugene Poku and Jessie Goldberg

Description: Variety performers who were influenced by yoga and
acrobatics, combining these styles into their dance art to form what is
today called Acro-Yoga.

Link:www.acroyoga.com

Acro-Yoga Inc.

Year: 2003 practice was called ContactAcro

Year:2005 name changed to AcroYoga

Developer(s): Jason Nemer and Jenny Sauer-Klein

Description: Influenced by circus and contact yoga, developed a form that became known world wide as Acro-Yoga.

Link:www.acroyoga.org

Jessie Goldberg and Eugene Poku met in 1982 at a dance studio called "5678" in Montreal.

Jessie was a Ballet, modern-Jazz dancer; she was a “real dancer”
trying to fit into the stick figure dance world ….she weighed approx.
180 pounds, and we all know what the dance world thinks of that…

Eugene was an independent “Poppin’/ Lockin’,” street-dancer
performing since 1974. Dance was the only avenue to channel the intense
feelings of anger and hate Eugene experienced; as a reaction towards the
prejudice and racism he encountered upon arrival in Montreal from
Ghana, West Africa in 1966.

Competition was part of the relationship from the beginning, and
J&E spent many jam sessions trying to show each other up. After long
discussions about race, sexual politics and the plight of humanity,
they realized that they had more in common than they could have
imagined.

The competition was over and their creative co-operation led to the
formation of “Special Blend,” a variety duo with a mission to challenge
and break stereotypes in the performing arts and life. Incorporating and
fusing their contrasting dance forms with acrobatics, mask work,
martial arts, contortion, object manipulation and audience participation
to offer a truly neo-vaudevillian experience