Johanna Nolet, a freelance journalist and columnist, has enrolled in the Netherlands' first Partner Yoga teacher training course. With only a handful of yoga classes under her belt over the years—far from 'advanced'—she shares her authentic experiences in this monthly column.
Read Johanna's previous blog>>
Long-awaited
I anticipated the second training weekend with the eagerness of a captain eyeing her ship. AcroYoga dominates my thoughts even when I'm not practicing. This month, we're at Amsterdam's circus workshop, diving into the acrobatic side of Partner Yoga: AcroYoga. Stepping into the hall, my heart races—the vast mat-covered floor and aerial silks dangling from the ceiling spark visions of contortionists in impossible poses. We focus on hand-and-foot balances, but the acrobatic energy is electric.
'Not an ugly cry!'
Seated in a knee-to-knee circle, cross-legged, we share how home exercises went. Group sharing unnerves me; I'm emotionally raw lately. As I half-listen, I scramble for a composed response. 'Johanna?' The telltale signs hit: flushed face, sweaty upper lip, lump in throat. Tears spill before I can stop them. Ugh.
AcroYogaing with Men
Last week's Limburg AcroYoga weekend introduced me to acroyoga men—they flipped my world, literally. Stronger by nature, they confidently support without hesitation, their large feet cradling my hips and glutes like perfect joints. For once, I didn't feel like a Disney hippo in a tutu. Bonus awkwardness: I fell for every guy who balanced me twice. Back home, my boyfriend's reluctance to swap gaming for acrobatics left me devastated.
Out of the Comfort Zone
That public vulnerability cleared the air. The rest of the weekend, I became an open invitation for partners pushing boundaries. Initially hesitant, I soon scanned the room actively. Cue emergency landings, abs aching from laughter, and my body learning to compact and lighten up. True acrobatic lightness stems from muscle control and body awareness, not weight.
Slightly More Yang
The weekend's theme: Yin-Yang balance, familiar from cheap jewelry but newly unpacked. Yin embodies feminine traits like life energy and fluid movement; Yang, masculine qualities such as stillness, presence, and observation. I thrive on the energy but struggle with calm observation amid chaos. I'm granting myself—and my partner—that space.
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