6 | Akwa | March / April / May 2023 Aqua Pi-Yo-Chi™ intertwines the poses of yoga, the exercises of Pilates, and the movements of Ai Chi. Together they improve balance, core strength, postural alignment, and quality of life. The purpose is a process based on breath awareness (diaphragmatic breath) and postural integrity by grad- ually shifting attention between the large isometric muscle contraction of yoga asanas, the small, isolated movements of Pilates, and the range of motion of Ai Chi. Diaphragmatic breath sharpens the mind, improves posture, builds confidence, and pro- duces relaxation. The background for creating Pi-Yo- Chi fusion came from teaching yoga and Pilates in college. Students did not have the core strength or breath control to properly perform the yoga asanas and gain the benefits. The solu- tion was to open each yoga class with a series of Pilates mat exercises to improve core strength and flexibility. Proprioception and control of move- ment using the breath reaped benefits of the fusion program. In yoga, you exhale into the position, continue slow deep breaths as you sink further into the position, and inhale to come out of the pose. Taking this idea to the pool led to the addition of Ai Chi to assist in the transition between poses and movements that flow in a fluid manner, such as seen in this photo of Ai Chi Shifting. Aqua Pi-Yo-Chi is a type of mind-body activity that improves our ability to cope with daily challenges. The three components are universally embraced as physical and mental disciplines proven to eliminate stress, alleviate pain, and improve one’s outlook on life. Stress often links to physical ail- ments such as headaches, neck and back pain, depression, and fatigue. In addition, stress is a risk factor for devel- oping high blood pressure, gastrointes- tinal dysfunction, and a compromised immune system. As we come out of the pandemic, many people are dealing with the long-term effects of COVID, often associated with chronic fatigue. Performing this trifecta in the pool is proving to help in many instances. Most everyone can participate in the water, whereas some may experience limitations in land practice. The basics of breath awareness relate to the impact of stress. Breath aware- ness requires knowing where your breath is in the body. Since postural alignment is primary and Eastern dis- ciplines address seven main energy centers or chakras, we find a correla- tion between proper breath and pos- tural alignment where these energy centers are aligned and consequently Aqua Pi-Yo-Chi Fusion for Core Stability By Mary Wykle, PhD IAFTC 2023 will feature a 2-hour workshop, Aqua Pi-Yo-Chi for Alignment & Core Strength, by Dr. Wykle. Ai Chi Shifting
