For years now Rosie O’Donnell has been touting the benefits of hanging upside down in order to treat her depression. At first people thought she was crazy, but now there is a greater understanding that “upside down is right side up” when it comes to treating depression and anxiety.
I originally developed AntiGravity® Techniques on the Harrison AntiGravity® Hammock for the sake of performance. From the Olympic Ceremonies to the Presidential Inauguration, since 1991 Team AntiGravity has been inverting to entertain and loving every minute of it. We discovered in the process that the work (or rather play) not only got rid of kinks in the back, but also made us feel happier. I created AntiGravity® Yoga in 2007 in order to share my discoveries with the world — the first of 7 AntiGravity® Fitness Programs. All of my thorough techniques offer the benefits of zero-compression inversions, which utilize decompression to combat depression.
Inversion Therapy for Depression
If you are one of those people whose mind immediately goes to fear with the thought of turning upside down, then this technique is for you! Eleanor Roosevelt is famous for saying, “Do something every day that truly scares you.” If you are stuck in your comfort zone, you are not growing. When the body and mind are not challenged, they fall into depression. The initial “fight or flight” response in your parasympathetic nervous system during your first inversion is quickly transformed into pleasure as the body is relieved of compression and the mind learns it is not a victim to unfounded fears.
Over 50,000 people per day in over 50 countries now practice AntiGravity® Fitness Techniques, and they can all affirm that the practice makes them feel lighter in body & mind. Here are the five reason why: 1) Gravity compresses your body, making both the body and mind more closed. AntiGravity® decompresses your body, making both your body and mind more open — they are intricately connected. When we are open we feel less pain and therefore less anguish. 2) Inversions cause fresh blood to flow to the brain. When the hypothalamus is bathed in fresh blood it triggers the glands to secrete neurotransmitters (aka happy hormones) such as endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, etc. In truth, when you hang upside down you are sipping a happy hormone cocktail. 3) Moving the body freely in all dimensions of open space creates new synaptic connections and neural pathways to the brain, increasing your neuroplasticity (ability to learn). This leaves you with that great feeling of accomplishment. 4) Moving your body mindfully in conjunction with your breath reconnects the body and mind, which also puts you more in tune with your real essence — your spirit. When we are connected to our true selves we feel more empowered, which in turn leads to happiness. 5) Laughter is the best medicine, and there is nothing serious about turning the body upside down. In fact, we encourage laughing breaths that jostle the spine into correct alignment.
Come experience an AntiGravity® class and learn what others are discovering — that upside down is right side up when it comes to increasing both your mental and physical health. Remember to look for the AntiGravity® logo to make sure that you are flying in the safe hands of professionals.
Christopher Harrison, Founder AntiGravity
Hi Christopher,
The more training I do in AntiGravity and there more interaction I have with our clients the more I realise there really are endless benefits and applications of the AntiGravity series.
The work Renae Stevens in Brisbane has been doing with post traumatic stress and AntiGravity is ground breaking – if it can help heal trauma imagine the benefits for mild depression.
I have had numerous AG clients in my classes going through healing processes, whether it be the loss of a loved one or a tough time in a relationship, and told me that AntiGravity has helped carry them through.
The more research done in the health industry the better. In New Zealand a local chiropractor has already taken the technique up and will be using it to compliment her therapies.
All in all, it’s great that AntiGravity® is moving past the weight loss industry and looking at health in a holistic way. So excited about where the technique is going and the impact it will have on thousands of lives.
Well Done Christopher Harrison!
Freyja