Deboshree Roy

A professional aerial yoga artist, and the founder of her own aerial yoga institute Studio Naach, Deboshree Roy has been practicing the craft for over twelve years now. Let us learn more about this art that has recently been grabbing eyeballs due to how aesthetically pleasing it looks, from the seasoned expert! Read on to find out what it takes to pursue a craft like this and build it into a profession.

We were in a warm conversation with her, let us see how we get inspired by her practice:

Tell us something about the craft of aerial yoga.

I think the best way to define aerial yoga is converting traditional yoga poses and elevating those to the air. The only way to balance yourself is to lean on the fabric that is extended from the ceiling. Once you gain control over your body, you’ll realize that apart from the anti-gravity aspect, the basic elements remain the same - basic hatha yoga poses and breathing control are the highlights of aerial yoga as well.

How and when did you think of professionalizing it in the form of an academy?

I have been a professional aerialist, dancer, and yogi for almost twelve years now. I started with aerial silk, and gradually transitioned to teaching both aerial yoga and aerial silk around six years back. So though all of this was in the background, when I did start Studio Naach it was as a clothing store. I was always into fabrics and design, and I worked extensively with Jaipuri cottons and ikat fabrics. After some time, I put the clothing line on hold and put my passion on the forefront. This is how studio Naach started! After this, there was no turning back. We’re a team of three people now, focusing highly on certifications and awareness about the craft.

Fitness has to be an integral part of your life, even involuntarily. How do you stay fit?

I train for 4 hours a day, five times a week. This includes two hours of contemporary dancing and two hours of aerial silk/yoga. Fitness is important for everybody, but for me, it is more of a necessity. There's no way I'll be able to balance on the hammock if my body and mind aren't 100% coordinated. I also indulge in restorative yoga at regular intervals to soothe my muscles.

How do you combat the intense muscle tension that follows a day of rigorous aerial yoga?

Regular breaks are essential for an activity as rigorous as this, hence I give myself a complete break on Saturdays and Sundays. For people starting out aerial, I recommend training only thrice a week for at least six months. After that, depending on the shoulder strength that they’ve developed, it is usually increased to four days a week. Usually, Indians are really low on shoulder strength, hence any activity that involves primarily the upper body should be carried out with a lot of attention.

What are some of your diet essentials?

I do make it a point to include a lot of protein in my diet - shoulder fatigue is a real thing! Other than that, there are no hard and fast rules that I follow, but I don't include any sugar or processed foods in my diet. The key here is to listen to your body. I'll feel lethargic tomorrow if I eat some packaged food today, so I stay miles away from it!

How easy/difficult was it to choose this line as a career?

It took a crazy amount of convincing! My parents were not very welcoming of the idea of me pursuing aerial yoga as a profession. This is actually a problem you'll see - a lot of arts are perceived just by face value; people are rarely interested to know what goes into the making of crafts like this. But as success came, acceptance followed! They did realize that I was pretty serious about it and support me very well now.

Have you tired IF/GM/Keto? Has it worked?

 Intermittent fasting is something I involuntarily do, as that is how my routine is. I have my last meal pretty early, by 8 pm, and have my breakfast the next day at 12. Other than that, there's no diet that I believe in. Quick results that you get from fad diets fade away quickly too, it is better to follow a more organic path.

Bust a fitness myth for us.

Let's talk about the term 'core strength'. People who are overweight or not in shape remain under the illusion that they lack core strength - but that's a myth. Core strength isn't something you build by working out, it rather is a result of endurance and balance. Even 90-year old’s can have a great core strength.

Lastly, name some activewear essentials in your closet.

In my academy, I advise my students to wear something that covers their inner thighs and lower back, as those are the areas that come in contact with the hammock as one leans on it. You don't want rashes anywhere, hence my everyday essentials would be activewear leggings and a long sleeve pullover, or any t-shirt that's comfortable for you.