'In stead of watching a movie, we set the plants aside and play'

For Jessie & Jasper AcroYoga moved from a "struggle" in the park to a vital part of their relationship, offering a space for emotional growth, playfulness, and pure connection.

What does AcroYoga offer you as a couple?

Jasper: ‘It’s a fun, playful way to really be together. Unlike a tennis match where you're focused on winning, or even parachute jumping where you're experiencing the same thing but not truly interacting, AcroYoga requires you to work together to achieve something. And it’s “infectious”, because it just feels so good to play like a kid again.

We often practice right here in our living room. It has become a wonderful way to connect after busy days. Instead of just watching a movie where you are "near" each other but doing your own thing, we create a moment of pure connection with no outside distractions. We set the plants aside and hope our cat, Noah, doesn’t wander into the middle of a pose—though we have tried letting him sit on our feet while we practice!

Jessie: ‘It's very fun and cosy to share something physical, that’s quite intimate, but not in a sexual way. It’s a wonderful addition. You get to know each other better. It also acts as a mirror for our relationship, showing us exactly how we interact and were we can grow as human beings.'

How does AcroYoga help you grow?

Jessie: ‘For instance: we practiced after a workday and noticed I was taking the lead, even in flying poses in which I could relax. As a forensic advisor I spend a lot of time in a leading and organizing role, so switching to the role of a flyer requires a conscious moment to let go and surrender.

One of the most powerful tools we’ve gained from following the AcroYoga Beginners’ course at Playful People Tribe, is the simple question: "What do you need?” (the theme was: “communication”). Sometimes the answer isn't a technical adjustment; it’s just sitting together for a moment and connecting on an emotional level.’

What’s your favorite AcroYoga pose?

Jessie: ‘I love “Bat”, where you’re hanging upside down like a bat. It’s very chill and soft. I like being upside down and looking at the world from a different perspective and appreciate that as a flyer I can still maintain eye contact with the base. “Standing on elbows” feels “bad ass” to a base. I also really love to flow between positions.’

Jasper: ‘“Folded leaf”. I usually base and can find it difficult to surrender, but I love receiving as a flyer in this therapeutic pose, where you’re in a forward fold, “hang” on the feet of your base and your spine is being decompressed.'

What qualities of each other does AcroYoga reflect?

Jasper: ‘I love seeing Jessie's strength and softness. Physically, through basing and flying, and emotionally, through being available to others and daring to express her feelings in the group. I think the way we allow each other to be ourselves is also reflected, and how we explore AcroYoga together in a playful way.’

Jessie: ‘Jasper is a very social person. He can easily sense what others need to experience trust. He's also very open to feedback, which fosters trust. It’s just very easy and pleasant to practice AcroYoga with him.’

What else does AcroYoga mirror?

Jessie: ‘As we are very honest with each other, Jasper pointed out that I can take quite a lot of space in a group and he notices that others withdraw as a reaction. ‘I feel that you want to connect and don't realize that others are actually closing themselves off from you’, he said, after an AcroYoga class.

It hurt to hear that: it’s something that I run into more often. But I value that we can hold up these mirrors for each other because it comes from a place of love. I call It “growth pain”. It helps us see ourselves as "complete persons" and gives us new ways to improve how we interact with the world. AcroYoga mirrors these interactions and lets us investigate them in a conscious way.

So now I consciously give more space to others, just by waiting a couple of seconds before saying something, while at the same time, honoring my outgoing and expressive nature. I also practice it in the dynamic with Jasper. Sometimes it does take a long time before he jumps in though…’

Jasper: ‘Yes, I can step forward more. I tell myself: ‘If you really want this, grab your chance. That’s my practice.’

I find it beautiful to witness how open you are with each other.

Jessie: “Being open and honest is the foundation of our relationship. Through AcroYoga it’s being deepened. Also by talking less and connecting on a physical and emotional level.’

Why did you follow an AcroYoga course? Jessie: ‘We started playing in the park, using videos on social media as a guidance. It was a lot of fun practice together, but we missed technical instructions and struggled a lot. Following the Beginners course with Playful People Tribe helped us create a solid foundation and turned out to give us much more, as individuals and as a couple.

The weekly classes provided a unique "space" where you can truly be yourself. Deep emotions and vulnerability are welcome alongside lighthearted fun. It really "ticks all the boxes”, because it balances physical activity with a deeper level of human connection that you don't always find in daily life. We are both incredibly enthusiastic about AcroYoga; it’s just a very fun thing to do with a great community.’

How did it feel to interact with other people as a couple?

Jasper: ‘It deepened our mutual trust. We found it very valuable to play and share loving touch and support from others. You learn more and because it felt secure enough, it strengthened our relationship.'

Jessie: ‘Luckily, there is already a lot of trust within our relationship, but we also developed a deep sense of trust within the group that made it possible to interact with others. AcroYoga is built on connection and interaction.’

Why would you recommend AcroYoga to other couples?Jessie: ‘It provides a shared "toolbox" where you can unpack different things —from high-energy flying to therapeutic Thai massage— depending on what you need that day.

One of our favorite things is that if something fails, it’s never a failure—it’s just funny. We’ve ended up in heaps on the ground just laughing because our legs got tangled. Unlike sports like bouldering or running where you might feel pressure to hit a certain "grade" or speed, AcroYoga is mostly about the journey, not the destiny. A journey that you share together.’