Air Yoga director Trevor Aung Than.
Camera IconAir Yoga director Trevor Aung Than. Credit: Supplied/Louise White

New class in full swing

Staff ReporterEastern Reporter

Mr Aung Than, his wife and two young girls moved to Macau in China, where he worked with Cirque du Soleil from 2009 to 2012.

He worked as a performance medicine therapist and had a number of responsibilities including the artists’ health, injury management and prevention, strength and conditioning, and pilates.

‘I applied to work for Cirque after being inspired by the touring Cirque show Varekai, which came to Perth in 2007.’

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While working with the circus, he met US |R ‘n’ B singer Usher, who visited the show while onn tour Macau in 2010.

‘We actually took him through a conditioning class as he was very interested in what the artists did to stay in shape,’ he said.

‘He was pretty fit, as most girls would attest to by his video clips. Usher was actually very down to earth and approachable.’

Mr Aung Than is now the director of Air Yoga and is the resident physiotherapist and instructor.

He works with two other instructors, his wife Natalie, a yoga instructor and anatomy lecturer, and friend Ashley Lau, a circus performer who has trained with renowned aerial coaches at circus schools in Beijing and Montreal.

The Curtin University graduate said the trio started the unique business in January after seeing the popularity of aerial yoga in other parts of the world.

‘AirYoga is a combination of yoga poses and circus aerial skills performed in a silk hammock,’ Mr Aung Than said.

‘The hammock allows for a wide range of stretching and strength exercises; inversions and swings, all dependent on the level of the participant.

‘It can be as hard or as easy as you want it to be. It is a lot of fun, and addictive,’ he said.

‘Our hammocks are made from the same material as they use in Cirque du Soleil.’

For more information about the classes, which are held at the Bayswater Yoga and Martial Arts Centre, go to airyogaperth.com.au or email trev@airyogaperth.com.au.