Your boss hates you. Your mother-in-law just invited herself to stay. And you are permanently stuck in traffic. (What is with all the roadwork? Seriously, are they digging for gold?)

Stressed? Sometimes an hour of downward facing dog just isn’t going to cut it. This week try Aisha Patterson’s new yoga technique, Zero Gravity Yoga. The experienced teacher uses her training in Ashtanga, Sivananda and Integral yoga to guide you through a series of familiar poses (plank, inversions, back bends) while you are suspended from the ceiling in a hammock made from parachute fabric.

Sound like a death wish? It’s not. The support of the swing allows you to get deeper into each pose, giving your spine a much-needed stretch and building strength. Patterson’s theory that the body responds to love and kindness means her classes are fun, playful and gentle enough for beginners. Bonus: in order to stay on the swing, you’ll use your abs for the entire hour without realising. Trust us: you’ll see (and feel) what we mean the next day.

Available at The Chelsea Club, Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, SW6 1HS (020 7915 2200 or thechelseaclub.com).

Photo: Courtesy of Zero Gravity Yoga