Goat yoga may be funny and visually appealing, but there’s something lovely and transforming about cocooning yourself in silk and suspended in the sky, akin to a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. Now for aerial yoga.
Aerial yoga is rapidly gaining popularity as a soothing and approachable yoga option, in addition to offering a variety of mental and physical health advantages and enjoyable acrobatics.
What is Yoga Aerial?
Traditional asana (yoga’s physical postures) and yoga philosophy are combined with aerial arts to create aerial yoga. Suspended from above are silk textiles and/or ropes that let practitioners form shapes. The silks can support you completely, allowing you to lie down completely like in a hammock, or you can wrap them around specific body parts to keep other sections of your body on the ground.
It’s thought that hanging totally or suspending specific body parts can help you gain traction and expand your body more naturally and softly than when you’re on the ground. For balance, the ropes and silks can be useful. A increasing number of programs and instructors are also utilizing the aerial silks much more therapeutically, even if many aerial yoga classes have an acrobatic component.
The Background to Aerial Yoga
The creator of the Iyengar style of yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar (1918–2014), is primarily recognized for popularizing the practice of yoga with supports. Apart from the standard equipment seen in many studios, like blocks, straps, blankets, and rope walls, Iyengar would also dangle his pupils in yoga swings from the ceiling.
Unlike the vibrant silk hammocks we see now, the early swings were not like this. Frequently, they were constructed entirely of ropes and covered in blankets or yoga mats for padding. The practice known as “antigravity yoga” started to become popular in the late 1990s. The first yoga swing is said to have originated in the United Kingdom in 2001 and consisted of a set of silk harnesses fastened to handles and foot holds.
The term “aerial yoga” and the yoga hammock, which is essentially a single long piece of cloth, first appeared in 2011. Currently, there are aerial yoga instructors and studios all over the world.
Advantages of Hanging Yoga
Aerial yoga, which combines the arts and athletics, has several health and mental advantages.
Enhanced Flexibility, Stability, and Balance: According to a 2019 study, aerial athletes exhibit remarkable strength, flexibility, and balance.
Traction and Joint Decompression: It’s been suggested that hanging upside down and inverting can help to decompress joints, which can compress with age and gravity.
Decreased Heart Disease Risk Factors: Although there is little research on this type of yoga, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) published the most widely recognized study in 2016 that indicated a significant decline in the heart disease risk factors was related to cardiovascular heart disease.
Low to Moderate Intensity: According to the same study ACE commissioned, 50 minutes of aerial yoga can burn up to 300 calories, placing it in the low-to-moderate intensity range of physical activity.
Can You Practice Yoga in the Air at Home?
It’s true, and you can do it without having to completely remodel your living room. In the Bay Area, Lori Salomon has been instructing Aerial Yoga Play for over six years. She not only teaches in the studio but also does in-home sessions with few private individuals.
You can fly indoors or outdoors by attaching certain swings or ropes to metal frames. Similar to how you would normally hang a hammock, you can also arrange your silks or ropes over strong support beams, like tree branches or exposed front porch beams. Some seasoned aerialists have aerial silks and/or ropes built right into their ceilings. Salomon has three different kinds of yoga swings in her living room, which serves as her “playground.”
Because attachments can loosen over time, always double-check your installations before taking to the air.
What You Need for Aerial Yoga Equipment
All you actually need is your body if you’re taking an aerial class in a studio, especially if the studio specializes in aerial. Wear reasonably-fitting athletic clothing with adequate coverage to prevent skin irritation from the ropes and silks. Minimize blockage to achieve the ideal level of direct skin contact. To help with cushioning, some workshops provide towels; however, you are welcome to bring your own.
Here are some suggested sources to help you select the ideal aerial device if you would rather fly at home. Note that certain items are available for purchase without the accompanying ceiling hooks, stands, or mounts:
Gravitonic Yoga Swing: Designed in 2003 and sometimes credited as the pioneering model, this all-in-one swing asserts its status as one of the most adaptable and affordable choices available.
Yoga Body’s Yoga Trapeze: Although these perform similarly to yoga swings, Yoga Body is the owner of the trademark for the phrase “yoga trapeze.”
Uplift Yoga: This website has an extensive selection of aerial yoga equipment, such as yoga hammocks, bungees, hoops, and silks (single swaths of fabric).
How to Locate a Local Aerial Yoga Class
When it comes to local yoga courses, Google is your best friend. Just type “aerial yoga therapeutics near me” or “aerial yoga near me” into the search bar. Additionally, make sure to inquire about aerial yoga sessions offered by your neighborhood studios or about instructors who may be available for private instruction. Specialty workshops or one-off classes are offered by many local studios.
What to anticipate from your first class in aerial yoga
Stewart advises being prepared to surprise yourself and anticipating a great deal of laughs. You don’t need to know yoga before. Stewart recommends that even people who have some yoga experience begin with a more restorative or beginner-level aerial yoga class. This allows users to practice moving with the fabric and gain comfort before trying more difficult sequences.
It’s normal to have some motion nausea during your first lesson, particularly when you get up after hanging upside down. If you have any underlying medical conditions, do let your teacher know. Stewart advises anyone managing acute or long-term medical concerns to look for one-on-one classes or instructors skilled in more therapeutic aerial yoga.
Advice for Novices
Pay Attention to Your Body: If anything doesn’t feel right, stop and ask for help or take a break.
Talk to yourself: During this exercise, the location of the rope and sling can be crucial, but only you know how something feels. If something hurts or seems awkward, ask your teacher to assist you in finding the ideal spot.
Take it easy: Salomon advises beginners to start out cautiously and build up to the style, emphasizing that in aerial yoga, “a little goes a long way.”
Have faith in the device, your instructor, and most all, have faith in yourself.
Enjoy Yourself: At first, you might think some poses are beyond your skill level. This is especially true if you’re new to yoga. You might become disoriented and confused. Just remember, the main reason you’re there is to have fun!
