Aerial Yoga 101
If you have those questions in mind, “What is aerial yoga? Is aerial yoga for me? Do I need to be strong or flexible to do aerial yoga? What are the benefits of aerial yoga?” You are at the right place.
Here, I’ve got you covered.
What is aerial yoga?
Aerial yoga is a form of movement practice using a silk hammock as a tool to access and deepen traditional yoga practice. Think of the aerial hammock (aerial silk) as a prop for you to practice yoga — just like any tools, blocks, bolsters, straps…etc., that you use for your regular yoga practice. That’s how I look at aerial yoga. There are so many ways to play with the hammock and make it as a tool to promote mind-body connection and a healthy body.
There are many ways and branches of aerial yoga practice — from restorative aerial, to aerial dance, to aerial flow, and to therapeutic aerial. It is a physical exercise that combines traditional yoga practice, pilates, and ballet. Thought a consistent practice of aerial yoga, you will build strength and mobility, improve body coordination, and experience many benefits of aerial yoga moving forward.
Benefits of aerial yoga
With the support of the aerial hammock, you will be able to access a new level of range of motion and understanding of your own body. There are some proven benefits: (to name just a few!)
✅ Increase full-body mobility and strength — Especially the pulling action requires from aerial yoga can strengthen your muscle in a different way than mat yoga which has mostly pushing action and less pulling action. It is a good complement is you practice mat yoga on a regular basis.
✅ Improve core strength
✅ Dynamic fascial massage to stimulate circulation, relieve stress, and calm the central nervous system
✅ Improves posture and alleviate back and neck pressure — You can get a good spinal decompression without adding extra tension to your body. The hammock provides a suspension and support for your body and eventually facilitate a neutral spinal alignment when done properly.
✅ Boost confidence and mood — Just play and have fun!
Do I need to be strong or flexible to do aerial yoga?
You absolutely do not have to be super strong nor flexible to practice aerial yoga. Our body is highly malleable in ways that you can never imagine. You will gain full-body mobility and strength that your body need through a consistent practice. And it is just a by-product of your practice. The most important aspect of ANY yoga practices is the “process” where you connect with your body, with yourself on a deeper level.
Is aerial yoga for me?
Just like yoga, aerial yoga is just adding an adjective to the noun indicating a method that we use for our practice. It is too for most people with some exceptions. Can men practice aerial yoga? Absolutely yes! There is no limitation on gender. It is a practice that any gender can participate. In addition, because of the support you can get from the aerial hammock, it actually make many yoga asanas more accessible to most people. You can decide the intensity how you would like to practice by choosing to do a restorative or flow aerial yoga.
However, there are some contraindications where certain poses (ie. inversions) of aerial yoga are not recommended or need to be practiced under specific guidance. For example, people with very high or low blood pressure, easy onset vertigo, pregnancy, glaucoma, recent surgery, heart disease, recent head injury, propensity for fainting, and other medical concerns.
Once you get a hand of being on the hammock and moving with the fabric, you can play with it and deepen your practice based on your own goals — restorative aerial yoga, aerial dance, therapeutic aerial, and more!
Book your personal private aerial yoga session!
Fill in the request form down below for classes request and questions. I will get back to you as my best capacity. I look forward to practicing with you!