Aerial Yoga

Aerial Yoga uses a silk or nylon fabric hammock (also called a sling or trapeze) suspended from the ceiling at hip height to support the body during yoga poses. The hammock can fully support body weight, enabling inversions, backbends, and stretches that are difficult or impossible on the ground.

The Hammock's Role

The aerial hammock serves multiple functions in a single class:

• Full support: Hanging in the hammock distributes body weight across the fabric, enabling complete relaxation in inverted positions
• Decompression: Hanging inverted decompresses the spine, creating traction that many practitioners find therapeutic
• Assistance: The hammock can support limbs or the torso to deepen flexibility
• Resistance: For strength-focused aerial yoga, the hammock provides resistance similar to TRX suspension training

Benefits

Aerial yoga practitioners frequently cite:

• Spinal decompression and relief from back tension
• Unique ability to achieve full inversions without upper body strength
• Improved spatial awareness and balance
• A playful, novel approach that makes yoga more engaging for some practitioners

The Mat's Role in Aerial Yoga

The yoga mat plays a secondary role in aerial yoga compared to other styles:

• Landing area when stepping down from the hammock
• Cushioning for floor work done outside the hammock
• Some studios have students use no mat at all for hammock-centric classes

A standard mat is adequate — no specialized surface required. The hammock and ceiling mounting hardware are the primary equipment concerns.