24 May Is Aerial Yoga the Same as Aerial Hammock?
If you are wondering, is aerial yoga the same as aerial hammock? You are not alone.
While both use the exact same beautiful fabric, the way you use it—and the goals of the class—are entirely different. Here is the exact difference between aerial yoga and a hammock, and how to figure out which one is the perfect fit for you.
What is Aerial Yoga?
In Yoga classes, the fabric is hung relatively low to the ground (usually around hip or knee height). Instead of flying high in the air, you keep at least one foot or hand on the floor for the majority of the class. The fabric acts as a supportive prop to help you deepen your traditional yoga stretches, improve your alignment, and decompress your spine.
It is incredibly relaxing, deeply restorative, and wonderful for flexibility—but you generally will not be learning how to do spinning choreography or complex drops.
What is Aerial Hammock?
If your goal is to learn the beautiful, flowing tricks you see online, then you are looking for Aerial Hammock (which is also frequently called Aerial Sling—in the aerial arts world, aerial sling vs hammock usually means the exact same thing: a single loop of fabric!).
Aerial Hammock is classified under aerial arts, just like aerial silks or aerial hoop.
In a hammock practice, the fabric is rigged higher off the ground. Your goal is to get fully suspended in the air. Instead of using the fabric to stretch on the ground, you learn how to mount the apparatus. Also, how to invert (go upside down) and wrap the fabric around your body. This allows you to create stunning shapes, dynamic drops, and seamless spinning choreography.
Aerial Yoga Vs Aerial Hammock: Which One is Right for You?
Choosing between the two simply comes down to what you want to get out of your practice:
Choose Aerial Yoga if: You are looking for a relaxing, grounded practice to decompress your spine. Also, if you want to deepen your stretching and experience a zen, meditative environment.
Choose Aerial Hammock if: You want to learn aerial arts! If you want to build upper body and core strength, learn how to do beautiful tricks, and spin in the air, the hammock is absolutely for you.
How to Start Flying Safely
Often, students start with an aerial yoga class, realize they want to do the “fun, flying tricks” instead, but feel intimidated by making the leap to a fully suspended aerial hammock.
Transitioning to fully suspended tricks can feel a little scary at first, but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t need to be perfectly flexible or have massive upper-body strength to begin. You just need a safe, structured roadmap that breaks everything down step-by-step.
That is exactly why I created the 8-Week Aerial Hammock Foundation Program.
Instead of throwing you into complex tricks that leave you feeling frustrated, this program is designed specifically for beginners. We start from the very beginning. How to safely mount the fabric, how to hold your grips, and how to build the exact muscles you need. By the end of the 8 weeks, you will be confidently flowing in the air.