Aerial Yoga: 7 Little-Known Benefits

 

Originally published on 12/29/2019

 

The Latest Fitness Trend!

Yoga has been around for thousands of years. The practice of yoga is believed to help bring harmony and balance between the mind and body.

As we progress to modern times, we also  learn more about this practice’s different approaches and teachings.

One of the more well known yoga practices of today is AERIAL YOGA.

 

What is Aerial Yoga?

Aerial yoga or anti-gravity yoga has become a bigger phenomenon over the years. Like traditional yoga, the principles were introduced to society long ago. It just really gained popularity in recent years.

This type of yoga incorporates hammocks, swings, and silk ropes into traditional yoga poses. Aerial yoga mixes aerial arts, acrobatics, and pilates into one practice.

You may have discovered this latest fitness trend on Instagram by coming across stunning photos of yogis doing your favorite yoga asanas in mid-air #aerialyoga – hanging from a colorful aerial hammock or yoga swing.

For people with zero background in yoga or gymnastics, this could be a very intimidating workout. However, beginners are always encouraged to try.

Most people have heard that Yoga is great for both our mental and physical health by cultivating calm, inner peace, and discipline through stretching and strengthening the body. In essence, Aerial Yoga does the same.

And even more!

Other than balance and flexibility, there are still several benefits that you can get from Aerial Yoga..

 

Here Are 7 Little-Known Benefits:

1. Flexibility enhancing is an understatement

We all know that yoga is the stretching practice of the ages – however, aerial yoga takes it to another level!

The Yoga Swing helps you to move more freely, with less effort, by counteracting gravity, so your stretches are more effective as they are not restricted in the same way as when performed on the mat.

While you’re suspended in the air, your joints, ligaments, and muscles release unwanted tension, which in turn increases your flexibility and deepens your practice. A lot of aerial yoga practitioners claim that they experience less tightness, specifically in their backs and shoulders; that’s why they are able to extend their bodies more.

By increasing your flexibility, you will be able to enjoy the practice more. Plus, you can try different poses and work on more complex movements.

 

2. Increases strength and enhances your core muscles

Other than flexibility, Aerial yoga is also known to improve strength. Since you’re off the ground, the main group of muscles you’ll be utilizing would be the core and upper body.

Aerial yoga enhances the way you move your chest, shoulders, and arms during routines.  This also helps a lot in activating your core, as this is one of the most vital parts of aerial yoga. A benefit of taking your practice off the mat and being suspended is losing your point of stability, which engages your core muscles immediately without even realizing it.

As you engage your core more, your body makes use of other muscles that might not be worked out in regular routines or traditional yoga. This can not only improve the physical appearance of your core muscle groups but also helps enrich your core strength.

With consistency, you may find yourself getting better with other workouts that might have seemed difficult for you. You will be able to hold poses longer, not just in yoga but even in other activities. In turn, this makes anti-gravity yoga one of the best ab workouts around!

 

3. Improves balance & develops new skills

A key benefit, particularly with yoga swing poses for beginners, is stimulating proprioceptive feedback, which is critical for proper balance and motor control.

Proprioceptive feedback is when we are able to make sense of our physical body and environment, even without vision. It tells your body where it is in space. This is very important, especially in terms of coordination, balance, and body awareness. That’s why this is being tested and evaluated even in children and toddlers.

With aerial yoga, you allow yourself to build strong neural pathways for body control which helps bring stability and accuracy to movement. You will be more aware of the routines and how to go about them, which eventually helps you get better with the practice.

And in time, this will also aid you not only in yoga but also in everyday activities, particularly as we get older.

Aerial yoga will encourage you to learn more about your body and develop more skills. It’s easy to gain such things while you’re off the ground, suspended in the air, inverted.  If you have been working towards headstands and some more advanced inverted poses, doing so with an aerial hammock or yoga swing can be a useful prop while you are practicing.

Aerial fitness helps maintain a good balance between your mental and physical state. Not only does it improve your posture and physical appearance, but it also brings a better understanding of your emotions and thoughts, making this a good avenue when you want to improve both your external and internal self.

Using the hammock or yoga “sling” as a prop is a fantastic tool for alignment and balance. These types of tools will enhance many aspects of your yoga practice. In fact, you’ll notice an improvement with your regular asanas and floor work.

 

4. Aerial yoga leaves you in a GREAT mood!

Just like traditional yoga, there will be a sense of fulfillment and relaxation right after every session.

This is because, in essence, aerial yoga follows the same principle. People who engage in yoga want to have some type of emotional and mental release. Usually, this is being sought out by people who are under a lot of pressure and stress and just want a time for relaxation.

Aerial yoga gives the same experience as traditional yoga, if not more. When you choose to do a more “yang” style aerial yoga workout, it will get your adrenaline going, which may help you feel more energetic.

It also releases your happy hormones – serotonin, oxytocin, dopamine and endorphins- the ultimate mood boosters! That benefit gets enhanced as you will find your stress vanish while you are hanging free in the air.

If you choose to do a more “yin” style aerial yoga session, just like regular yoga, it can help clear the mind and relieve stress due to its meditative state.

There are people who prefer aerial fitness as it helps them more in terms of body awareness and meditation. For these practitioners, there would be a different sense of fulfillment when they achieve difficult poses and move on to deeper and more complex routines. There is satisfaction and feelings of achievement, which can be associated with positive emotions.

These feelings leave them happier and more relaxed every after their session. Plus, aerial yoga is so fun, so you can expect to actually look forward to your next workout!

 

5. Inversion can help with back pain

In addition to improving flexibility and posture, aerial yoga is also known for improving back and neck pains. With anti-gravity yoga, less stress is put on the back and neck since you’re suspended in the air.

This means that if you suffer from back spasms, scoliosis, or bulging discs hanging upside down may ease painful symptoms.

One of the leading benefits of inversion is decompression of the spine, and hanging freely in a yoga hammock allows your spine to lengthen, easing tension through the spine and hips and helping you feel better. Being on the ground for most of the time might cause misalignment, especially if you do not have proper posture. This can be a very serious problem if not treated well.

By being upside down, your spine naturally returns to its original alignment. This allows more oxygen and synovial fluid to flow back in. The importance and benefits of inversion therapy are now becoming more and more popular, thus, a lot of physical therapists and rehabilitation centers incorporate this into their activities.

 

6. Rejuvenates the bodily systems

One more fact about aerial yoga is that it revitalizes your different bodily systems. Aerial yoga can cleanse your system and improve the body’s internal functioning, such as the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems.

It is known to improve blood circulation and detoxify the circulatory and lymphatic systems, which helps delay the onset of cardiovascular issues and is anti-aging!

The stretching and upside-down movements improve digestive functioning and help heal digestion-related issues, including constipation and indigestion. All that stretching can also relax your abdomen and provide relief from IBS.

When the body’s functions are well regulated, you’ll feel more vitality, your mood is improved, your skin is nourished, and your body just feels freer!

 

7. It’s a complete low-impact workout!

A major benefit of aerial yoga is that the entire body is engaged and made to move and stretch, which tones the upper and lower body muscles. Aerial yoga can also promote cardiovascular training, which is very important for heart health. In more recent years, many researchers have found that yoga can also be a cardio-intensive workout. The different routines with the silk ropes and hammocks also increase our heart rates.

Other than that, it also helps in muscle training as you’re activating several areas of your body while in the air. Staying active is essential to our daily lives since this helps prevent serious issues as we grow older.

Whether or not you are suffering from knee or back problems, adding low-impact workouts such as aerial yoga into the mix is a great way for you to keep fit without the worry or strain on your body.

Most importantly, it’s acrobatic and FUN!

 

More On It’s Benefits For Better Mental Health

Yoga has always been known to help alleviate mental and physical stresses. It is a promising avenue for those who want to take time off their busy lives and focus on themselves.

The serenity and meditative practice allow you to free your mind from any unwanted thoughts and pressure.

When you engage in yoga, you focus on the present moment. What matters most is your physical and mental state during that moment. The practice of aerial yoga will teach you to let go of negative feelings, anxiety, and worry. Instead, this will help you feel more empowered, rejuvenated, and healed, which are all positive feelings.

Aerial yoga also improves your sleeping pattern. If you are experiencing difficulty when it comes to having a good night’s sleep, you can try doing aerial yoga and see how it can aid you in longer and more calm sleep.

With consistent practice, you will be able to improve your emotions and dwell more on your creativity. Research shows that people who engage in regular yoga turn out to be more positive in life.

Aerial yoga can be a transformative experience for everyone. This targets improvements holistically, including the physical and mental. That’s why it has gained a lot of popularity over the years!

 

Final Thoughts

In the end, yoga is supposed to be fun. Yes, it has several benefits and advantages, but it is also a fun experience.

Every day is a good day for learning new things. With aerial yoga, you can maximize your physical potential and know your body’s capabilities. As the routines get complex, you get to discover the limits of your body and how else you can push it to achieve more.

Just make sure that you’re safely doing everything. This practice can be pretty daunting for some, but it’s indeed worth trying. Do your research and get a deeper understanding of what this entails, and figure out if it works for your body and your lifestyle. There are different trainers and yogis out there to help you get started! You can reach out to different communities and make new friends.

If you’re planning to work on it alone, starting your home workouts is also very simple. You should get familiar with the right tools and equipment, and you can build a setup in the comfort of your home.

Just remember to stay safe and do not forget to have fun!

 

Why not get started with aerial yoga today?!

If you would prefer to do it in the comfort of your own home, you can order your very own yoga hammock or yoga swing and ELEVATE YOUR HOME PRACTICE!

At Gravotonics – we’ve been hand crafting Yoga Swings and aerial supplies since 2003..

 

 

Aerial Yoga Benefits FAQ

What is aerial yoga good for?

Aerial yoga helps to maintain good balance, flexibility and muscle tone. It is great for rehabilitation and relieving pressure on the back and joints. It will undoubtedly enhance your yoga practice!

Is aerial yoga good for beginners?

Absolutely! Aerial yoga is suitable for all age groups and skill levels. The aerial hammock is perfect for supporting beginners with correct alignment and help you to safely feel more deeply into each pose.

Is aerial yoga good for weight loss?

Yes, just like with mat yoga, regular aerial practice can help you to lose weight. As the American Council on Exercise (ACE) has shown, woman on average lose 2 percent body fat over a initial 6 week period.

Is aerial yoga good for your back?

Yes, it can be very gentle on the back using a yoga hammock to support your movements and posture. The hammock allows your spine to decompress and you can safely feel deeper into extension poses etc.