Do’s And Don’ts Of Aerial Yoga At Home

Originally Published On 7/19/2020

 

Aerial yoga is quickly becoming one of the most go-to forms of exercise for all ages alike!

The chances are far from zero that you will spot a studio or a class near you. However for many of us, attending a regular class isn’t an option whether that be for transport reasons, finances, work or other responsibilities.

But the good news is, purchasing and installing a yoga swing and doing aerial yoga at home has never been easier and this accessible. For this reason, many people are opting to complete their daily aerial yoga workout at home. While this is an excellent choice, it does come with its considerations – mainly safety.

When setting up your chosen or designated workout area at home, it is essential that you are mindful and careful, and that you equip yourself with as much knowledge as possible to ensure that your leisure is safe, comfortable, and enjoyable. In this article, we are going to explore some of the dos and don’ts of an aerial yoga at home workout.

 

Thinking of doing Aerial Yoga at Home? Here are some tips for getting started…

 

Purchasing & Set Up

Before beginning your practice, you will need to invest in a good quality yoga swing or aerial hammock.

It is essential not to go in all guns blazing and select the first one that appears on your Google search for your aerial silks home setup. Keep in mind that time is one of the essences of yoga, so don’t make haste.

 

Don’t underestimate the importance of good rigging

The point from which you hang your yoga swing will need to be secure. If it isn’t, you stand to damage the ceiling from which it hangs or worse, risk structural damage. The costs simply aren’t worth a poor installation.

If you are not particularly handy, the best way to ensure that the swing is installed safely is to hire a professional who will leave you feeling confident that the ceiling mounts are fitted securely and that the rig is strong.

It is widely recognized that the mounts should be able to manage a load of 1000 kilograms, and whilst you do not weigh this much, the rig must be able to withstand the pressure of swinging, drops and hanging poses.

 

Do use your space wisely

It will come as no surprise that your new aerial yoga swing will take up a good amount of space. It is recommended that you have at least three meters in height and two meters of horizontal room in the location of the yoga swing.

Having ample height will allow you to easily and safely perform drops whereas the space around you will ensure that, should you fall out, you will not land on anything that may cause an injury.

In addition to this, you will likely require a yoga mat as a bit of cushioning underneath you, or you could consider a proper crash mat which is a large piece of equipment, especially for aerial yoga at home.

To be a little resourceful, a good alternative to a crash mat is an old mattress or cushion that you are not using at home. Rather than keep them in stock, just repurpose them for your fitness journey! This way, you also save yourself the money and the trip of getting a new crash mat.

 

Don’t go it alone at first

If you have never taken part in aerial yoga before, you should have a few lessons at a minimum or even have a private instructor come to your home before you purchase a yoga swing and try aerial yoga at home.

It’s simple, without some instruction, you run the risk of injuring yourself. Whilst we actively encourage the use of a yoga swing, we also encourage safety.

When starting out, try attending a few classes first to grasp the basics of the art, and then, when you feel ready, you can begin to look for a yoga swing for your home. Please do not attempt to just wing it!

Unluckily, there are chances that you get injured. Our equipment ensures your safety while using it, but it is also important that you have the best knowledge that you can get of what you are doing.

 

Do find a spotter or workout buddy

A spotter is someone who can be there during your practice to help you into the poses, particularly if you have any physical limitations.

Someone to catch you if you fall off balance especially if you are attempting advanced poses.

Having a friend to work out with is not only for added enjoyment, they help you keep on track, but it is also for added safety.

You could also hire a professional personal trainer to do the job if you need, which is clearly the best choice especially if you are a beginner at the practice.

It is crucial that you explain to the spotter exactly what you are intending to do and the steps that it will take to get there. Having good knowledge will allow them to help you to the best of their ability.

Finding yourself a good aerial yoga workout buddy or a professional “spotter” enhances your experience more so because you are in sync and are both informed of your own goals.

 

Don’t leave your trapeze up if it isn’t in use

You might think that once you have set your equipment up that it can be left in place indefinitely. However, when you consider all the dust and dirt in the air, you may think again about leaving your equipment hanging.

With your skin constantly in contact with the fabric, of course, you would want it to stay clean as long and as much as possible so keep it tidy!

This is especially so for outdoor setups where the yoga swing is exposed to the elements, such as sunlight, as long-term sun exposure may lead to the fabric fading.

If you intend on using your yoga swing on a daily basis then it is much more feasible to leave it in position.

But if there are occasions where it will be out of use for long periods, perhaps during times when you are on vacation or not able to practice for one reason or another, taking it down and storing it would be advised.

 

Using Your Yoga Swing

Once you have successfully installed the yoga swing or hammock, the fun can begin:

It’s time to start experimenting with your home yoga workout! But, there are some points to keep in mind as you master the art of acro yoga.

 

Don’t try to become a master too quickly

Stepping into the yoga swing for the first time can be exciting and it can be compelling to go straight to the more complex poses.

This is especially true for those who have already had a lot of practice in yoga on the mat, you may be very advanced on the ground, but performing these asanas in the swing is a completely different story.

For this reason, you must take it slowly. The best approach is to try out the basic poses first and give your body and your muscles the chance to get used to this new way of practicing.

Do not hesitate to give yourself some time to adjust. If you run straight to the advanced poses, there is a risk of pulling a muscle or causing a significant injury that may render you unable to take part at all for some time.

As you begin to get used to these simpler poses, you can progress to something a little more complicated – take the practice as a chance to develop your patience and you will notice excellent results in the long run.

 

Don’t cover yourself in lotions and potions

Whilst we are completely in favor of looking after your skin, it is important not to slather yourself in moisturizer before using your yoga swing.

The main reason for this is that your grip may be reduced which could lead to slipping. What’s more, any lotions or creams that are present on your skin will absorb into the material of the swing and cause discoloration or, for it to require much more frequent washing.

It is best to jump in the shower, wash up and apply your lotions after your home yoga workout has ended.

 

…..That being said do keep your yoga swing clean.

We mentioned that body lotions will cause your swing material to gather dirt more quickly but it is important to note that your yoga swing will need to be kept clean and regular washing is essential.

When working out, you are likely to sweat and even in a low-intensity session where you don’t sweat a lot, you will still shed skin. What’s more, the natural dust and dirt in the room will gather on the material.

Cleaning your aerial yoga equipment is even more important if other people are using it as well as yourself.

Cleaning your equipment is easy with Gravotonics! Our Yoga Swings and Aerial Hammocks are washing machine safe – just make sure to remove the metalware or use a protective washing bag.

With the fabric, a good wiping with a disinfectant does the job most of the time and will only require a wash every month or so depending on frequency of use.

 

Do warm-up before beginning your practice

Many of us are familiar with warming up before a workout but a lot of people might believe that yoga doesn’t require a warm-up due to the stretches that you will perform. But this is not the case.

Warming up before your aerial yoga workout is super important in ensuring good elasticity of the muscles – they’re much more stretchy when warm.

This will reduce the chance of a pulled muscle or other injuries.

It might also be beneficial to do a short cardio workout before beginning, this can be done for five to ten minutes and may be done using your aerial yoga home setup. Doing so increases your heart rate along with your energy.

 

Don’t practice whilst using alcohol or substances

There has been a lot of discussion on the internet about practicing yoga whilst under the influence of a substance – this could pose a danger.

When you are under the influence of any substance, your judgment is weakened and your confidence may be increased leading you to practice moves that you normally aren’t able to do.

Just like the slogan, “Don’t drink and drive.”, we also promote “Don’t drink then fly-stretch.”

 

Do keep going to classes

Now that you have your own aerial yoga equipment at home, it can be tempting to omit the classes you have previously attended but it is still beneficial to keep these as part of your routine. You may decide to attend fewer classes and that’s fine but attending even just once a month can provide you with renewed knowledge of how to use your swing as well as bring you new ideas and information about the art form.

These classes are run by trained teachers who will be able to provide you with invaluable advice.

If you don’t have an aerial yoga class near you, there is the option to attend an online class – there are many pre-recorded classes and even live streams, so you have plenty to choose from.

If you can’t find one, then we also have publications describing and teaching a few poses that you can try out, of course, at your own discretion.

 

Most of all.. DO HAVE FUN!!

Buying a yoga swing is an excellent way to begin an aerial yoga at home workout routine but doing this does require sensible use of the equipment and most importantly, proper installation.

By following this easy-to-implement do’s and don’ts guide, you will be easily able to enjoy a safe and fun home aerial yoga practice.

Remember, there is no better recreation than a safe and well-rounded one. Good luck and happy swingin’!