Aerial yoga is a versatile and great workout method, which offers a wide range of health benefits!
It will improve your balance, decompress your spine and increase your range of motion. Aerial yoga can also help to strengthen all the parts of your body, especially your core, legs, back and shoulders.
And while you can safely practice aerial yoga at home, it’s highly advisable to first start with some group lessons, so that you can master some basics.
But with hundreds of aerial yoga classes out there, how do you choose the right one for you?
Well, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you…
Choosing a Yoga Swing Class
In this article, you will learn what to look for when choosing a yoga swing class, so that you can choose the right one for you.
Location
Location is, without a doubt, the most important consideration when it comes to choosing a yoga swing class. If the class is too far away from your home or workplace, or it’s difficult to access, then you may start postponing some sessions.
And when you keep postponing the workout sessions, you will eventually start looking for more excuses why you shouldn’t go. Eventually, you will give up on the whole idea of working out.
So, when it’s time to choose an antigravity yoga swing class, it’s highly advisable to choose one that’s close to you as possible. It should be within walking or driving distance from where you live.
And if you can find a yoga swing class that is on your route to school or work, then that one will be perfect.
Skill Level
Different yoga swing classes are designed for different skill levels. So, it will be in your best interests to choose a class that suits your skill level. And considering that you are a beginner, then you should go for a class that’s specifically designed for beginners.
When you choose a class for beginners, you will feel at home and more confident to try out the different antigravity yoga poses for beginners, without feeling as if you are behind the rest.
And as much as most aerial yoga studios offer lessons for all skill levels including beginners, you may not progress as fast as you would, compared to a studio that caters to beginners only.
Reviews and Testimonials
There’s a high chance that you normally check for reviews and testimonials when buying something or hiring a service provider. Well, you should use the same approach when it’s time to choose a yoga swing class.
And you can check the reviews and testimonials on platforms like Yelp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Maps, and Trust Pilot, among other similar platforms.
On these platforms, you will see the quality of services offered by a particular aerial yoga studio as well as the overall level of customer satisfaction.
With that information, you will know what to expect when you join a certain yoga swing studio.
Instructor’s Experience
When you are searching for an aerial fitness class, there is a high chance that you will come across several studios, all claiming to be the best. But before you sign up for the lessons, you should first check the instructor’s experience.
Considering that you are new to aerial yoga swings, you need to choose instructors who know how to work with beginners. Besides the level of experience, you will need an instructor who is patient enough, to let you learn the basics at your speed, without rushing you through.
Choosing the right instructor will be an important step in your aerial yoga journey. So, don’t take it lightly.
Class Size
Another important factor to consider when choosing an aerial yoga training studio is the size of the class. You will also need to factor in the level of training that you will receive.
If there is only a single instructor and the class has several trainees, then you may not receive personal attention.
As a result, you may take longer to feel comfortable with the various yoga swing poses for beginners.
On the other hand, if the class is smaller, then the instructor will provide personal attention to each trainee, which translates to faster learning.
While the smaller class may charge more compared to the bigger classes, you are assured of getting value for your money. After all, you want to master the basics as soon as you can, so that you can shift to doing aerial yoga workouts at home.
And when you have your own aerial yoga home setup, you can choose when to workout, depending on your routine. For instance, you can be doing yoga swing poses early in the morning or in the evening after work.
Available Equipment
Aerial yoga is done using aerial yoga hammocks, yoga swings and other types of equipment. So, when you are choosing an aerial fitness studio, you should ensure that they have adequate equipment for everyone.
Apart from having adequate yoga swings for all the trainees, you also need to check the condition of the slings. After all, you will be paying your money for the classes, which means you deserve the best.
Therefore, if the equipment is not enough for everyone in the studio or their condition appears suspect, then you should consider other options. Even if the studio is offering the lowest rates in the area, you will not receive the quality and safety that you deserve.
Price
Price is equally an important consideration when choosing the right aerial yoga class for you. The price charged will determine the class that you will join, based on your budget.
On average, most aerial yoga studios charge approximately $20 to $30 per session. And each session lasts approximately one hour. So, check the prices and compare what each studio is charging.
Some studios may also be offering trial classes for free, and you should take advantage of such sessions. Trial sessions will give you the chance to try out the services offered by the studio, without any commitment.
Tips for Preparing for Your First Class
With the above points, it should not be hard to find an aerial yoga class that suits your location, skills, budget and personal preferences.
And once you’ve chosen a certain studio, it’s now time to prepare for your first aerial yoga class.
So, how do you prepare for your first class?
We’ve written a dedicated post about this here, however we will briefly cover some tips to get you through:
Wear the Right Attire
As you probably know, aerial yoga involves spending time hanging upside down on yoga swings. Therefore, it will be important to choose proper clothing for this type of workout.
For aerial yoga, you should wear form-fitting clothing, which will cover your legs and arms. Avoid wearing jewelry or loose clothing, since it may get caught on the hammocks, leading to injuries.
Arrive Early for the Class
If possible, you should arrive a few minutes before the session starts. Arriving early will give you time to get accustomed to the surroundings, prepare yourself, and select a nice spot.
You will also have time to ask any questions or raise any concerns you may have.
Eat an Hour before the Session
Proper nutrition is vital for any workout. However, it will be highly advisable to eat something healthy at least an hour prior to the session. Whatever you eat should be light.
You don’t want to feel uncomfortable when hanging on the aerial yoga swings.
Relax
You may feel somehow nervous during your first anti-gravity yoga session. And this is completely normal. However, don’t allow it to dominate your brain. Everyone started where you are. So, relax, and just go with the flow.
Also, you need to trust the swings. The yoga hammock swings are sturdy enough to support your body weight. Hence, you have nothing to worry about.
And if things appear as if they are not going your way, you have an instructor there to take you through every pose. They will modify the exercises based on your ability.
You just need to follow the instructions, give your best and maintain a positive mindset throughout the session.
Yoga Swing Classes
Aerial yoga may appear intimidating and scary at first.
But as you go for more sessions, you will muster the courage of trying out different yoga poses for beginners.
Once you learn and master the basics, you can then go on and install yoga swings at home.
Of course you can skip all this if you are feeling comfortable and have been doing yoga for some time, especially with online tutorials and so on to help you get the hang of it. (Pardon the pun!)
In this case you can start doing aerial yoga workouts from the comfort and convenience of your home.