How to Prevent Friction Burns on Yoga Swings

When you are doing various poses on yoga swings, there might be some friction between the hammock and your skin. The problem is, this friction may lead to frictions, bruises, burns and other similar issues.

As a beginner, these annoyances may distract you from executing your poses and enjoying your workouts.

While these burns only affect the top layer most of the time, they can sometimes lead to deeper wounds, which may require more attention and care.

 

So, if you are a beginner, this guide is specifically meant for you. We’ve put together some amazing tips that will help you to prevent friction burns on yoga swings and how to deal with them if and when it happens.

 

What Causes Friction Burns

As the name suggests, friction burns occur whenever there is friction between your skin and an abrasive surface or material. Whether you are doing aerial lunges, air crunches, planks or the supported chair pose, there will be some friction between your skin and the yoga hammock swing. And whenever there is friction, heat will be released, which may lead to skin burns.

Skin burns are more prevalent when you are doing yoga swing workouts when there is high humidity or in warm temperature environments. When there are high levels of temperature and humidity, there will be more friction between the yoga hammock and your skin.

Most of these burns will occur on your lower back, thighs, shoulders and arms since these are the areas that mostly come into contact with the aerial yoga swing. And once you suffer from these burns, you will find it almost impossible to do your yoga hammock training until they subside.

Therefore, you will be forced to avoid doing the workouts, until your skin heals completely.

 

Protecting Your Skin from Friction Burns

As noted above, friction burns are part of aerial yoga. And this means that you cannot eliminate them completely. Fortunately, you can take some measures to minimize the occurrence and severity of friction burns on yoga swings.

Some of the methods that you can use to protect your skin against friction burns include:

1. Covering your skin: Direct contact between your skin and the yoga hammocks will definitely cause friction burns. So, it’s important to cover your skin adequately whenever you are doing any yoga hammock workout. If there is friction, the effect on your skin will not be severe, compared to when your skin is exposed. In case you feel warm or you become sweaty when doing the yoga swing training, you should drink water and hydrate your body, instead of shedding the clothing.
2. Wearing the right clothing: It’s highly advisable to wear form-fitting clothes whenever you are using yoga swings. Loose-fitting clothing may get tangled on the swings or get in your way, leading to burns and other accidents. So, whether you are using yoga swings at home or you are in a yoga studio, it will be best to wear tight and stretchable clothes.

So, which types of clothes should you wear to minimize friction burns on yoga swings?

. Leggings: Your aerial yoga leggings should be tight and stretchable. Also, they should cover your legs up to the ankles.

. Fitting top: If possible, you should wear a form-fitting top whenever you are doing various yoga poses. A fitted top will cover your body properly and stay put, thus helping to prevent friction burns on yoga swings.

. Sports bra: Sports bras are handy clothing for women when it comes to aerial yoga and other types of workouts. Unlike ordinary bras, sports bras will keep you comfortable and flexible when you are inverted and doing the various aerial yoga poses.

. Wearing yoga gloves: If you have, sweaty palms or sensitive skin, wearing gloves can help to prevent friction burns on yoga swings, and prevent blisters and calluses. Also, gloves can help to improve your grip on the yoga swings, thus making your workouts more effective.

. Using yoga socks: While yoga socks may appear like an unnecessary purchase, they are extremely useful when it comes to yoga hammock workouts. Yoga socks will provide extra grip whenever you are doing the various poses, thus keeping you steady, safe and minimize friction burns.

3. Moisturizing your skin: Ensure you apply a moisturizer to your skin immediately after your workouts. Moisturizing your skin before the workouts is not advisable under any cost, since it may lead to slips and falls.
4. Exercising moderately: When you are new to using yoga swings, your skin has not yet been exposed to the fabric. If you proceed directly to the challenging moves, the chances of suffering severe burns are high. Therefore, it will be highly advisable to start slow when you are a beginner and avoid challenging stunts and poses. With time, your skin will eventually toughen up, and by the time you proceed to the advanced yoga swing workouts, the abrasions, bruises and burns will be minimal.

 

Treating Friction Burns Caused by Yoga Swings

As you can see, you have a number of options when it comes to preventing and minimizing friction burns when using yoga swings. But regardless of how experienced or cautious that you are, friction burns are bound to happen occasionally.

This is completely normal, however, it’s important to take proper care of these wounds immediately.

So, what should you do whenever you suffer from friction burns when you are using a yoga hammock? Well, here is what you need to do:

1. Inspect the bruising: You first need to determine the extent of the wound. Its depth and size will determine whether it’s a mild burn or more serious. If the burn or bruising is bigger than 3 inches, then it’s highly advisable to seek medical attention. Also, in case you suffer a burn when using yoga swings and you later experience extreme pain, white waxy substance, you should seek medical attention right away. If you experience bleeding, before you seek medical attention, you should make sure you clean and cover the area to prevent infection.
2. Clean the affected area: Friction burns should be cleaned with cool, freshwater. Cleaning the wound will help to remove the bacteria, debris, and dirt from the wound, thus helping to prevent infections. Avoid icing the bruised area directly as it may escalate tissue damage.
3. Apply a topical gel: After cleaning the wound, you should then apply a topical ointment like aloe vera gel, arnica or vitamin K cream, to help reduce pain and inflammation. You should then cover the wound using dry and clean gauze to keep away dirt.
4. Rest: You may be tempted to continue with your aerial yoga training even when you have friction burns. However, this is not recommended, even if the burn appears small. Continuing with the workouts can make the wound get worse, thus keeping you sidelined longer than you should. Instead, focus on resting and taking good care of yourself. Resting, eating healthy foods and keeping your body hydrated will help you to recover faster so that you can resume your workouts.

Your friction burns may continue hurting for a day or two, depending on the severity. Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications or NSAIDs can help to minimize the pain and swelling. However, ensure to observe the recommended dosage.

 

Prevent Friction Burns on Yoga Swings

By wearing the right clothing and protecting your skin, you can minimize the occurrence of friction burns whenever you are using inversion slings. And if they do occur, make sure you treat them immediately to enhance their healing.

We hope that the tips we’ve provided in this guide will help you to prevent friction burns on yoga swings and treat them properly.