Safety Tips For Hanging A Yoga Swing

Originally Published On 9/7/2020

 

For many people, the idea of aerial yoga is new and exciting, especially after they have been practicing on the mat for such a long time, however, one of the most important things to remember when starting your at-home aerial yoga workout is that you will be taking advantage of vastly different equipment.

So you will need to know how to go about hanging a yoga swing or aerial hammock.

These pieces of equipment are essential components to your anti-gravity yoga routine, without them, you wouldn’t be able to practice, however, if they are not correctly installed, it could spell disaster.

In this article, we are going to look at how to hang a yoga swing and why you should install it safely giving you the freedom to practice in confidence.

 

Why Is It Important To Hang A Yoga Swing Safely?

Your yoga swing or aerial hammock is going to be taking all of your body weight, and no matter how heavy or light you may be, this is a lot of strain on the equipment as you are moving about, because of the torsion effects of weight in motion.

Especially if you will be doing any drops during your practice!

For example, a ceiling bracket that is rated to hold a static weight of 2000lbs will be drastically reduced as soon as the weight is required to move, such as a punching bag or in this case, a yoga swing during your aerial yoga session. From a potential 2000lbs or carrying capacity, it may only be safe to hold 600lbs of weight in motion.

So this goes to say you need to find the best brackets or mounts as possible and they must be installed properly into the correct materials such as wood or concrete with appropriate structural integrity.

If it isn’t fitted securely, there is a serious risk of you falling, which could see you out of action and unable to take part in your beloved practice.

 

Installing A Yoga Swing Safely – Factors To Consider

One of the first things that you need to think about before you even begin your installation is where you will be hanging your yoga swing.

For the most part, these pieces of equipment are generally suspended from the ceiling, and it is perfectly possible to elevate them in a doorway, on a purpose built frame or an outside area that has exposed beams and some sort of overhead cover.

Where you hang the swing isn’t really much of an issue, it is more about how safe the area is. There are two things to keep in mind here – is the ceiling secure enough to hang a yoga swing and handle the weight of the user and are there are obstructions?

When it comes to hanging a yoga swing from the ceiling, it is important to find a beam that is strong and has not been subjected to any sort of damage, such as termites, exposure to weather or general wear and tear, as this can seriously weaken it.

If you find that there is any damage or that you do not feel the beam is strong enough, it pays to employ the services of a professional who can replace it or add some reinforcements.

 

Furthermore, there is little point in hanging your yoga swing in an area where you will not be able to practice because of obstructions.

It is worth fitting the yoga swing in an area that is spacious to avoid bumping into anything or not having enough room to attempt poses that require more space.

In addition to this, make sure that there is enough room between the yoga swing and the floor for inversions..

Particularly if you are more advanced doing full inversion, you don’t want to be dragging your head along the floor when you are trying to relax!

Finally, be sure to look at the weight capacity of the yoga swing. For the most part, these are very durable pieces of equipment that are designed to take loads as much as 600lb.

That being said, it is important that your yoga swing meets your needs in many different aspects.

 

Dos And Don’ts When Hanging A Yoga Swing

Safety is paramount when it comes to hanging your yoga swing and there are a few considerations. Here is a breakdown of some things we have discussed today.

• Don’t attempt to hang your yoga swing on an area that is not secure.
• Do find a space that will allow you to move about and perform all your yoga poses etc
• Don’t rush the installation process. It is preferable to take longer to fit the swing and have a safe and enjoyable experience as opposed to winging it and hoping for the best.
• Do invest in high-quality mounting equipment that has been tested – this applies to both the yoga swing fittings and any mounting brackets, hooks and so on that you will be installing.
• Don’t try to complete the installation if you are not confident that you have the necessary skills. Whilst hiring a professional to do it for you may require an additional cost, this will ensure your safety which is priceless.

 

How To Hang Your Yoga Swing Safely

When you buy a yoga swing kit, you will find that they come either as a swing and daisy chains or with all the extra components you will need to install the yoga swing to the ceiling included in the package.

Surprisingly, the advantage of buying a yoga swing separately without the ceiling mounts included is that you can take the time to choose the correct brackets, hooks and screws or bolts etc that you need.

This also gives you an opportunity to speak with your local hardware assistant and run any questions by them that you may not be certain of, including which drill bits might be needed for the type of material you will be drilling in, for example concrete or wood.

This will help you to feel confident that you will be able to source all of the correct pieces for your yoga swing to be fitted securely.

 

What You Will Need

One of the easiest ways of hanging your yoga swing as mentioned is to use ceiling hooks. These are made from metal and are extremely strong and durable meaning that they offer superior support for your practice.

Moreover, due to the stylish design, once the ceiling hooks have been installed, they will easily blend in with the rest of the room and won’t pose as an eyesore.

There are generally two kinds, “Eye-Bolts” — (“O” Ring Hooks) which are just screws, with the O head as shown.

 

Or these “U” bracket ones or the crisscross design shown:

These require the additional correct screws to hold them in place. In either case, you will need a drill and drill bits depending on the material you will be hanging a yoga swing in, measuring tape, and a ladder.

 

Installation Tips

Once you are confident that the area you will be hanging a yoga swing is secure and you have all the required pieces, you can begin the installation process.

Using a stud finder, you can locate the ceiling beams – it is important to note, that beams which measure 2 x 4 may not be strong or wide enough, you will need at least a 4×4 or 2×6 to be sure, so going for something larger is worthwhile.

You should also note that you will need two beams which sit parallel to one another – one for each of the ceiling hooks, (unless you are using a single point with a spring suspension system), and they should ideally be located in the center of the beam as this will provide the most stability.

As mentioned, when you drill the holes for the mounts, it is important to remember to use a drill bit that corresponds to the material in which you are placing the bolts – you’ll need a different drill bit for wood than you will for concrete.

Using an incorrect drill bit will not create a suitable hole for the bolts. It is also worth keeping in mind that you should drill the holes deeply to ensure that the screws/hooks can be securely fitted to the ceiling, without any excess hanging out. Along with this, you may need expansion bolts which create a snug fit.

Once the bolts are securely in place, you can take the daisy chain straps and feed them through the ceiling hooks which can be positioned for your yoga swing to hang comfortably and then adjusted accordingly from any of the loops to the height that is suitable for your practice.

When you are happy with the placement, it is important to test the set-up before getting in and enjoying your practice to double check everything is in order.

 

Using A Yoga Stand

If you would rather for-go all the hassle you can try two alternative options.

If you have exposed beams in the area you would like to set up your yoga swing, then that is ideal, as you only need to throw the daisy chains over the beam and secure them in place, then simply hang the yoga swing from the loops.

However, another option which we highly recommend is to us a portable yoga swing stand!

These are strong and sturdy, purpose built for hanging a yoga swing practically anywhere with little fuss.

 

We hope this yoga swing installation guide has helped!

Enjoying an aerial yoga swing in your own home can be an excellent way to engage in the practice as frequently as you would like but it is also important that safety remains the top priority.

There are many important safety factors to consider such as the strength of the ceiling as well as its height and the quality of your equipment. Hanging a yoga swing should always be done by a professional if you are in any doubt about how to do it yourself.

Also, don’t forget to give it all a check over every now and then to make sure their is no excess wear or damage that could cause an issue.

However once this is taken care of, you are free to enjoy your new practice and have fun for years to come!!

 

 

Common Questions When Hanging A Yoga Swing

How To Hang Yoga Trapeze In Doorway?

The best way is to purchase a doorway pull up bar that can be fitted easily and securely into the door frame. From there just suspend the yoga swing as you would a portable frame using your daisy chains.

How Far Apart Do I Need To Place The Hooks?

Ultimately, it is down to your own preference as to how far apart the hooks are placed, however the standard distance and most appropriate for most applications would be 60cm to 80cm (24” to 32” inches).

Can I Still Safely Hang A Yoga Swing On A Low Ceiling?

The recommended minimum ceiling height for aerial yoga is 3 meters, however some experts would say the minimum ceiling height for hanging a yoga swing is 2.4 meters.

If the ceiling isn’t high enough, this can mean that yoga poses which require you to get lower to the floor such as inversions are not as easy to attempt and you may end up knocking your head.

Can I Just Use One Ceiling Hook?

When you buy ceiling hooks designed for use with yoga swings, you will receive a set of two as they are designed to be suspended from two hooks.

However, if you buy the spring suspension system, this allows you to rig up the yoga swing to just one point in the ceiling, however this is an extra expense and also, you will need to make sure it is extra secure, as only one hook will be taking all the weight.

Is There A Weight Limit On Ceiling Hooks?

We mentioned earlier that yoga swings usually have a generous weight capacity and the same applies to the hooks. For the most part, ceiling hooks that are used for hanging a yoga swing will be able to hold a combined weight of  approx. 1000lb, however, the strength of the ceiling should also be taken into consideration.