Asanas in the air, complete separation from the ground, the feeling of being in a cradle… Aerial yoga is a young practice, however, already loved by many. Its main difference from other types is that classes are held not on a rug, but in a hammock. This is a very versatile practice, half of the asanas can be performed completely on weight. A hammock helps to rebuild the inner frame, to feel the body and understand how it can behave in space. Aerial yoga is a work on finding balance, excellent training of the vestibular apparatus, activation of muscles that you may not have known about before.

On a yoga hammock, you can do almost any exercises adapted to it from classical yoga, all possible options with backbends – a bridge, a camel, a locust pose, asanas on a balas – a warrior pose, a “tree”, asanas that combine strength and flexibility – twine in the air, “dove” (upside down), bar, “dog face up / down.” A hammock is an auxiliary support for beginners to practice yoga. Interestingly, many exercises on a hammock are relaxing, but there are also those that create an additional load on the muscles. Moreover, the same asanas, done on a rug and on a canvas, give a different effect.

For example, we can put our foot in a hammock and assume the “warrior pose”. At the same time, the tension of the front surface of the reed increases, there is an emphasis on strengthening the asana, the body receives a greater load than when performing the same pose on the mat.

If in the classic “downward-facing dog” we work on the mat with our hands, feet, spread our shoulders, think about the back, then in the hammock the fulcrum falls on the pelvic area, and we simply stretch without heavy loads on the body. At the mental level, the memory remains that it was easy to do the asana, and then it turns out wonderfully on the rug.
Backbends, shoulder stand, in aerial yoga are also performed completely in the air. Achieving balance on the mat is not a problem. But try it while standing in a hammock! It requires a complete inner sense of self, awareness of how it works.

When doing the plank, when there is no solid support under our feet, we need to balance, create tension, generate power in order to keep our body in the air and maintain balance. And this is a unique experience for any person.

Asana “tree” is just performed completely on weight. This is a very good alignment of the body axis. On the floor, doing it is not so difficult, but in a hammock has to pay maximum attention to balance.

And if you take shavasana? They say that this is one of the most difficult asanas in yoga – it is not so easy to force yourself to completely relax and get all thoughts out of your head. The hammock helps turn off the brain activity factor. People really like this state of peace, the feeling of a cradle, a slight swaying … Completely fly away.

Victory over fears

– Being upside down for many is a real fear. In the upside down position, the world literally turns upside down. A hammock helps to cope with this fear. It makes it possible to safely enter an inverted position, find yourself in space, understand where you are relative to the floor and ceiling, “find” your legs and arms. After this practice, doing a headstand on the mat will be much easier.

Aerial yoga helps you to come to yourself

Aerial yoga: a complete “fly away” on a hammock! – A person can come to regular yoga and just do a set of physical exercises. And once in a hammock, he will receive an inner lightness that will give him freedom.

From the hammock, everyone takes what he needs. For some, this is therapeutic help: stretch the spine, relieve tension from the back. If desired, it can be a good physical activity that you can’t get in the gym. At the same time, aerial yoga gives incomparable relaxation. For me, it’s about finding yourself. Be able to hear your thoughts, understand the possibilities of the body.

Like any practice, aerial yoga helps to achieve a harmonious balance of three components: body, spirit and mind. When a person feels a muscle that he did not know about before, he turns on this process. When at the level of the mind he is aware of his body, the soul rejoices! We combine this “three-leafed” into a single whole and eventually come to ourselves.

Yes, you can throw beautiful philosophical phrases, talk about enlightenment. But in fact, the point is that when performing any action, let it pass through your consciousness. And yoga teaches you to do it.