Yoga has become that new, quirky, Instagrammable hobby these days. But there's something even more beautiful and transformative about hanging from the sky, nestled in silk, like a butterfly emerging from your cocoon. That, my friends, is aerial yoga.
For thousands of years, yoga has been considered one of the greatest ways to stay physically and mentally fit. But as time progresses, we come up with new innovations to keep things interesting. One such innovation is aerial yoga, which puts an interesting spin on traditional yoga with the use of a suspended hammock or really strong fabric.
The hammock, typically made of silk, is hung from the ceiling and provides support during various yoga postures. This allows practitioners to perform poses that might be difficult or impossible on the floor while also offering the opportunity to experience weightlessness, increased flexibility, and deeper stretches.
In this blog, we will read about this increasingly popular form of yoga, whether or not it's good for your body and the benefits of aerial yoga!
Table of Contents
- What Is Aerial Yoga & How To Do It?
- Is Aerial Yoga Good For Losing Weight? Aerial Yoga Benefits For Weight Loss
- Is Aerial Yoga Good For Your Body?
- Yoga vs Aerial Yoga: Which Is Better
- Dietitian’s Recommendation
- The Final Say
- FAQs
- References
What Is Aerial Yoga & How To Do It?
Aerial yoga, also called anti-gravity yoga, is a modern form of traditional yoga that combines elements from yoga, pilates, dance and aerial acrobatics.
In aerial yoga, we use a silk hammock or cloth suspended from the ceiling that allows us to do different yoga positions that we usually can't do on a mat. It combines the traditional philosophy of asanas and yoga with aerial art. The silk fabrics fully support your body, even when you're off the ground, which means you will be suspended in the air!
Aerial yoga might seem daunting to beginners, but with the right instructions, anyone can do it! Here are the basic steps to do aerial yoga:
- Sit in the Hammock: Start by sitting in the hammock, letting it completely support your body. The hammock should be placed around your hips or under your thighs.
- Find Balance: Hold onto the hammock for stability, and gently shift your weight to get used to the feeling of being suspended.
- Basic Poses: From here, you can transition into poses like downward dog or warrior poses, using the hammock for support and deeper stretches.
- Inversions: With practice, you can try inversions (e.g., flipping upside down) where the hammock supports your back, providing spinal decompression.
- Focus on Breathing: As with traditional yoga, focus on your breath and relax into each pose, allowing gravity to help stretch and strengthen your body.
We recommend that you attend a class or get a private instructor for proper guidance on technique and safety.
Also Read: Getting A Toned Belly Is Easy! Practise These 15 Yoga Exercises For Belly Fat And A Strong Core!
Is Aerial Yoga Good For Losing Weight? Aerial Yoga Benefits For Weight Loss
Does aerial yoga help you lose weight? Yes, like any other type of exercise, aerial yoga can help with weight loss by engaging your muscles to perform yoga poses in the air. This enables you to build muscle while burning fat, aiding in weight loss. Being a form of physical exercise, aerial yoga also burns calories through the balance required to control the hammock, challenging your core as you shift positions.
A study by the American Council on Exercise showed that aerial yoga can burn 320 calories in 50 minutes and improve cardiovascular health after just six weeks. The more intense the practice, the more calories you'll burn!
Here are some weight-loss-specific and health benefits of aerial yoga:
1. Improving Blood Circulation
As you move in aerial yoga, you also move the blood in your body. This encourages healthy blood circulation, which can help you fight heart disease and also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This can give you more energy and focus in the long run, which may be beneficial for staying active and would directly translate to weight loss.
Also Read: 7 Benefits Of Cardiovascular Exercise To Improve Your Heart Health & Fitness!
2. Stimulating Digestion
When you do aerial yoga, you encourage movements and stretches that activate the digestive system. This yoga for digestive health can relieve constipation and improve overall gut health, which aids in weight loss by promoting efficient digestion and detoxification.
3. Decompression of The Spine
Aerial yoga also provides spinal decompression with its inversion poses that realign and elongate the spine, counteracting spinal compression and restoring its natural position. This decompression can alleviate back pain and improve posture, making it easier to engage in physical activity without discomfort.
By promoting better spinal alignment and reducing discomfort, aerial yoga encourages greater mobility. This increased range of motion can enhance overall physical activity levels, contributing to calorie burn and weight loss.
4. Body Detox
Aerial yoga promotes detoxification through its unique movements and inversions. The practice encourages lymphatic drainage, which helps remove toxins from the body. Inversions and gentle swinging motions can stimulate circulation and enhance blood flow, promoting overall detoxification.
This improved circulation aids in flushing out waste products and can contribute to a healthier metabolism, which is essential for weight loss.
Also Read: 5 Detox Water For Weight Loss: Benefits And All About 7-Day Detox Diet!
5. Stress Relief
We’re well aware of yoga for stress management. Aerial yoga, too, can offer you great stress relief. It calms your mind, allowing you to meditate and focus on positive thoughts—yes, even upside down! Inversions boost balance, energy, and focus, while increased blood flow to the brain improves cognitive function. Lower stress levels can lead to healthier eating habits and reduced emotional eating, both of which are crucial for weight loss.
Also Read: 5 Stress Relief Workouts And 7 Ways To Unwind For A Balanced Life
Is Aerial Yoga Good For Your Body?
Absolutely! Aerial yoga is a great exercise for our bodies as it allows us to enjoy more of the spiritual benefits of yoga along with physical exercise and have fun at the same time. In aerial yoga, the hammock is suspended at different heights, giving you the freedom to try new poses. The cushioning allows for a deeper stretch and greater range of motion than on the floor.
Aerial yoga is a great exercise for flexibility, and with the hammock supporting your tailbone, backbends like the wheel pose become effortless, and gravity makes movement easier. With aerial yoga, you can do poses you would never be able to do on the ground.
When we talk about physical benefits, this form of suspended yoga also strengthens the muscles of the core, increases spinal and shoulder flexibility, and prevents strain on the back. Hanging in the air releases tension in bones and muscles, increases flexibility, and deepens your practice. Aerial yoga floats your stress away, boosting endorphins and balance. It’s great for cardiovascular health and deep stretching, improving blood flow. Like regular yoga, it releases tension while connecting body and mind—plus, you get to have fun in the air!
Also Read: 10 Targeted Poses Of Yoga For Leg Strength, Agility & Power!
Yoga vs Aerial Yoga: Which Is Better
Aerial yoga is derived from traditional yoga, and both have their own benefits. But for people with joint problems, aerial yoga may be a better option as it helps you get deeper into poses by using a silk yoga hammock as support to reach points in the body that are otherwise hard to reach without wholly relying on your joints for support. Aerial yoga reduces the need for joints to bear the full weight of your body while still allowing for a deeper stretch and better range of motion.
Besides that, hanging upside down in aerial yoga can also have many benefits for the body and mind, like improved circulation, reduced spinal pressure, enhanced flexibility and tension relief. It can also boost your energy and focus and take some of your stress away.
Despite the general assumption that aerial yoga is more challenging than traditional yoga, you can reach better movement and flexibility with this new practice.
Also Read: How To Calm Anxiety Instantly? Try These 10 Pressure Points For Anxiety & Panic
Expert’s Advice
Whether you're looking for physical strength, peace of mind, or simply a unique way to stay active, aerial yoga can be your new bestie. I recommend you start slowly and under the eye of a certified instructor to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey into the aerial world of yoga.
Besides physical training, one should always focus on a healthy diet and lifestyle, as a balance of everything is essential to staying healthy.
Health Expert
Lavina Chauhan
The Final Say
Aerial yoga is not just fun but also therapeutic. More than that, it can also be incredibly accessible. However, remember that aerial yoga is not suitable for pregnant women, people with unregulated blood pressure, heart disease or patients with eye diseases such as cataracts or retinal detachment. If you don't check any of those boxes, then feel free to explore the world of aerial yoga and get flexible!
FAQs
1. Can anyone do aerial yoga?
Yes, anyone at any fitness level can do aerial yoga! However, it's not recommended for pregnant women or those with certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or eye problems.
2. How often should I do aerial yoga for weight loss?
For weight loss, aim for 3-4 aerial yoga sessions per week. Consistency, along with a balanced diet, can help maximise results.
3. Can aerial yoga help with back pain?
Aerial yoga can help relieve back pain by decompressing the spine but always check with your doctor before starting.
References
- https://www.thehotyogaspot.com/blog/what-is-aerial-yoga-and-what-are-the-benefits
- https://www.aerialyogacademy.com/pages/aerial-yoga-and-its-amazing-benefits
- https://www.onlymyhealth.com/benefits-of-aerial-yoga-exercise-1692788347
- https://thepinklotusacademia.com/aerial-yoga-weight-loss-benefits/
- https://www.thehealthsite.com/fitness/aerial-yoga-for-weight-loss-and-more-289338/
- https://www.thehealthsite.com/fitness/aerial-yoga-for-weight-loss-and-more-289338/
- https://houseofbeautyindia.com/blogs/blogs/aerial-yoga-what-it-is-aerial-yoga-v-s-traditional-yoga-benefits#:~:text=The%20aerial%20yoga%20hammock%20allows,due%20to%20injuries%20or%20disabilities.
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