Beginner's Guide to Yoga and Pilates

Yoga, an age-old meditation and exercise method, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Many people use yoga to find relief from the hectic aspects of their busy and stressful daily lives. But if you want to add a bit of excitement to your yoga routine, aerial yoga might just be the thing for you.

Aerial yoga is quickly gaining popularity worldwide and can provide a wide variety of physical and mental benefits. It combines traditional yoga poses with aerial acrobatics to partially lift some parts of the body or completely lift off the ground with the support of silk hammocks. Beyond its graceful appeal, aerial yoga is great for flexibility and relaxation.

In this article, we will explore the concept of aerial yoga, our biggest aerial yoga tips for beginners and help you understand how you can incorporate it into your daily routine.

What is Aerial Yoga?

Aerial yoga combines elements of traditional yoga asanas with aerial arts. Silk fabric or ropes are hung from a certain height to create a hammock to help individuals perform different poses in the air. Hanging in the air fully or suspending individual body parts is believed to create traction and can open your body’s muscles more gently and intuitively than on a yoga mat. The silk ropes can also be helpful for balance.

If you’re a beginner, the prospect of hanging and hovering in the air might seem slightly daunting. But the good news is that with the right guidance, aerial yoga can be done by anyone. In fact, aerial yoga poses and asanas can be adjusted and accommodated to any beginner yoga routine.

How Aerial Yoga Compares to Traditional Yoga

Aerial yoga, which uses a suspended silk fabric hammock, provides practitioners with a unique experience compared to traditional yoga on a mat. This allows for deeper stretches, inversions and a sense of weightlessness–leading to a more relaxed state of body and mind. Here are some of the ways that aerial yoga differs compared to traditional yoga:

1) Aerial Yoga Vs. Traditional Yoga

While traditional yoga is typically practised on a mat, aerial yoga is performed in a suspended hammock. While both are highly beneficial for improving flexibility, strength and mindfulness, aerial yoga adds an additional element of suspension and inversion, making it easier to access deeper bodily stretches and more challenging poses.

The hammock used in aerial yoga also adds additional support, which allows you to build strength and stability. These inversions and suspended poses have also proven to be more effective at decompressing the spine and reducing pressure on joints than traditional yoga.

2) Benefits of Yoga

Traditional yoga, with its emphasis on holistic well-being, provides a wide variety of benefits for physical health, mental clarity, stress reduction and self-awareness. Regularly practicing yoga can also enhance posture, improve cardiovascular health, build muscle tone and endurance and aid in weight management. The emphasis on breathing techniques and meditation can also help calm the nervous system and promote relaxation.

3) Benefits of Aerial Yoga

Aerial yoga is much more than just a fun and unique workout experience. It is also a great way to take advantage of the benefits of traditional yoga as well as incorporating the additional benefits of aerial fitness.

Aerial yoga offers an intense, full-body workout that can help you build strength, flexibility and core stability. This is because it engages muscles that are typically underutilised in traditional yoga, providing a much more holistic fitness experience.

While aerial and traditional yoga are both extremely effective ways to destress and promote mindfulness, aerial yoga is a great way to add an element of adventure. Moreover, the hanging postures in aerial yoga are a great way to reduce pressure on vertebral discs and enhance your overall range of motion.

Where to Practice Aerial Yoga?

Are you ready to experience some of the extraordinary benefits of aerial yoga? Inner Cocoon, located at Burwood Brickworks, is the best place to experiment with aerial yoga and movement exploration.

Inner Cocoon is more than a fitness studio–it’s a space where movement becomes a powerful tool for connection and transformation. Plus, with a like-minded community, you’ll find a space that’s both relaxing and inspiring. With both traditional yoga and aerial yoga, classes at Inner Cocoon have something for everyone.

Conclusion

Aerial yoga is a fun and unique way for you to combine the benefits of traditional yoga with the exciting and adventurous aspects of aerial fitness. Inner Cocoon at Burwood Brickworks is the ultimate destination for anyone ready to kickstart their yoga journey.

And while you're here, take advantage of everything Burwood Brickworks has to offer. From fitness studios and lively cafes to beauty services and retail options, find everything under one roof at Burwood Brickworks.

FAQs

1) Do I need prior yoga experience to try aerial yoga?

No prior experience is needed to try aerial yoga. It is designed to be adaptable for people at all fitness levels, and beginner yoga routines.

2) What should I wear for an aerial yoga class?

Wear comfortable and close-fitting clothing that protects sensitive areas like your legs, torso, knees and underarms. This will help avoid friction with the fabric.

3) Is aerial yoga safe for everyone?

While aerial yoga is generally considered safe for most people, individuals who are pregnant, experience unregulated blood pressure or have eye conditions should consult with a doctor before trying.