The Aerial Yoga Weight Limit - How Much Does The Equipment Hold?
“What is the weight limit for aerial yoga?” – is one of the most common question asked by students and those looking to buy equipment for aerial yoga. Participants are often nervous about whether the silky hammock or yoga trapeze will hold them.
Whilst 75% of the moves performed when the participants body weight is evenly distributed between the hammock and the floor it is very understandable that some will be concerned whether the yoga swing will hold their weight for the other 25% of moves where the participant is floating or inverting. This concern can be heightened for those that are plus sized.
When answering the initial question what is the weight limit for aerial yoga we must look at both the equipment and the fact that whilst aerial yoga can bring great health for some, there are others who have conditions which make it dangerous for them to invert. Those that are seriously overweight and not in good health should avoid doing inverts during aerial yoga unless they have the go ahead from their doctor.
Aerial Yoga Weight Limit - Equipment
Hammock or Trapeze
Aerial Yoga Hammocks come in a variety of lengths, stretch, colours and choices of materials. The participant will be relying on it to take their entire body weight in at least 25% of postures. This hammock, swing or trapeze needs to be able to take their weight without breaking.
We’ve taken a look at some of the more popular and reputable products for the working load limit. The Fire toys hammock has a WLL of 172kg (379lbs) and the Prodigy hammock is 170kg (375lbs).
If you plan on buying a hammock, swing or trapeze make sure you know the weight limit that it will hold. You should be aware that some products that are mass produced overseas and come with no WLL are perhaps best avoided as they my not be very safe to use.
Hardware
Daisy Chains
Daisy chains are attached to the rigging point and the hammock or trapeze is then attached to the daisy chain. The daisy chain should come with a WLL – it needs to be rated so that the aerial yoga weight limit of the equipment is known.
Daisy Rope Chains
Some prefer this style of daisy chain over the traditional sort above as they have a reputation for being unsafe for aerial rigging. This is because they’re not designed for the user to be suspended by the individual loops, so the loops don’t need to be very strong. Those from reputable aerial arts companies have a WLL of 185kg. This figure is slightly higher than the WLL of the hammocks. Others have a Breaking load limits of 23KN, which is also strong enough for aerial yoga.
carabineers
Most Carabineers that you will see being sold by reputable sellers will state that they have a 25kN MBS. They should also state that they conform to the requirements of PPE regulation (EU2016/425) to the applicable standard: EN362:2004.
If buying cheap carabineers make sure that they state the required info on the side of the product. If the figure is not stated how do you know what the aerial yoga weight limit is of you equipment?
O-rings
Silk Hammocks are often tied to O-Rings and then a carabineer attaches the O-Ring to the daisy chain or rope chain. These should also have a 25kN MBS so that you know the aerial yoga weight limit for your equipment.
What Are You Going to Hang it From - Rigging Structure
There are a number of things you can hang your aerial yoga hammock or swing from. In our opinion a free standing yoga stand is the better option. And here’s why…..
The participant is at some point going to put there entire weight inside or onto the Aerial Yoga hammock. The weight of the student, the hammock and rigging hardware is going to be supported by the rigging point. The general rule is that rigging should be able to support at least 2,000- 3,000 pounds of force as a safety net. If you happen to cross the fine dividing line into aerial sling this figure will increase.
Do you know if your ceiling or mount will be able to take this weight?
You need to get professionals around unless you know what you are doing or don’t value your life too much.
Hiring a professional circus rigger is highly
recommended in order to ensure your studio and/or home is rigged safely.
That briefly explains why we prefer a free standing aerial yoga frame.
A-Frame / Free standing rig / yoga stand
Aerial yoga stands and free standing aerial rigs are the most popular choice for practising aerial yoga at home. This is because they have been designed with aerial yoga in mind. One of best things about them is that they are completely portable and don’t require you to drill into a ceiling beam.
Another bonus due to their portability is that they can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Those from reputable companies have been fully tested to ensure that they will hold the participants, hammock and the rigging hardware. The working load limit will be stated on the product and any documentation.
There are a number of brilliant aerial yoga stands available to buy online that are fully safety tested. Investing in one of these will eliminate the costs of hiring a professional circus rigger and structural engineer.
Take a look at our aerial yoga stand reviews.
ceiling mounts
Ceiling mounts or hooks are permanent fixtures attached to your ceiling that can be used to hang aerial yoga hammocks and swings from.
They are usually made from heavy duty galvanized steel and are designed to hold a lot of weight.
Ceiling mounts are available for sale on a number of websites that specialise in selling aerial arts products. If you are looking to buy one of these take note of the information above, it should take the weight of the hammock, hardware and participant.
We take safety seriously, if you are going to be practising at home make sure you get the professionals around.
Door frame pull up bars
These are probably okay for the beginner but once you have a little more experience or want to try more extended poses or advanced moves you might find that door frame bars will become too restrictive.
If you do buy one of these make sure that the it will hold at least 5 times your weight.
aerial yoga weight limit - Health
A number of aerial yoga studios have stated that the maximum weight limit for aerial yoga is 250lbs (about 17 stone or 113 kg). This could be because is someone of heavier than this it may be unsafe for them to invert. A similar rule is applied to inversion tables because those who are overweigh are at higher risk for injury (1).
However, taking aerial yoga classes can have many health benefits, so if you are overweight discuss this with the studio instructor. Take the class reap the health benefits and once you have lost weight inverting should be no problem at all.
Summary
Aerial yoga is a brilliant way to exercise that uses an aerial yoga hammock or yoga trapeze/swing to support the body whilst entering and exiting yoga postures. These yoga moves may be a combination of traditional yoga moves as well as variations that come about through the use of using the aerial apparatus. It is not unusual for potential students to ask what the aerial yoga weight limit it, either because they are scared about whether the equipment will be safe for them to put all of their weight in or because they are overweight and they need reassurance about whether it is safe for their health.
Aerial yoga has many benefits but it can also be a dangerous activity if shody equipment is purchased. Ensure that all elements of the equipment has safety ratings so that the true aerial yoga weight limit is know. Often the weight limit stated by studios will be much less than the equipment will actually hold. This may be to protect both the instructor and the participant.