So you are love with aerial yoga, aerial fitness, aerial hammock, aerial flips and tricks and aerial stretch and now you want to set it up at home? Setting up at home is easy to do but you need to purchase reliable aerial yoga hammocks, swings, rigging and stands.
The first thing you need is a top-quality anti-gravity hammock or swing, then you need something to hang it from. Suspending yourself in mid-air could be dangerous if your rigging fails – nobody would want to fall because their hammock fell from the sky so you need to make sure that the hammocks and swings are properly installed for your safety.
So how do you install your yoga hammock safely at home?
There are many ways to install your hammock at home, some options are cheaper than others, some options require a bit of space and others might require you to seek expert advice from a structural engineer. We take a look at the safety issues below and reveal all the ways you can install one at home and start flying as soon as tomorrow.
It is important to first consider if you have enough space to hang one, either inside or outside. Then make sure that you buy a high-quality yoga prop. Ensure that it will hold your weight and that the manufacturer is reputable. Read some reviews. The take a look at what you will hang it from – either a stand, door frame or ceiling hook – maker sure these are installed or erected correctly (get a professional rigger if need be) and components are purchased from a reputable firm and they will hold the weight of you and your hammock.
We will look at these considerations in more detail.
Safety Considerations
Aerial yoga involves being suspended in mid air, sometimes upside down for at least some of your practice. You might only be a few feet of the floor but if you fell it could lead to some injuries and damage to your surroundings. Rigging your equipment should be taken seriously. Take into consideration the following:
You will need a height of at least 2 meters so that there is room to hang the hammock, you will need to allow extra height if you fancy doing some advanced tricks or intend to use a crash mat. Then so that you have room to perform extended asanas like warrior II, wide leg forward bends, inverted plank or an inverted stretch. It’s also to have some space around you in case you fall and also so you can manoeuvre into an inversion, straddle or inverted pigeon with space to move safely.
Choose carefully. The material is going to be holding your entire body weight so it needs to be good quality material, that’s stitched securely and correctly if there is any.
1. Material
Hammocks are made from low/medium grade stretch material composed of Polyester and Elastane. Swings and trapeze are made from highly durable and sturdy parachute-grade material (100% nylon) – these do not stretch. Whether you choose a hammock or a swing you need it to be made from good quality fabric. Cheap options are available – these may not have been properly tested and may break under load. Remember you will be putting all your weight in the fabric so ensure that you don’t buy the cheapest you can find – unless it comes with a testing certificate of course.
If you get a tear or rip in the material anywhere other than the end of the fabric, replace the fabric.
2. Weight Limit
It’s always important to check how much the hammock will hold – it’s weight limit. Most hammocks can support an average load of 400 to 600 pounds. If you intend to be performing tandem poses with your partner on the same swing, then you should go for one that can support that load accordingly. Make sure the swing or hammock has been given a WLL.
There are a number of ways that you can suspend your hammock in the air and each option has its advantages, disadvantages and safety precautions. Let’s look at each option and the things you need to be mindful of:
a) Exposed Beams
Possibly the easiest and cheapest method. As long as the beam is strong enough you can just throw a daisy chain over the top and secure your hammock with a carabiner.
b) Doorframe Pull Up Bar
These are possibly the most convenient way to hang a hammock, although you may be limited on the space above you and to the side of you. However, with this option you don’t need a ton of space, you don’t need to spend a lot of money and you don’t need to get a rigger around to check where you are installing. With regards to the space, unless you have a wide doorframe some inversions and asanas will be almost impossible. If you do try to get into some postures that require a little more space just be mindful that you might injure yourself getting into them.
If you want a simple fast and convenient way to hang your hammock at home a doorframe pull-up bar provides a great option but just be mindful that you might not be able to perform all the moves you do at the studio.
C) Ceiling hooks
If you install a ceiling hook at home it makes putting your hammock up and taking it down so very easy. Hooks are affordable to buy. However you need to make sure that the hook is meant for hanging heavy weights from (don’t try it with a picture hook), have been given a working load limit and you attach it to a strong bit of ceiling – think beam. Once the hook is installed it’s there forever and it provides a reliable, long term solution for doing aerial yoga at home. But you need to make sure the hook is installed correctly.
D) Freestanding aerial yoga stand
A freestanding aerial yoga stand is a frame (think swing set) that is designed to hang a yoga hammock from. Usually, these are made from good quality durable aluminium or stainless steel – hence they are perfect for supporting weight. Most stands on the market have been independently tested to ensure they are safe and to provide a working load limit. Make sure that this number is greater than your weight. This is probably the most expensive option but they offer the most flexibility for home users. You can work inside or outside (weather dependant of course). Most are not designed to be left outside all the time as they might rust – rust would make the frame unsafe – so make sure you check for rust spots if you store outside.
e) Wall Bar
This is made from strong metals is and includes all the necessary bolts to mount it on the wall. Whether the user would compromise form in order to do some moves is yet to be seen. It wouldn’t be our first choice – but if you choose this option just make sure it is installed by a professional. You don’t want it falling out of the wall while you are suspended in the air.
f) Tree Branch
Just like using an exposed beam, this is an easy option. The only safety issue is to make sure that the tree branch isn’t going to fall – it needs to be strong enough to hold your weight. A tree is a very popular option as it looks great in pictures. To select a tree first:
i) CHOOSE THE RIGHT TYPE OF TREE
Ensure you select a suitable type of tree – choose a hardwood such as oak, ash, and maple. These are strong sturdy trees that can bear the weight of the swing. Don’t attempt to use a fruit tree or evergreen as these are quite delicate.
ii) EVALUATE ITS HEALTH
Before you hang your hammock check that the tree is healthy. Look at the branches – do they show any signs of infection, splitting or disease?
iii) FIND A SUITABLE BRANCH
Once you have found a healthy hardwood it’s time to select a branch. Ideally select a thick one, around 8 inches and high enough of the ground and around 2 meters from the ground. That way you will be able to hang your hammock so that the bottom of the loop hits the strike zone – around hip height. It also needs to extend horizontally – try and hang the swing 5ft away from the trunk.
You can either attach the hammock by tying it on. Start by throwing the daisy chains over the branch. Pass the tails of the daisy chain through the spliced loop, let the loop ride up, and tighten against the branch. You can then clip the hammock on using a carabiner.
The branch should feel solid when you put your weight on the hammock.
g) Fitness tree
A new idea that we came across in the UK, but we’re sure that they have them in the USA, Canada, Australia and around the world. This is a long wooden pole inserted into the ground – a bit like a telegraph pole. It has a metal pole sticking out from the top. This can be used to hang suspension cables, punch bags, do pulls up on so we are pretty sure a hammock could be hung from it as well.
There are so many ways to hang your hammock. Do your research before you invest in your equipment.
To hang your hammock / swing from the rigging you will need some carabiners, daisy chains and similar equipment. Just like the equipment above, do not buy cheap, make sure that it has been tested and comes with a WLL or Minimum breaking limit. Against safety first – you don’t want to fall on the floor.
Make sure you invest in climbing grade equipment. If you get an excess of wear and tear on the metal replace them.
There is a range of options to consider when it comes to mats for aerial yoga. Most opt for a sticky yoga mat as they provide a nice stable, sturdy non-slip surface for postures. But once you start doing inverts or standing on the hammock you might want to consider a crash mat to protect you if you fall on your head. However, a crash mat is not suitable for standing postures. So you might need to swap the mats around during your practice if you start entering the realms of aerial dance, fitness or sling.
Whether you opt for doorframe bars, ceiling hooks or freestanding yoga trapeze stands, the choice is all yours but follow safety precautions always: If you intend to install aerial yoga rigs in your house, then it’s important to follow safety precautions always.
Sophie Green has been pole dancing and aerial arts at home and in studios around the world for over 13 years. She’s taken a number of instructor courses in pole and aerial. Plus attended a course on rigging. She takes part in lots of exercise.