Aerial Butterfly Pose is a great pose to relax, meditate, and stretch out your hips. Did you know that flapping your arm wings takes coordination, core strength and communication between the brain and body?

Aerial Butterfly requires focus and strength to stay upright in the hammock, it is not suitable for children under age six. Parents are advised to spot children when doing this pose and to make sure they are practicing on a padded floor.

What are the Benefits of Aerial Butterfly Pose?

• Opens hips
• Improves posture
• Increases body awareness and motor planning
  
• Enhances executive function
• Promotes focus and concentration

If children are not familiar with Butterfly Pose on the ground, I would first teach it on the ground so they understand how to form the butterfly legs in the hammock by gluing the soles of their feet together and taking their legs out wide.  Additionally, when teaching for the first it helps to place the hammock low to the ground so that if children do fall forward it does not cause injury.  

This pose is contraindicated for children with hip and knee injuries.

What to Say

• We are going to be butterflies
• Start with the fabric in front of you.
• Make the hammock skinny like a jump rope.
• Step onto the hammock.
• Bring yourself to a standing position.
• While standing in the hammock take your legs behind the fabric.
• Glue the bottoms of your feet together.
• Start to slide hands down the hammock.
• Slide into butterfly legs.
• Knees should be behind the hammock.
• Reach one arm through and then the other.
• You are a butterfly!

Want to learn more amazing aerial yoga poses? Join us for a class! We have both online and in person!