How to Set up Your Yoga Hammock In Kansas City
Aerial yoga would not be aerial yoga without the use of an aerial yoga hammock. The aerial hammock supports the body in different yoga poses and aerial tricks. The aerial yoga hammock helps to enhance proprioception, tactile input, and body awareness.
Aerial yoga hammocks are available in many different fabrics and sizes. When you conduct a google search on aerial hammocks a wide range of products will pop up. This makes it hard to determine which aerial hammocks are truly designed for aerial yoga and which are just swings.
What to Look for in an Aerial Yoga Hammock
Safety Testing. All materials used to rig the yoga hammock must be safety tested. This is includes daisy chains, slings, runners, and aerial fabric. Only use reputable climbing brands such as Black Diamond when buying rigging materials for your hammock.
Material. Material matters. Each aerial fabric has a different weight and feel. Several parents have bought yoga hammocks from places such as Amazon to save money thinking they are similar to the ones we use in our studio, only to find out they are not made of aerial fabric. I use fabric that is 40 denier nylon tricot. It is a minimal to no stretch as I have found this is what the kids prefer and it works best with our style of aerial yoga.
Stretch. Fabric stretch can be subjective. High and medium stretch are best suited for aerial silks with higher ceilings as they provide a bounce when dropping and are harder to climb. Low stretch works best for kid’s aerial yoga as it is supportive and is easier to predict the height off the ground.
Length of Fabric. Your ceiling height will determine the aerial fabric length you will need. Our Mindful Child aerial yoga hammocks that we sell in Kansas City are typically 4.5 yards but I can add fabric for taller ceilings.
Tips for Setting up Your Aerial Hammock in Kansas City
Space is Key. Make sure you have at least a six-foot diameter around your hammock. Your hammock is not static and will swing. To remain safe from bumping into objects make sure there is plenty of empty space around your hammock.
Mats. Padded flooring is ideal, but if it is not in your budget make sure you put gymnastic mats under the hammock, covering the entire six-foot diameter.
Hammocks are not Swings. Most aerial poses are meant to be static and not swinging. When you swing you use momentum, not your muscles; swinging also puts extra force on attachment points, make sure your contractor has accounted for this if hanging a hammock in your home. Swinging also sets you up for injury as your hammock can be more difficult to control when you are in motion and if you are upside down you could hit your head.
Join us for Kid’s Aerial Yoga in Kansas City
Our fall aerial yoga class session starts mid August. Join us for our kid’s aerial yoga classes in Kansas City to learn more ways to be safe and have fun in the aerial yoga hammock.