How to hang aerial silks at home

Aerial dance and aerial yoga offer a captivating way to build strength, flexibility, and grace. The idea of practicing at home can be incredibly appealing as studio classes and time can get expensive. However, safely and effectively hanging aerial silks in a home environment requires careful planning, the right equipment, and a solid understanding of your space’s structural limitations. In this guide, we'll walk you through how to hang aerial silks at home so you can enjoy the freedom of training whenever inspiration strikes!

Hire a Structural Engineer  

#1. The first step in your home setup will be to hire a structural engineer to assess and install your rig point. This is the most expensive step, so budget appropriately, but is absolutely necessary to keep you safe! Do not skip! 

A structural engineer is the only person who can accurately answer the question “is this safe to hang aerial silks off of?”. A structural engineer is also a qualified person who can design a rig point that is safe for dynamic aerial loads. If you’d like to be more informed about safe rigging practices, read our blog on rigging guidelines here.

Purchase Aerial Equipment 

#2. Once your engineer has given the green light on your rig point you can purchase equipment! At Aerial Fabric Acrobatics, we sell high quality silks and hardware. We get many questions regarding how long aerial silks should be, how high do aerial silks need to be, and the minimum ceiling height for aerial silks. Here are answers to common questions: 

How long should aerial silks be? 

To calculate how much fabric you need for aerial dance or aerial yoga, follow these steps. We have steps for a traditional aerial silk dance set up, meaning you have a fixed point at the rig point with 2 separate tails coming all the way down and pooling on the ground, and also for an aerial hammock. 

How to Calculate Fabric needed for an Aerial Dance Silk:

• Measure the Rigging Height: Begin by measuring the height from the ground to the rigging point. For high ceilings, we recommend using a laser measure for precision.
• Calculate Fabric Length: Multiply this height by 2 to account for both “sides” of the silk.
• Add Tail Length: Decide how much “tail” you want pooling on the ground. Typically, 3 feet is a common choice, but this can vary depending on your skills and preferences. Remember to multiply this tail length by 2 to account for both sides of the silk!
• Include Rig Tie Length: Add 1 foot to account for the rigging tie, such as the tie to a rescue 8 or fabric bell.
• Convert to Yards: If your measurements are in feet, convert the total to yards by dividing by 3, as our fabric is sold in yards. If your calculation falls between yards, it’s best to round up.

How to Calculate Fabric needed for an Aerial Hammock: 

• Measure the Rigging Height: Begin by measuring the height from the ground to the rigging point. For high ceilings, we recommend using a laser measure for precision.
• Account for Hammock Height: Determine how high you want the hammock to be off the ground, typically for aerial yoga around hip height (about 3 feet). Subtract this height from the ceiling height. For example, if your ceiling is 12 feet high and you want the hammock 3 feet off the ground, your working height will be 9 feet.
• Calculate Fabric Length: Multiply this working height by 2 to account for both “sides” of the hammock.
• Add Rig Tie Length: Depending on your rigging method, add the appropriate fabric length. If you are rigging with runners or multiple links, add 1.5 feet per side (3 feet total). If you are rigging with a rescue 8 setup, add an additional 9 feet of fabric, as this tie requires more material.

 

How high do aerial silks need to be? 

The higher the aerial silks, the more fabric you will need and the more “working height” you have to utilize. There is no set height limit for aerial silks, however, certain skills and tricks require more height than others. For example, if you are doing a drop, you need significantly more height than you would for a single footlock skill. If you are hoping to do a varied aerial dance, skill based curriculum, you will want at minimum, 15 feet of ceiling height. However, there is much you can do without that height including conditioning and skills lower to the ground that don’t require as much height to set up. 

Keeping Yourself Safe! 

Once you have an aerial silk or yoga hammock in your house, you need to take precautions to keep yourself and others safe! Here are a few things you need to keep in mind and make “rules” about:

• If you are practicing trick based aerial dance, ALWAYS practice with a crash mat! 4 to 8 inch mats are industry standard. 
• NEVER practice alone! Entanglement is a serious risk that needs to be managed. 
• Be mindful when practicing new skills, skills learned online, etc. We always recommend taking studio classes to supplement learning. 

Knowing how to hang aerial silks at home, and doing it properly, opens up a world of opportunities for practicing aerial dance or yoga on your own schedule. However, it’s crucial to prioritize safety by hiring a structural engineer, using the correct equipment, and following best practices to ensure a secure setup. With careful planning and adherence to safety guidelines, you can create a safe and inspiring space for your aerial practice! Please note at Aerial Fabric Acrobatics, we are not engineers and thus do not consult on aerial rig points, though we are happy to help you with overall guidelines and aerial equipment purchase!