Aerial Essentials: Everything You Need to Start Aerial Yoga at Home or in Studio
No matter how long you’ve been doing aerial, setting up your own rig can be a daunting task. It requires new knowledge, special equipment, and if you mess it up, you could put your body at risk. Of course it’s scary. However, it doesn’t have to stay that way. In this month’s blog, we will cover everything you need to know to set up an aerial rig, whether at home or in a studio.
Quick List of Aerial Essentials
For handy reference, here is a list of things you will want to start with:
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Aerial Yoga Hammock Kit: Includes the fabric and equipment to connect it to your aerial ceiling point. This is the yoga version. Links to silks and aerial circus hammocks are below.
- Aerial Silks: The best-selling fabric is the low-stretch nylon tricot aerial fabric. It is perfect for aerial yoga and beginner to intermediate aerial dance due to its strong and non-stretch properties. This makes it ideal for climbing, wrapping, and aerial sequences. LINK -
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Carabiners: Needed to connect everything together. Make sure you use carabiners with at least a 25 kilonewton working load along the major axis, and that they are self-locking or screw-locking.
- Multiple Link (also called Daisy Chains): Let you adjust the height from your aerial yoga rigging point. *Important note; multiple links are NOT safe for aerial dance (any dynamic spinning, swinging, climbing, dropping, etc).
- Personal Anchor System (PAS): Need to adjust the height of your aerial dance sling or hammock? A PAS is the safe way to do this! The adjustable rigging PAS features individual full-strength interlocking loops. This means you can connect to any one of the individual loops and maintain a very high breaking strength. LINK:
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Ceiling Mount or Rig: You can use a portable rig to get going quickly. If you want to install a mount directly, consult structural engineers and riggers to ensure any hard points you install can withstand the dynamic load of aerial.
- Swivel: Lets you spin in the air.
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Safety Mat: We do not sell mats, but they are an aerial essential! We recommend 4 inches thick for aerial yoga and at least 8 inches for aerial dance (trick-based).
- Recommended Clothes: Form-fitting clothes without metal protrusions that could rip the fabric, such as yoga pants and a tight-fitting t-shirt.
Do Aerial Essentials Change if You’re at Home Versus in a Studio?
Yes and no. While the fundamental components remain the same, introducing other people using the apparatus can change how you think about the scales you need. Equipment replacement frequency is much higher when a dozen people regularly use it instead of just one. In a studio, you must account for higher traffic, a greater variety of body types and sizes, varied usage, and a lower risk tolerance.
Aerial Hammock Kits: The Foundation of Your Practice
If you are doing aerial yoga, you will want to get one of the following two kits:
Both kits contain the aerial fabric hammock (with customizable length and color to suit your needs and preferences) and the hardware to connect to rigging points. The difference is in the basic version, the runner only connects the silk to the carabiner and does not allow for easy height adjustment. With the adjustable version, multiple links are included, which are designed for you to easily adjust to multiple heights.
If you are training by yourself and only want to work at one height, the basic version is perfect for you. If you want to train at multiple heights or have different people training, the adjustable version is ideal.
If you are doing aerial circus, we recommend one of these two aerial dance hammock kits:
Again, both kits contain the aerial fabric for the hammock (with customizable length and color) and the hardware to connect to rigging point.
The single point hammock uses a PAS to hold up the sling and connect it to the swivel. It is easily adjustable and safe under dynamic loads. The rescue 8 setup is the gold standard for studio usage due to its durability and the security of its rig tie. Both types of hardware are viable, and while it is largely a matter of personal preference, we recommend the rescue 8 version for studio settings due to durability.
Aerial Dance Kit
If you want to get into aerial silks, these aerial fabric kits will give you what you need to get set up:
Both kits include the hardware and aerial fabric you need to get started. The only difference is in the fabric’s stretch. This is a personal preference, but each will feel different for moves and techniques. A low-stretch fabric will be more stable and will be much easier to climb, but won’t cushion you as much during drops. A medium stretch will bounce as you move, adding new dynamic possibilities and giving extra cushion in drops. The tradeoff is you have to fight against the bounce to gain height and keep that bounce in mind when calculating height requirements for aerial skills.
Rigging Equipment: Safety First, Always
Safety isn’t just about how we practice; it’s also about ensuring the equipment we use is up to the task. Given the myriad options out there, it can be difficult to tell what variety of each piece of hardware is right for the job. Here are some things to look for in your rigging gear.
Carabiners
Not all carabiners are created equal. They are designed for different purposes and loads. For aerial, there are a few things to confirm:
First, ensure that the carabiner is either self-locking or screw-locking. With all the motion in the air, a stray jostle can cause a regular carabiner’s gate to pop open. It’s a low chance, but falling out of the sky is not something you want to risk.
Second, consider the working load. Drops and dynamic movement generate much more force than your body weight alone. The general guidance is that an aerialist can exert forces up to a thousand pounds during a drop. To maintain a safety margin, the recommended minimum breaking strength for carabiners is 25 kilonewtons along the major axis.
Finally, replace carabiners when any part has lost 10% along any dimension. Use calipers to compare worn sections to ensure they remain within safety tolerances.
Daisy Chains vs. Personal Anchor Systems
Daisy chains, also called multiple links, allow you to adjust the height from your aerial yoga rigging point. However, it’s important to note that multiple links are not safe for aerial dance involving any dynamic spinning, swinging, climbing, or drops! Their sewn loops of the multiple link can rip under dynamic force causing equipment failure.
If you need to adjust the height of your aerial dance sling or hammock, a Personal Anchor System (PAS) is the safe choice. PAS features individual full-strength interlocking loops, meaning you can connect to any of the loops and maintain a very high breaking strength.
Ceiling Mounts vs. Portable Rigs
If you want to mount to a ceiling, you will need a structural engineer to evaluate the load-bearing capacity. Roofs and ceilings are not designed with aerial in mind, and aerial can place surprisingly heavy loads on rigging points.
While we cannot assist with structural installations, there is no need to despair. A portable rig bypasses these concerns. Although it takes up more floor space, with a quality portable rig you can fly anywhere you want. As with any equipment, perform regular checks to verify everything is in good working condition.
Safety Mat
At Aerial Fabric, we believe you should always have a mat underneath you. Whether training or performing, safety comes first. A 4” mat suffices for aerial yoga, where you are close to the ground in stable positions, but you should use at least an 8” crash mat for aerial dance.
Optional but Helpful: Swivels, Chalk, Rosin & Mats
These aren’t required but can make aerial more fun, easier, or safer.
Swivels
While you don’t want to spin during aerial yoga, spinning in aerial dance can add a lot to a routine. You can use swivels above the apparatus as a whole, or for each end of a hammock.
As with carabiners, replace swivels when 10% of the metal has worn away or if the swivel starts to stick while spinning.
Chalk or Rosin
Use chalk or rosin to help grip the fabric. Grip strength is often an initial barrier to learning aerial. Chalk or rosin can reduce this gap by making it easier to hold on. Use as much or as little as needed to balance ease of use with building your grip strength.
Apparel & Prep: Dress for Success
In general, you can wear to aerial what you might wear to any workout. However, there are a few additional considerations:
First, wear tight-fitting clothes. Loose clothes, including untucked shirts, can get caught in the fabric as you wrap and twist yourself, potentially causing you to get stuck.
Next, make sure you don’t have any metal zippers, buttons, or other protrusions that could catch or rip the fabric. Similarly, avoid jewelry. Remove rings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, and dangly earrings (studs are okay).
Finally, avoid wearing nylon. While we call them aerial silks, most fabrics are actually nylon, and friction between nylon garments and nylon fabric increases the risk of melting and ruining the fabric.
Training Tools: Learn the Moves Safely
If you can, learn aerial from a professional coach or instructor. While performers and influencers make it look easy, there is significant technique behind each skill. In-person instruction can identify specifics to adjust, provide progressions, and suggest alternatives for skills you aren’t yet ready for. Most major cities have studios where you can train. Search for aerial yoga, aerial dance, or circus studios to find them.
If you don’t have access to a studio, don’t worry. There are online videos that can get you started. Take your time with them, and never train alone. If you are training at home, have someone in the room with you in case something goes wrong, to help get you unstuck, or to call for medical assistance.
To get started with aerial yoga, check out this post on dance poses for aerial yoga.
If you just want to build up strength before going to the studio, check out this post on aerial conditioning tutorials.
Bonus Tips for Setting Up at Home
Make sure you have enough floor space to set up a portable rig, as it takes up a fair amount of room. If you don’t have room inside, you can set up the rig outside, but be aware of the weather. Rain and humidity will increase wear on silks and hardware, so take it down and store it inside between uses.
Always prioritize safety. Without a professional instructor, you may miss reminders you would get in the studio. Regularly check your equipment, never train alone, make sure you have a mat underneath you, and think through what you are doing. Never take anything for granted.
Finally, after all the work you put into aerial, you should feel proud of what you have set up and accomplished. Show it off to the world with these pieces of apparel.
FAQs About Aerial Essentials
Can I install an aerial hammock in an apartment?
Some apartment buildings won’t allow modifications to the ceiling, and ceilings likely aren’t rated to support a rigging point. However, if you have the height and space, you can set up a portable aerial rig. With a standard ceiling height, you can easily do aerial yoga, but aerial dance generally requires at least 12 feet (ideally more) between the floor and the rigging point.
What’s the difference between yoga hammocks and aerial silks?
The main difference is the length of fabric and where you fold it. For hammocks, you hang it by the ends with the fold at the bottom. For silks, you hang it by the fold with the ends at the bottom. Both can use low stretch fabric, but only silks use the medium stretch “bounce” fabric.
How do I know if my ceiling is strong enough?
You need a professional structural engineer to evaluate it. Ask them to verify it can support a 5,000 lb dynamic load. In general, your ceiling isn’t strong enough unless it’s been reinforced specifically for aerial dance.
Do I need a swivel or can I skip it?
If you’re just planning to do aerial yoga, you can skip the swivel. However, for any kind of aerial dance, you will want a swivel. Not only does spinning look great, but without it, tricks become harder as you are constantly fighting against a static point, and it becomes easier to get tangled.
How often should I replace my fabric or carabiners?
For home use, replace fabric and carabiners when they don’t meet inspection criteria. For fabric, small holes can be repaired, but if a hole is larger than a quarter or runs horizontally, it’s time to replace it. For carabiners and metal hardware, use the 10% rule: when more than 10% of the metal has worn (typically where it contacts other hardware, such as a swivel or ceiling mount), replace it. You can measure 10% wear with calipers.
