Why become an aerial yoga teacher?

By Gillian Watts

Flying high A

erial yoga is growing in popularity and has a

worldwide community of teachers and students. The

yoga hammock might just be the most creative prop

you will ever use in your class. Whatever style of yoga

you teach or practice, the aerial hammock can be a

great tool to use.

BKS Iyengar introduced props into the modern practice of yoga

to allow all practitioners access to the benefits of the postures

regardless of physical condition, age, or length of study. For

everyone from the most flexible and strong practitioner to the

least, a strategically placed yoga prop can elevate the physical and

spiritual trajectory of the yoga practice.

Using the aerial yoga hammock as the prop can help

practitioners at all levels gain the sensitivity of a pose while

receiving the benefits over time without overextending themselves.

They allow students to practice asanas and pranayama with

greater effectiveness, ease, and stability.

Not only will the hammock help you find more space, freedom

and stability in your poses, they’re also great teaching tools with

endless uses if you get creative!

Many asanas bring us face-to-face with our fears. The prospect

of inversions or backbends may be terrifying to a student. In this

case, the hammock is an amazing friend in your practice to face,

alleviate, and overcome the fear. For example, learning to do

advanced asanas such as headstand, arm balances, handstands

and many more. The aerial hammock can support the student to

overcome the fear of falling.

One of the simplest advantages of the aerial hammock is offering

a comfortable seat to your students. For so many students sitting

comfortably on the floor is not an option. Inside an aerial hammock

a comfortable and steady seat awaits! As defined in the Yoga Sutras

of Patañjali, it defines asana as follows: “Sthiram sukham aasanam”

which means, “asana is a steady and comfortable seat.” The Sutras

refer to asana in relation to being a posture to be assumed for

meditation, and says little more about it — no instructions, and

certainly no descriptions of particular asanas.

So whatever your yoga teaching focus is please keep an open

mind to the benefits of aerial yoga. The hammock as a prop can

offer so many people adventure, advantages and experiences.

Aerial yoga is growing rapidly in popularity as a prop and as a

discipline in its own right.

Gillian Watt

(aerialyogaedinburgh.co.uk)