Now that you have decided to take up aerial yoga, the next thing you will do is find the aerial yoga class that suits your needs. Many people make the rookie mistake of learning aerial yoga on their own. Although you can learn this yoga style at home, there are many cons that come along with it. There are certain things you need to take care of when you start learning aerial yoga, many of which you won’t understand if you practice on your own. It is easy to hurt yourself if you don’t perform aerial yoga the right way. Hence, it is always advisable to first go to an aerial yoga class and learn from an instructor. Once you are clear with the basics and postures, you can go ahead and start practicing aerial yoga at home.
You will be performing different anti-gravity yoga poses and inversions in your yoga class. Most of these will include a hammock or a swing, so you might want that as well.
Trying aerial yoga can be an intimidating thing, especially if you have never tried yoga. Yoga can be tricky, but aerial yoga looks ten times difficult from the outside because you are hanging upside down. When you are going to take on a challenging thing; it’s always better to be prepared. This is exactly what you need to do with aerial yoga as well. Aerial yoga might look like something that requires a lot of practice and patience. So, the best thing you can do is know everything there and be prepared before going to your first yoga class.
There are certain things you must do before going to your very first aerial yoga class, these are included in the article below. Doing these will make you feel more confident and help you take the task with full power. Let’s get started.
Aerial Yoga Class Preparation (Checklist)
1. Choose The Right Clothing
It is necessary to wear the appropriate clothing for an aerial yoga class. The workout requires you to be upside down or in the air for the most part hence wearing the right clothes will help you feel comfortable. It is the best option to wear form-fitted clothes. Loose clothes may get in the way or get tangled in the hammock while you are doing yoga. Avoid loose tops and wide pants at all costs. The right clothing for aerial yoga includes-
- Leggings for women- tight leggings will minimize friction on your skin which can be caused by the hammock.
- Meggings for men- You should have your skin covered while doing yoga.
- Sports bra- a sports bra will help you feel secure and hold everything in place.
- Fitting top- You will be better off wearing a form-fitted top when you are upside down.
- Headband- Use this to keep your hair away from the face because your hair can hamper your vision when you are upside-down.
You can also wear yoga socks that have a nice grip. Avoid wearing jewelry at all cost
2. Arrive Early To Your First Class
If you feel weird before your first class, try reaching the location a little early. This will give you extra time to prepare yourself. Additionally, you can also enter the class and get a chance to select the perfect spot for you. Some people also like to reach early and introduce themselves to the instructor. This might help you during the class as you can let them know what you are good at and what you are bad at.
3. Eat One Hour Before The Class Starts
Aerial yoga will require you to do some anti-gravity exercises hence it is always advisable to not eat anything for at least one hour before the start of the class. Make sure whatever you eat is light and healthy. You don’t want to feel full or bloated before the class starts, but you also want to make sure you eat something healthy so that you don’t feel light-headed because of the intensity of the exercises. Here are some recommendations to keep your energy levels high for the exercises: muesli with milk, boiled egg, a protein bar, or porridge.
4. Be Positive
A positive mindset is the most important thing. Some people get way over in their heads and end up making their experience worse. Make sure you go in with a positive mindset and take this as an opportunity to learn something new. Remember that you are there to enjoy and keep your body fit. You can opt-out whenever you want, all you need to do is give aerial yoga a chance and then you won’t have to.
5. Have An Open Mind
If you already go with the mindset that aerial yoga is impossible, no matter what you do you won’t be able to do well. On the other hand, if you keep an open mind and are hopeful of the possibility of doing well then, in fact, you will end up doing well. Your mindset towards it will help you conquer fifty percent of the battle.
6. Don’t Doubt Your Flexibility
Most people who go for aerial yoga are worried about their flexibility or lack thereof. What people don’t know is that aerial yoga is the best form of exercise to improve your flexibility. So, if you are not that flexible, it means you should go for aerial yoga all the more. The poses impact your entire body and help you stretch your muscles completely. The hammock will provide you with the support you need and make the stretch easier.
The most important thing to do before your first aerial yoga class is to relax your body and mind. Taking up any new challenge is more about your mindset and less about your strength. If you have the right mindset and patience level, nothing is impossible, especially when it comes to exercise. Aerial yoga is more fun than intimidating if you can get over the initial anxiety. It gives you an endorphin rush, which will help you perform even better.
Another thing you might want to keep in mind; don’t use heavy scents on your body. These can affect the durability of the hammock. Also, the scent mixed with sweat generates an even worse odor.
If nothing else works, just remember that you have an instructor there to guide you through every step. They can modify poses for you depending on your flexibility levels. All you have to do is, take every pose as it comes, give your best, and stay positive throughout the class.
