AERIAL HAMMOCKS & RIGS
You asked, and we heard you. Here are some tips for where to purchase your aerial hammock and suggestions for how to rig them. I will start by saying I am not a contractor or a structural engineer and I would highly recommend consulting one before rigging an aerial hammock. With that being said, I can give you some general recommendations for places to start when designing an at-home aerial practice, which we highly recommend.
Aerial Rigs
The most flexible way to hang an aerial hammock is with a free-standing rig. NDIYO works with Vvolfy Metal Works and I absolutely LOVE my rig. It’s the beautiful black one in the desert photos. It’s incredibly sturdy, extremely well built, easy to put up and down, and it’s so pretty. It’s definitely a professional rig and used by a lot of performers and instructors. Some other great at-home rigs that are used primarily for Aerial Yoga and Aerial Fitness classes are YogaBody, Uplift Active, and X Pole. They are also sturdy, easy to put up and down, have adjustable heights, and most come with a cute carrying case that allows you to practice with us inside and out. Make sure the base of the hammock is secure with either webbing that connects all of the legs of the rig and or sandbags on each foot of the rig.
Ceiling Rigging
Some recommendations of places to potentially hang an aerial hammock that you can discuss with your contractor or experienced and qualified rigger are: mounting TRX X Mounts or Aerial Essentials Hammock Anchors into structural cross beams in your workout room, wrap padding and webbing around an I beam or use Aerial Essentials Beam Clamps, or mount rock climbing bolt-hangers on an exposed rafter on a porch or open ceiling. Important - you are moving dynamically in the hammock, not statically, the support structure and anchor will need to support that load.
Hammocks & Hardware
I personally prefer the nylon tricot low stretch aerial hammock fabric, the soft and stretchy material, but you have a choice between an Aerial Hammock or a Yoga Swing / Yoga Trapeze which is a more parachute material and comes with handles. I have used and trusted Aerial Essentials fabric and rigging equipment for years and highly recommend them. They sell an Aerial Yoga Hammock Kit that comes with multiple options. They all work great but my favorite setup for Aerial Yoga or Aerial Fitness is 7 yards for a 12-foot ceiling/rig, double point hammock, auto-locking D steel carabiners, hammock rings, and pretty fabric color of your choice (my favorite part). Don’t worry, the website will walk you through all of these options. Vvolfy Metal Works also has an incredible line of fabrics, hammock kits, and beautifully designed aerial apparatuses. Then depending on your rigging, I like to use the Aerial Essentials Daisy Chains to make it much quicker and easier to adjust my hammock height. The Aerial Essentials site also includes an Educational Section that is extremely helpful with tutorial videos on YouTube. If you would like more information about hammocks please check out NDIYO's video on Hammocks and Yoga Swings.
Remember
Always consult a contractor or engineer when rigging your hammock. You are creating a dynamic load, not a static load and your anchor points need to be able to support that in all directions. Always connect steel hardware to other steel hardware, as steel on aluminum can weaken and damage the aluminum components. Always use locking carabiners. Make sure your knot is tied properly and check it often. You must use dynamic daisy chains, not static climbing daisy chains, as the loops are not rated for the forces you can create. Always check for rips or tears in the fabric. Always consult the advice of an experienced and qualified rigger.
- Nikki
*VIDEO coming soon!!
