Aerial yoga
Aerial yoga is a hybrid type of yoga developed by Michelle Dortignac in 2006 combining traditional yoga poses, pilates, and dance with the use of a hammock. By 2009, this was followed by multiple aerial yoga brands including Florie Ravinet's Fly Yoga, Rafael Martinez's AeroYoga, and Carmen Curtis's AIReal Yoga.
History
Aerial yoga was developed by Michelle Dortignac in 2006, using a combination of traditional yoga poses, pilates, and dance with the use of a hammock. Fly Yoga was developed in France in 2009 by Florie Ravinet in collaboration with a physical therapist, and has been "approved by health professionals". AeroYoga was developed around the same time by Rafael Martinez. Also in 2009, Carmen Curtis founded AIReal Yoga.The AntiGravity Fitness brand was founded by Christopher Harrison in 2007; it claims to have created what became known as aerial yoga, with a hammock adapted for yoga from aerial arts. AntiGravity had been in existence since 1990 as a performance company of athletes and acrobats.
Hammock
Aerial yoga requires a special kind of hammock, a prop designed to support up to 300 kilograms on average. The rig typically consists of support chains, a webbing strap, a silk hammock and carabiners. Two support chains hang from the ceiling to less than one meter above ground level, and the hammock is connected at the height set by the user. There are two styles of installing an aerial yoga hammock, depending on the effects desired: either two anchor points or one anchor point, to give the participant an increased range of motion.The hammock acts like a swing supporting the hips for forward bends and backbends. Difficult mat-based yoga postures may prove easier to perform through aerial yoga, while the hammock's movement further contributes to adding variety to the aerial workout.