Aerial Silks and Aerial Yoga
Aerial silks and aerial yoga have several similarities; however, they are two distinctly different types of aerial arts.
Contrary to what the name suggests, people do not make aerial silks from silk. They are crafted from the same material as aerial hammocks. The fabric’s stretchability can vary and someone suspends the aerial silk in columns.
Aerial silks incorporate maneuvers such as climbs, wraps, and drops. Climbs enable aerialists to ascend the silk, providing leverage for airborne poses. Wraps are stationary positions that can be executed either on the ground or from a climb. Drops are performed by integrating climbs and wraps, then releasing a wrap to descend to a new wrap.
Differences between Aerial Art Practices
Traditional yoga serves as the foundation for aerial yoga. The aerial yoga poses are similar to traditional yoga poses. Practitioners practice the poses in an aerial yoga hammock that hangs off the ground.
Aerial yoga classes follow the same class structure as yoga classes. A aerial yoga class includes a warm-up, a series of yoga poses, and a time for relaxation at the end of the class. Aerial classes incorporate mindfulness, yoga practice and enhance the mind-body connection.
Research demonstrates the powerful benefits of meditation, movement, and breath work. When practiced consistently a aerial yoga class can reduce anxiety, stress, and depression.
Aerial silk classes are a combination of gymnastics, dance, and aerial arts. Classes that use aerial silks focus on performances like Cirque Du Soleil. Aerial silk classes are physically demanding and use more acrobatic techniques.
Similarities of Aerial Silks and Aerial Yoga
Both aerial arts practices incorporate climbing, wraps and drops. They use similar aerial fabric that ranges in degree of how much it stretches.
Benefits of Aerial yoga and aerial silks classes:
- Upper body strength. Climbing the aerial silk and the aerial hammock builds upper body and core strength.
- Endurance. Practicing wraps and poses requires endurance. Poses or wraps require practice to perform them correctly.
- Flexibility. Similar to traditional yoga, stretching and performing yoga poses and/or wraps improve flexibility.
- Focus. Aerial arts require concentration and focus to balance in the aerial fabric.The practitioner must use body awareness to find the proper alignment for poses. Focus is also fundamental to drops to make sure wraps are done correctly before letting go and dropping to the new position.
Aerial silks and aerial yoga are two different types of aerial arts. Aerial yoga uses a aerial hammock to support the body in different yoga poses. The hammock helps with various movements, tricks, and stretches. Aerial silks use columns of aerial fabric to perform circus-based movements.
Aerial arts classes are popping up all over the world in a variety of movement settings. At Mindful Child, we practice aerial yoga poses using an aerial sling. People also call this an aerial hammock.
The aerial sling is a great tool. It can make traditional yoga poses easier or harder, based on how you use it. Practicing the movements in our classes will help your child with flexibility, stress reduction, strength and much more. To learn more register for a aerial yoga class, aerial camp, or a kid’s yoga teacher training.