The aerial yoga hammock is an apparatus suspended from two symmetrical points. Quality aerial yoga hammocks are made of structural nylon aerial fabric with one-way stretch and use rigging components rated to hold a minimum of 500kg of dynamic load. The fabric of the aerial hammock adapts to the shape of the body offering partial or full body support and assists in promoting freedom in the movement in fascia, muscles, and joints.
Semi-supported and passive aerial hammock exercises help improve joint mobility through joint decompression allowing synovial fluid production which nurtures and lubricates the articular surfaces of the joint.
The aerial hammock can also be applied to achieve graded spinal traction and inverted postures, which rehydrates the intervertebral discs and assists in promoting longevity of the discs.
Suspended inversions are also effective in visceral decompression and promote gravity assisted blood circulation, which can influence healthy function of the digestive and reproductive organs.
When we are inverted our experience of breathing changes. In this relationship, gravity and the weight of the abdominal organs increases the resistance force in which the diaphragm must activity work against during the inhalation phase. This conditions the contraction strength of the diaphragm muscle. During exhalation in an inversion, the return of the diaphragm is assisted by the weight of the abdominal organs which eccentrically lengthens the diaphragm and surrounding connective tissue. This can enhance your ability to complete the exhalation and maintain a relaxed breathing rhythm which can shift us into a parasympathetic state. Many people associate this experience with a wonderful euphoric feeling in body and mind.
As a child, our brain and body develop and thrive from new sensory experiences of movement! With the aerial hammock you can continue to safely explore 3-demensional movement at any age and reap the benefits of neuroplasticity, staying young from the inside out!
This unique practice can be an incredible way to reach optimal health when more mainstream fitness options are ineffective or compound existing joint compression or chronic pain conditions. However, it can also be adapted to elite and gymnastic movement experiences for athletic cross training and working with children.