Aerial Yoga Home Setup
The question I am most often asked, ‘what rig should I buy?” If you get bit with the aerial bug like I did back in 2016, then you’ll want your own rig as well. I am going to tell you different equipment options as well as the safest ways to set-up. Hint hint Don’t Ever Rig From Trees. I’ll say it again for the people in the back, Don’t rig from trees even if they seem sturdy blah blah blah. You do not want to fall on your head if you’re upside down. Trust me, even from a few inches off the ground it still hurts.
Aerial Yoga A-Frames (Rigs for Aerial Yoga)
The rigs that I personally use are from YogaBody. They are durable, relatively quick to setup and the most affordable safe option for the aerial yogi. You can check the current price here.
( I do receive a small commission for products sold through amazon, that does not affect the integrity of my review)
Pros for YogaBody Aerial A Frame for Aerial Yoga
Durable
I use these on the beach far more than the average consumer and they get a lot of wear and tear from the sand and salty air. I would not recommend leaving them outdoors for an extended period of time, but they are durable.
One person can setup in 15 minutes
It is a bit challenging to setup solo, however I’m 5’8” (1.72 m) and 150 lbs (66 kgs) and able to setup by myself. I recommend being cautious and getting assistance the first few times.
Affordable
Believe it or not these are on the cheaper end for Aerial Yoga Rigs. I probably wouldn’t trust anything that sells for much less. Especially if you plan to instruct others on your apparatus it is important that it is structurally sound.
Can accommodate a variety of heights and weights
At it’s full height the top bar is about 9 feet from the ground. Taking into account daisy chains and the weight limit of your rigging equipment I’ve seen these rigs hold people up to and over 6 feet and even at weights between 250-300 lbs.
Cons for YogaBody Aerial A Frame for Aerial Yoga
The joints where the poles connect
You have to hold the poles to insert the screws. Because the rig is less expensive the joints aren’t lined up properly. So a majority of the 15 minute set-up time is spent screwing in screws. It is not a huge deal if you only have one rig, but I have up to 6 rigs that I am setting up.
Height
While it is high enough to accommodate most people, you are not able to do many cirque type moves because the fabric is not long enough or high enough to wrap yourself multiple times. For Aerial Yoga this is a great height, but if you want aerial hammock circus height you will need a 13 foot rig or higher.
No bag
Previously I was wrapping up the poles burrito style in one of these Mexican Style Blankets. However I heard a tip from another aerialist to use golf bags! I bought a few brands to test out and I really like this one from amazon. It has wheels which makes it easy to transport on solid surfaces and it has a number of handles which makes it easy to grab. The pockets on the outside are useful for storing screws and carabiners as well.
X-Pole A-Frame
When I was originally looking to purchase my rigs, these are the ones I had my eye on. I now regret not spending that little bit of extra money and waiting a little bit longer (these are seriously almost always out of stock!). You can check the product details and see if they are in-stock here. Here is what I love about the X-Pole A-Frame:
Pros for X-Pole A-Frame
Telescoping Legs
This makes it easier to set up and transport. It also makes the height adjustable from just below 8 feet to almost 12 feet.
Locking Pin
You select the height by inserting a locking pin. This is so much faster and easier than screwing in each leg with a hex key, plus keeping track of screws.
Height
The height is adjustable from 8 feet to just under 12 feet. This makes it great for setting up indoors or outside. Height is important for getting into more cirque like movements or if you want to practice lyra or silks eventually. To get a higher rig the price jumps up to around $1,500 - $2,000
Carrying Case
This is such an amazing feature! I did not realize what a difference it would make. Just like all of their other poles. Their carrying case has a slot for each pole. This makes it easy to slide under your bed our store in a closet when you aren’t using it.
Cons for X Pole A Frame
Wait Time
So the original reason I did not order this rig is because it was out of stock. I wasn’t waiting for one rig, but six! Also they were going to be shipped to my apartment on a pallet, which I didn’t know how to deal with. It is worth the wait and I wish I would’ve been more patient, it would have saved me time in the long run with setup time at the beach.
Wobble
This can be unnerving for some people, but it tends to happen with taller rigs. The rig is completely safe if set up properly, and you are provided sandbags (no sand) to help keep it steady if you desire.
Aerial Yoga Fabric
You can buy aerial hammocks as part of a set including the carabiners, daisy chains and silks. Generally you need about 5.5 yards of fabric if you choose to order it on your own through Aerial Essentials.
X-Pole also sells Aerial Yoga Hammocks which is convenient if you are also purchasing an A-Frame from them.
Carabiners & Daisy Chains
Can use a hammock hitch or ring included with carabiner. These Daisy Chains from Aerial Essentials are super sturdy and have held up over multiple hours of use.
You will want to make sure the Carabiners are steel and not aluminum. Aluminum carabiners are made for rock climbing, and climbers used redundant techniques in the case of a carabiner failing. Aluminum carabiners snap often without warning. Steel carabiners will start to warp shape before they break.
Single Point or Double Point
I chose to use a Double Point set-up because I think it is easier for beginners, and for people with broad shoulders or larger bodies. Double point also tends to move and spin less which is less disorienting than a single-point which can spin. For my own practice I would like to setup a single point rig, because I love to spin! However everyone does share my love of spinning so I chose double point.
But wait, what about?
There are so many questions I didn’t answer here, because there are so many particulars to take into account. There are many more blog posts to come about particulars of Aerial Set-Up and Rigging. This is by no means comprehensive, and you should always follow manufactures guidelines and best practices to avoid injury.
If you have further questions please leave a comment below!