Hang a fabric hammock, fold into it, and let gravity do the stretching. Aerial yoga is gentler than silks and easier on the spine than it looks. The only real decision is how you hang the thing safely. Here's exactly what to buy and what to skip.
By Colin B. · Published November 1, 2026 · Last reviewed November 1, 2026
Hanging from joists, about $135 gets you a hammock set, two hangers and a mat. A freestanding rig is the big jump: roughly $420 and up, mostly the stand.
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At a glance
Our top pick in each category
The fastest path through this guide — each best-starter pick by category.
Scroll for the budget and upgrade alternatives.
Try a studio class first. Two or three classes teach you how a hammock should hang and feel, and the studio will tell you what height works for you. It is the cheapest way to avoid a $300 mistake.
Rigging is the part that matters, because a failed anchor means a fall. Use a load-rated mount, lag-bolted into a joist or beam you have located and checked for size, cracks and rot. If you are unsure about any of it, have a pro install it. No suitable joist or beam? Buy a stand.
Buy low-stretch fabric. Stretchy swing fabric is fine for lounging but poor for inversions. Look for non-stretch nylon tricot at about 2.8 m wide.
Check with your doctor first if you are pregnant or have glaucoma, high blood pressure or a heart condition. Inversions raise pressure in the head, and a studio teacher can show you versions that keep you upright.
The gear
What you actually need
Hammocks
The hammock is the whole sport. Look for a non-stretch or low-stretch fabric, around 5-6 yards long and 2.8 m wide, which is what studios use for inversions and supported backbends. Skip anything sold as a stretchy 'yoga swing' with no fabric spec. Most kits bundle the fabric with daisy chains and carabiners, so you can hang it the day it arrives.
Best starter
F.Life
Aerial Yoga Hammock Starter Kit, 5.5 yards
$$
★★★★★Our rating
A complete kit: 5.5 yards of nylon tricot fabric, two daisy chains, two carabiners, a knot guide and a beginner pose guide. It is what a studio hammock looks like, at about $50, which makes sense if you are still deciding.
What we like
Full kit means nothing else to buy for the fabric side
Daisy chains and carabiners are in the box
Low-stretch tricot, the same fabric type studios use
What to know
Mounting hardware for your ceiling is not included
Low-stretch nylon tricot, 5.5 yards, with daisy chains, carabiners and a carry bag. A sensible way in if you want to try inversions at home before paying for a rig.
This is the safety category. A hammock hung from drywall or a single ceiling hook will fail. You need load-rated swivel hangers bolted into a joist, a beam or concrete, rated for far more than your weight because the load is dynamic. If you rent, or cannot find a joist, skip to portable stands. Check the joist or beam first: locate it, confirm it is solid structural framing, and look for cracks or rot. If you are unsure about the structure or the install, have a pro install it. Most kits include two daisy chains because a hammock is usually hung from two anchor points, which is more stable for beginners, so plan on two hangers.
Ceiling Mounts — what's the difference?
A few common shapes, each making a different trade.
Ceiling or beam mount
Permanent, quiet, and the most stable setup.
Cost
$20-60
Install
Drill into joist
Needs
Joist or beam
Best for Homeowners with a basement, garage or exposed beams
Tradeoff You must find real structure and commit to drilling
Heavy Duty Swing Hanger with Bearing Swivel, 1200 lb
$
★★★★★Our rating
Stainless steel with a bearing swivel so the hammock turns without twisting the rigging. The 1200 lb rating gives real margin for a body moving under load.
What we like
Stainless steel won't rust in a humid room
Bearing swivel turns smoothly and quietly
Generous 1200 lb rating for margin
What to know
Screws are for wood, so concrete needs different anchors
The renter's answer. A freestanding A-frame holds the hammock without touching your ceiling. Expect around 9-11 ft of height, a 500+ lb rating and a lot of steel. Check the listing for a swinging-or-not warning: some rigs are for stationary poses only.
Best starter
HECASA
8.1 ft Aerial Yoga Stand, 550 lb
$$$$
★★★★★Our rating
Powder-coated steel A-frame rated to 550 lbs, about 8 ft tall assembled, with a storage bag. At about $190 it is the sturdy, straightforward pick for a spare room, and the triangular base keeps it planted during inversions.
What we like
Rated to 550 lbs
No drilling, so renters are fine
Stable triangular steel frame with base pads
What to know
Takes real floor space and 9+ ft of ceiling clearance
A mat goes under the hammock for floor work and for catching you if you drop out of a pose. Keep it simple: a dense 4-6 mm mat is plenty. Aerial yoga does not need a specialty mat, so do not overspend.
Best starter
Manduka
PROlite Yoga Mat 4.7mm
$$$
★★★★★Our rating
Dense, grippy and lifetime-guaranteed. Stays flat under a hanging hammock and will outlast whatever you do next.
Aerial yoga feels strange for about ten minutes, then wonderful. Here is what the first four weeks look like, from your first supported stretch to your first inversion.
Aerial yoga has a reputation as scary, and it is mostly not. The hammock holds your weight, so the first weeks are about learning to trust it. Here is how those weeks tend to go.
Week 1: Learn to sit in it
Hang the hammock so the fabric sits around hip height. Back into it like a swing, wrap the fabric around your hips, and just sit. That is the whole first session. Let your weight settle until the fabric stops feeling like it will drop you.
Then try the easy poses: a supported forward fold, a gentle hang with the fabric under your hips and feet on the floor, a seated stretch with the legs wide. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty. Your armpits and the backs of your knees will notice the fabric, so wear a long-sleeve top and leggings.
By the second week, lift your feet off the floor. The fabric under your hips takes the load and your spine gets room. Try a floating backbend, then a supported pigeon with one leg in the fabric.
If you are in a studio, ask the teacher about height. If you hang your own, check the rigging before every session: carabiners closed, daisy chain unmarked, hanger bolt snug. It takes a minute and it is the habit that matters most.
Week 3: Your first inversion
Do your first inversion with a teacher if you can, and skip this week if you are pregnant or have glaucoma, high blood pressure or a heart condition unless your doctor clears it. Raise the hammock to about hip-crease height, sit, lean back, and lift your legs through the fabric. Hang upside down for a few seconds. You will feel some pressure in your head and a stretch in your lower back. If you feel sharp pain or a pounding head, come out.
Come out slowly. Bring your hands to the fabric, roll up through your spine, and stand for a moment before moving. Mild dizziness is common at first and usually fades after a few tries. If it does not, stop and ask a teacher or your doctor.
Now you can string poses into a flow: sit, lean back, invert, roll up, fold forward. Add breathwork and the sessions start to feel like real yoga rather than a fairground ride.
Hanging it too low or too high. Hip height for entries and sits, slightly higher for inversions. Adjust with the daisy chain.
Skipping the safety check. Rigging looks fine until it doesn’t. Look at every connection every time.
Rushing the exit. Coming out of an inversion too fast is the usual cause of dizziness.
Mounting to drywall. Use a load-rated mount in a joist or beam you have checked, or a freestanding stand. If you are unsure, have a pro install it.
What next
After a month you will know whether you want more classes, more flexibility work, or silks. A single class with a good teacher is worth more than another month of YouTube.
Save your money
What you don't need yet
Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play
better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.
A branded studio hammock — A $60-90 kit does the same job for your first year.
Aerial apparel — Leggings and a fitted long-sleeve top you already own protect knees and armpits from fabric burn.
Extra hammocks and colors — One hammock is enough until you know your style.
First week
Your first seven days
A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.
Book one or two beginner aerial yoga classes in your area. · Action
Find a joist or beam and check that it is sound, or decide on a stand. If you are unsure, have a pro install your mount. · Action
Order your hammock set and two ceiling hangers or a stand. · Buy
Hang the hammock about hip height and do ten minutes of supported stretches. · Action
FAQ
Common questions
How much does it cost to start aerial yoga at home?
About $135 if you can hang from joists: a hammock kit, two swivel hangers and a mat. A freestanding stand pushes it to about $420 or more.
Can I hang a hammock from my drywall ceiling?
No. Drywall will not hold a person. You need a load-rated mount in a checked joist, beam or concrete, or a freestanding stand. If you are unsure, have a pro install it.
Is aerial yoga hard for beginners?
Not really. The hammock supports your weight, so poses are easier than they look. Inversions feel odd for the first session or two, then settle.
Aerial yoga or aerial silks?
Yoga is stretching and supported poses; silks are climbing and drops. Choose yoga if you want relaxation and flexibility.
Who should skip inversions?
Ask your doctor first if you are pregnant or have glaucoma, high blood pressure or a heart condition. Many of the seated and supported poses stay upright, so a teacher can often adapt a class.
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Our top pickAerial Yoga Hammock Starter Kit, 5.5 yards
