Aerial Sling (Hammock)
A single length of fabric, both ends rigged to one point — a hammock you can sit in, hang from, wrap and spin.
The most forgiving way into aerial arts.
Aerial Sling (hammock)
Aerial sling — also known as aerial hammock — is a single length of fabric rigged from both ends to form a loop.
Because the fabric carries your weight from the start, your first class is spent moving rather than working out how to hold on. It is not aerial yoga: the sling hangs high, and you train mounts, inversions, spins and sequences the same way you would on aerial silks or aerial hoop.
What you'll learn
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How to mount the sling and take your weight safely
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Foundational seats, wraps and your first inversions
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Spins, rolls and transitions
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Sequences that link the shapes together (as you progress)
Who it's for
Aerial hammock suits anyone who wants to start in the air without a strength barrier in the way. It asks less of your grip and upper body than aerial silks or aerial hoop, so complete beginners are moving within the first session. It works equally as a second apparatus for current students — a different demand on the same body, and a straightforward way to add another session to the week.
WHO IT'S FOR
Aerial sling is the most straightforward place to begin
The fabric takes your weight from the first minute, which means your first class is about learning to move in the air rather than learning to hang on.
That head start matters more than it sounds. Coordination and air awareness, knowing where your body is when the floor is not helping — are what everything else in aerial arts is built on.
If you have never tried aerial arts before, start here. If you already train, this is the apparatus that adds sessions to your week without adding strain.
Complete beginners, All bodies, Adults of all ages, Returning movers, Fitness seekers, Creatives
FREQUENT
Questions
Do I need experience or strength to start aerial sling?
No — and aerial sling asks less of you at the start than the other apparatus. The fabric supports your weight, so you are not holding yourself up while you learn. The strength comes as you go, and it comes quickly once you are training something you look forward to.
I've never done aerials hammock or anything like it before. Can I try?
That is exactly who the Aerial sling absolute beginners class is for. It starts from zero — no gymnastics background, no dance experience, no prior aerial training. The first session covers how the sling takes your weight, how to mount it, and your first seated positions.
Is aerial sling the same as aerial yoga?
No, and it is the most common mix-up.
Aerial yoga uses a low hammock as a prop for yoga poses, with your feet near the floor. Aerial sling is an aerial discipline in its own right — the fabric hangs high, and you work through mounts, inversions, spins and sequences, with the same step-by-step progression as aerial silks or aerial hoop.
What's the difference between aerial sling and aerial hammock?
Mostly the name. Aerial sling is a single length of fabric rigged from one point; what some studios call an aerial hammock is usually rigged from two. If you have trained on a hammock elsewhere, you will recognise almost everything we do here.
Is it safe? How high off the ground do you actually go?
In beginners classes you work low — rarely more than a metre or two off the ground — with crash mats always down. Your teacher controls the progression, and you do not go higher than you are ready for.
Do I have to commit to a full course, or can I try a single class first?
We recommend starting with our beginners trial classes — aerial starts to click after a few sessions, so the package is the better read of the discipline. Trial lessons book any class on the timetable, aerial sling included.
Check the schedule for what's currently available.
More questions?
We have a dedicated FAQ page that will answer most of the questions we hear from beginners.