Aerial Yoga in Berlin: our own interpretation

Aerial yoga in Berlin, the fl’AIR way: we love aerial yoga and everything it represents. That’s why it was our heart’s desire to bring aerial yoga to Berlin back in 2018. However, after looking at various aerial yoga training programmes on the market, we found that many of them had a number of shortcomings in content and structure. We were also disappointed by an appalling lack of safety. So we decided to combine our lifelong experience in acrobatics, dance and yoga to create fl’AIR Yoga, our very own interpretation of aerial yoga.

Aerial Yoga is a holistic practice characterised mainly by inversion postures.

In Aerial Yoga, the various asanas are practised with the help of a hammock hanging from the ceiling. The hammock supports the body in the movement and bears part of the weight. Aerial Yoga is therefore suitable for people of all sizes and shapes.

In contrast to traditional Hatha or Vinyasa Yoga, the asanas are largely practised suspended in the air, with the hammock supporting the yogi and conveying a feeling of lightness and weightlessness.

Aerial yoga is, as already indicated, suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. However, the possibilities on and in the Aerial Yoga hammock are so varied that courses of different levels of difficulty are offered. Beginners should first familiarise themselves with the hammock in an introductory course before moving on to more demanding exercises.

Aerial yoga can also support weight loss, as it strengthens muscles throughout the whole body whilst supporting body weight.

Pregnant women or people with known spinal damage can also do Aerial Yoga in consultation with their doctor or therapist. People with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, headaches or increased intraocular pressure should also exercise caution. Nevertheless, depending on the causes of the underlying condition, physical exercise can be helpful in relieving discomfort in many cases. The floating feeling in the air can help relieve back pain and neck tension as the vertebrae and intervertebral discs are gently pulled apart. The inversion postures also promote blood flow to the organs and brain.

However, always listen to your body and your doctors and go at your own pace at all times, your yoga practice included.

fl’AIR Yoga was developed by true professionals in the industry. You can tell from the moment you see our founders move.

Another highlight of fl’AIR Yoga is that our hammock is not suspended from two points, as is usually the case. We work with single hanging points. This allows for more movement out of the fabric and makes fl’AIR Yoga more physically demanding, in line with our athletic approach to aerial yoga.

When we first got involved with aerial yoga, we realised that safety is unfortunately greatly neglected. In most aerial yoga studios, it is common to use so-called daisy chains that are latched into a ceiling mount, a kind of bracket that usually supports furniture such as hanging chairs.

With Daisy Chains, the height of the yoga hammocks can be individually adjusted. Ambitious sport climbers know this equipment from aid or big wall climbing, where it is used to hang equipment on steep walls, but daisy chains are not intended for holding or lifting people. Due to the low breaking load of only 3 kN of regular daisy chains and the associated high risk of accidents, daisy chains must never be included in personal safety chains. Additional risks arise from possible incorrect operation with potentially fatal consequences.

Daisy chains are therefore not approved for personal safety and do not meet the requirements of the accident prevention regulations of the German Social Accident Insurance. Also, the suspension points themselves are often approved for hanging furniture, but are not intended for acrobatic exercises or people hanging upside down.

Unfortunately, many of the knots and carabiners used on the fabrics also do not meet the aerial industry standard for securing people performing acrobatic movements upside down. fl’AIR Yoga consistently uses certified equipment specifically designed to carry people in aerial sports.

As professional aerialists, we understand the risks associated with being in the air and we take every precaution to ensure we maintain the highest safety standards.

Currently, fl’AIR Yoga is taught exclusively at the Fl’air Studios in Berlin. But we are keen to grow and see fl’AIR Yoga taught in studios all over the world!

Our fl’AIR Aerial Yoga classes last 60 minutes and are suitable for beginners – no experience needed. For a gentler practice, try Restorative fl’AIR Yoga. Drop-in classes start at €22, and you’ll save with our 5 or 10-class packages. First time at Fl’air? Here’s everything you need to know before your first class.