Walking into AIR Aerial Fitness in Winnetka for my beginner aerial yoga class, I had no idea what to expect of the next 50 minutes. My experience with yoga is limited to what I’ve learned in P.E. class, where I lack balance and flexibility. Needless to say, I was a complete beginner and utterly daunted by the silks hanging from the studio ceiling.
“Aerial yoga is a mix of a lot of workouts people are familiar with: yoga, pilates, barre, there’s even some HIIT elements, but it’s all using the aerial silk incorporated,” aerial fitness trainer Libby Gallon said.
An aerial silk is a long, thin panel of fabric suspended from the ceiling on both ends, used to support the body and help preform poses.
Before the class began, Gallon demonstrated a few foundational moves, such as how to properly wrap and position the silk against the lower back when hanging on it. That visual demonstration was helpful as these skills were revisited and built upon throughout the class.
I was directed through a quick warm-up, which included a standing forward fold, where I positioned the silk behind myself and looped my arms through it like a backpack. I was able to comfortably hang and complete this pose on the first attempt, making it one of my favorites.
As the class progressed, I was surprised by how much grip strength was needed to hold onto the silk, especially when pulling my body up from a seated position. I often had to shake out my hands between moves to relieve tension from gripping the slick fabric so tightly.
The class is approachable for all skill levels because of the accommodations Gallon provided for each move. She modified the difficulty to match the class’s abilities, such as doing a plank on forearms or hands. Because of this, I never felt unable to participate regardless of difficulty.
I enjoyed the full-body workout the class provided, with poses targeting a range of muscles, like elevated planks for the core and lunges with my back leg in the silk. The class was also relatively low-impact.
Though aerial yoga can look very intimidating, the experience was a fun and new way to exercise. The class was by no means easy, but I found it accommodating to all skill levels and would encourage others to try it out.