The Science of Suspension: How Aerial Yoga Supports Whole-Body Health
By Carmen Curtis
The Science of Suspension: How Aerial Yoga Supports Whole-Body Health
There’s something magical about leaving the ground. The moment you trust the hammock, your body remembers what it means to let go — to move with gravity instead of against it. But beneath the beauty and freedom of Aerial Yoga lies real science — a practice that optimizes health from the inside out.
1. Decompression + Alignment: A Gift for the Spine
Most of us live in a world that pulls us down — long hours sitting, scrolling, carrying, doing. When we step into the hammock, that pull reverses. Gentle inversions decompress the spine, elongate the vertebrae, and relieve tension built up over time.
The result? Improved posture, less back pain, and space for energy to flow freely through the body.
2. Core Activation and Functional Strength
Suspension creates instability — and instability awakens strength. Every small adjustment in the hammock engages deep stabilizing muscles that traditional floor yoga doesn’t always reach.
From the core to the pelvic floor, from shoulders to feet, Aerial Yoga builds strength that supports real life — carrying groceries, standing taller, moving with ease.
3. Circulation, Lymph Flow, and Detoxification
Inversions and supported stretches help move stagnant energy and fluids through the body. The hammock’s gentle motion assists lymphatic flow, boosting the body’s natural detox process.
Improved circulation means more oxygen to the brain, more clarity of thought, and that unmistakable post-class glow.
4. Nervous System Reset + Emotional Regulation
Aerial Yoga isn’t just about muscles — it’s medicine for the mind. When we move through supported inversions and restorative postures, the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest and digest” mode) activates.
This helps reduce cortisol levels, regulate the vagus nerve, and calm the mind. In the hammock’s cocoon, the body feels safe enough to truly relax — and from that safety, healing happens.
5. Play, Presence, and the Joy of Flight
Play is often the first thing we lose as adults — and one of the most healing things we can rediscover.
Aerial Yoga brings back the joy of movement: laughter, curiosity, and the freedom to explore.
In this way, health becomes holistic — not just the absence of pain, but the presence of vitality, connection, and joy.
6. Grounded Healing Through Flight
The paradox of Aerial Yoga is that by lifting off the ground, we come home to ourselves. We learn balance, trust, and surrender.
We learn that strength and softness can coexist.
And that true wellness — physical, emotional, and spiritual — happens when we create space for all of it.
Experience the Science (and the Soul) of Suspension
Experience the science (and the soul) of suspension for yourself.
Join us for a class or training and discover what happens when you let the body float, the mind settle, and the heart expand.