Aerial yoga introduces a variable most other styles do not have to think about: a suspended fabric hammock that supports your body weight during inversions and wraps. This changes the clothing rules significantly compared to a standard mat-based class.
Cover Your Underarms and Knee Pits
The biggest difference in aerial yoga is direct skin contact with the hammock fabric during wraps, inversions, and holds. Bare underarms and the backs of your knees pressed directly against the hammock can cause friction burns or discomfort as you move through poses. A relaxed, longer-sleeved yoga top and full-length cotton yoga pants protect these areas far better than shorts or tank tops, which is why most aerial studios recommend full coverage regardless of room temperature.
Avoid Loose, Flowing Fabric
While relaxed cotton is ideal for coverage, avoid anything with excess loose fabric, wide-leg cuts, or drawstrings that could tangle in the hammock fabric during inversions. Look for a fit that is relaxed at the waist and hips but stays closer to the body at the ankles and wrists, similar to the tapered cut found in our women's cotton yoga pants.
Skip Zippers, Buckles, and Hardware
Any metal or plastic hardware on your clothing, zippers, snaps, or buckles, can snag or tear the hammock fabric. Choose simple, hardware-free pieces, which is one advantage of the plastic and metal-free approach used throughout our Sattvik yoga wear collection.
Choose Fabric That Won't Slip
Aerial yoga requires the hammock to grip your clothing during certain holds. Overly slick or synthetic fabric can cause you to slide unexpectedly during a pose. Natural cotton offers more texture and grip against the hammock fabric than many slippery synthetic blends, giving you more stability during wraps and inversions.
Leave Jewelry at Home
Rings, bracelets, and necklaces can catch on the hammock fabric or dig into your skin during inverted holds. Remove all jewelry before class, and tie back long hair to avoid it tangling in the fabric during rotations.
What to Bring for After Class
Once your session ends, a lightweight meditation and yoga shawl is useful for the final relaxation portion of an aerial class, which often ends with a gentle, cocoon-like rest in the hammock.
A Practical Aerial Yoga Checklist
-
Full-coverage top with sleeves past the underarm
-
Full-length, relaxed cotton pants
-
No zippers, buckles, or jewelry
-
Hair tied back
-
A shawl for the final relaxation
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear a tank top and shorts to aerial yoga? It is not recommended. Bare skin against the hammock fabric during inversions and wraps can cause discomfort or friction. Full coverage is safer and more comfortable.
Why does aerial yoga require different clothing than mat-based yoga? Aerial yoga involves direct, sustained contact between your skin and a suspended fabric hammock, which creates friction and grip requirements that standard mat yoga does not have.
Is cotton a good fabric choice for aerial yoga? Yes. Cotton offers more grip against the hammock fabric than slippery synthetic blends, which helps with stability during inverted holds.
Should I remove jewelry before an aerial yoga class? Yes, always. Jewelry can catch on the hammock fabric or press uncomfortably into your skin during inversions.
Do I need any special accessories for aerial yoga besides clothing? Most studios provide the hammock and any required rigging. A change of clothes and a light shawl for after class are the main extras worth bringing.
