Health is synonymous to exercise for many people. You cannot be healthy and stay that way if you do not partake in some form of exercise regularly. Working out stimulates your body as well as your brain and helps it to stay fit and alert. People who exercise tend to be more energetic than people who do not. This is because exercising requires you to be alert, productive and it helps you sweat out the bad energy.
There are multiple ways to get a nice workout, some people try weight lifting, others cardio and some try yoga. Yoga is one of those forms of exercises that has become extremely popular with time. It has a huge fanbase. People love yoga because you can do it almost anywhere and you generally don’t need much to do it. An advanced form of yoga that has become even more popular is Aerial yoga. Aerial yoga is a form of yoga where you perform similar exercises but the only difference is that you are mid-air while you are doing these. In an aerial yoga class, people are defying gravity as they are mid-air; hanging by silk ropes and performing poses that would seem difficult even on the ground.
Because aerial yoga is even more advanced than normal yoga, you need to pay extra attention to what you are wearing. Every workout requires different types of clothing to be worn with it, similar is the case with aerial yoga. You will be hanging on an aerial silk in the air, which means you can have friction between your skin and the silk; it is, therefore, necessary to wear the right kind of material that covers your body completely and also reduces the chances of burns.
What To Wear To An Aerial Yoga Class?
Both yoga and aerial yoga classes require similar clothes, but there are higher stakes when it comes to aerial yoga and hence you need to be extra careful. Wear something that’s comfortable, flexible and covers your body fully. It is also preferable to wear tight clothes as loose clothing will make you slippery. Some other points to keep in mind when it comes to clothing include:
Wear Fitted Clothes– You will most probably be hanging upside down in your aerial yoga class, that too while you are tied to a fabric. You need to make sure that your clothes are stretchable and tight fitted so that you are not falling or having balancing problems. It can be difficult to practice yoga if you are wearing loose pants or a flowy shirt that is just going everywhere. Form-fitted clothes will be the best option for the class and they will also stay out of your way.
Wear Clothes With Sleeves– People like to wear tank tops or sleeveless tops to workouts as you tend to sweat less in these. But trust us, wearing tank tops to aerial yoga is not a great idea, friction is very common when it comes to aerial yoga, so the more exposed your skin is, the more are the chances that you will have friction burns on your body. Try to wear long sleeves for your class, this will minimize the chances of fabric burns. Although you may still experience friction in your first few classes saying covered will help keep them in check. Covered skin also means that your sweat won’t touch the silk fabric and it won’t chafe your skin. Interested to know more? Here’s how to avoid friction burn during aerial yoga workout.
Leggings or Meggings– Leggings are the perfect option for aerial yoga. These will cover your legs completely and won’t move up and down while you are practising. Meggings are leggings for men. These also look similar to the leggings. Both these will offer you the best comfort while exercising.
Wear Cotton Fabric– Cotton-like fabrics work best for aerial yoga. They grip really well to the silk rope and will end up giving you minimum friction. Cotton is also a material that is breathable and makes you sweat less.
Wear Clothing With No Zipper– Zippers or extra things attached to your clothing will only make it difficult for you to workout. These things will get stuck while you are practising or get caught up between the rope and your garments. It’s usually better to wear simple clothing when you are going for yoga.
Take A Yoga Mat Along With You– Although this is not directly a clothing item, it is an important part of aerial yoga. In your first few aerial yoga classes, you are bound to fall down, having a yoga mat makes sure you are not directly falling on the ground and have something that can take your weight without hurting you.
Best folding crash mats for aerial yoga
What Not to Wear/What to Avoid
It is important to keep in mind what to wear to an aerial yoga class, but it is also necessary to consider what to avoid. There are certain things you should completely avoid wearing if you are going to an aerial yoga class. These things include:
- Jewellery- It is always advisable to take off any jewellery or accessory before doing any type of workout. These things can get stuck anywhere and can do more harm than good. You can take these off just before a class and then put them on after if you need.
- Untied hair- You should always tie your hair, especially if they are long. Untied hair, just like loose clothes will end up coming in the way. They can become a hindrance while learning difficult aerial yoga poses.
- Perfumes- It is also advisable to not wear perfume right before an aerial yoga class. The ingredients that a perfume is made of leaves a sticky mark and they can cling to the fabric.
- Lotion or heavy moisturizer- These can weaken your hammock or damage them.
- Turn off your phone- Your mobile can also cause distractions in-between class. If you don’t put it on silence, every time your phone virates; you will keep thinking about it and hence will be distracted.
Doing a workout is extremely beneficial for your body. Make sure you are not doing anything that is making the workout any less effective. With clothes, your objective should be to pick things that will make it easy for you to do yoga. On the other hand, due to ignorance, many of us choose clothing that can become a hindrance. It is therefore important to know what you are getting into and be aware of the things you can do to improve the effectiveness of your workout.
Related read: Choosing the right aerial yoga class