Try Defying Gravity – Aerial Yoga in Dayton

A version of this article was published on Dayton.com February 5, 2019. I’ve updated it to be accurate as of March 2024.

If you reminisce about the days spent playing at the playground swinging from the jungle gym, then you will definitely enjoy reliving your childhood playtime fun with aerial yoga. Aerial yoga has been gaining in popularity around the country and here in Dayton as well. There are plenty of ways to try this style of yoga and find some inner balance, increased strength, and joy in the process.

You may be wondering what are the benefits of aerial yoga over and above traditional yoga – and one thing most aerial yoga practitioners will tell you is that the aerial swing simply allows you to do more in your yoga practice. Liza Pezzimenti of Salsa City Fitness in Troy explains “the sling acts as a prop to aid in getting into more challenging poses and also enabling participants to get a deeper stretch.” In addition to aiding in your practice, aerial yoga “requires a different kind of balance which can help improve muscle coordination and body awareness,” explains Devon Schmidt of Day Yoga in Beavercreek. Practicing aerial yoga can also help in other ways, as Sonja Ostendorf of Kai Yoga in Fairborn explains that inverting (hanging upside down) decompresses the spine. “Hanging upside down with the aid of the swing allows the muscles which support the spine to relax,” says Ostendorf. Most importantly, aerial yoga offers a “sense of fun, freedom, and confidence,” Pezzimenti explains.

Not sure if aerial yoga is for you? Amanda Brown of balanceYoga in Piqua assures us that “aerial yoga can be enjoyed by new yogis as well as seasoned practitioners.” Many people also enjoy exercising on aerial silks, and Trisha Clark of Femme Fatale Fitness in Kettering explains that “we welcome all shapes, sizes, and strengths – you don’t need upper body strength to come here. I think a lot of women think they need to be strong to take classes. You come here to GET strong.” Schmidt of Day Yoga agrees, adding “students of mat yoga who are interested in a new experience would be good candidates [for aerial yoga] but even someone unfamiliar with yoga and just wants to have fun can participate.”  There are some conditions that may make aerial yoga not necessarily ideal such as pregnancy, recent surgery, vertigo, and more. If you’re not sure aerial yoga is right for for any reason, check with the instruction and your medical professionals familiar with your condition.

To get the most out of your aerial yoga class, area instructors give the following tips:

• Wear leggings that go past the knee and work out t-shirts that don’t fit too loosely (Malaki Woodward of Fire and Ice Aerial Fabric in Miamisburg – no longer open)
• Ensure that your clothing is zipper free and remove all jewelry, watches, and hair clips as these items can get caught in the fabric (Amanda Brown of balanceYoga)
• If you’re new to the studio, allow yourself 15 minutes to fill out paperwork and connect with your teacher to set up for class (Brown)
• Avoid practicing on a full stomach (Brown)
• Bring your sense of fun and adventure to class (Woodward)

Here are some places to try aerial yoga and aerial silks in Dayton:

Aerial Yoga

balanceYoga

312 N Wayne St
Suite B
Piqua, OH  45356
www.balanceyogabyamanda.com | www.facebook.com/balanceyogabyamanda

Day Yoga Studio

1265 N Fairfield Rd
Beavercreek, OH  45432
www.dayyogastudio.com | www.facebook.com/dayyogastudio

Kai Yoga Studio

1 S Central Ave
Fairborn, OH  45324
www.livekai.com | www.facebook.com/kaiyogastudio

Salsa City Fitness

29 S Norwich Rd
Troy, OH  45373
https://www.salsacityfitness.com | www.facebook.com/SalsaCityFitness

Aerial Silks

Malaki Woodward of Fire and Ice Aerial Fabric (no longer open) explains that “aerial silks were invented in 1995; the inventor wanted to discover original and imaginative ways to attract the audience at Cirque du Soleil and I would say he succeeded. Silks are no longer circus arts only, though, as they are a beautiful and fun form of artistic fitness.”

Femme Fatale Fitness

4623 Gateway Circle
Kettering, OH  45440
https://femmefataledayton.com/ | www.facebook.com/femmefataledayton