How to choose your first aerial class in India

Aerial in India comes in two families that share equipment and little else. Knowing which one you are walking into saves a lot of confusion.

Yoga-led or circus-led

Aerial yoga uses a hammock, a wide loop of fabric hung low, and works with yoga postures, inversions and restorative holds. Classes are slow, breath-led and usually fine for complete beginners. Circus-led classes on silks, hoop or sling build strength and technique for climbing, wrapping and dropping. They are harder on the hands and more athletic from the first session.

What to ask before you book

Three questions tell you most of what you need. How high is the ceiling? Below twelve feet, inversions on a hammock are cramped and silks are not possible. How many points are rigged, and how often are they inspected? A studio that cannot answer has not thought about it. Is the class mixed level? Mixed classes are fine for yoga, less so for silks.

What to wear

Fitted clothes that cover the backs of the knees and the armpits: fabric burns are real. No zips, no jewellery, no lotion on the day.

What it costs

A drop-in hammock class runs from ₹500 to ₹1,200 (≈ $6 – $14) in most cities, more in Mumbai. Silks and hoop classes cost more because classes are smaller. Monthly passes bring both down.