Move - Recover - Nourish
Aerial yoga, made approachable.
AERIAL YOGA - LINCOLN SMITHFIELD, RHODE ISLAND
Phoenix Rising offers beginner-friendly aerial yoga classes in Lincoln and Smithfield, Rhode Island. A supportive silk hammock helps you build strength, explore mobility and experience familiar movement in an entirely new way.
Two weeks unlimited for $29 - New clients only. No prior experience required
A few things before lift off.
What is Aerial Yoga?
At Phoenix Rising, aerial yoga is yoga first. The hammock acts as one master prop, supporting familiar poses while helping create space through the spine, explore greater range of motion and maintain proper alignment.
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Unlike aerial dance or aerial play, the goal is not performance. The hammock is used intentionally to help your body move with greater support, control and awareness. Every new student begins with Aerial Yoga Fundamentals to learn how to use the hammock safely and confidently.
What are the benefits of aerial yoga?
Aerial yoga combines support, resistance and decompression in a way that floor-based movement cannot. By adjusting the height and placement of the hammock, we can reduce pressure in some poses, create greater range of motion in others and help the body maintain better alignment.
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As trust in the hammock develops, unnecessary tension begins to release and the right muscles can engage more effectively. Students often experience improved mobility, strength, balance, body awareness and a greater sense of ease. We have also used the hammock to support clients working with back and hip restrictions, scoliosis, spinal fusion, disc concerns and limited movement related to injury or scar tissue.
What should beginners expect?
Your first aerial yoga class is about learning how to work with the hammock. Expect to feel your grip strength, discover muscles you may not have used in a while and occasionally fumble with the silk. Most beginners work harder than necessary at first because they are still learning how to position the hammock and allow it to support them.
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It usually takes about three classes to move beyond that initial learning curve. As your trust grows, your body relaxes, movement becomes more natural and progress accelerates. Aerial Yoga Fundamentals is designed for this process. No previous aerial or yoga experience is required.
Aerial Yoga classes at Phoenix Rising
Every student begins with Aerial Yoga Fundamentals. From there, choose the experience that meets you where you are, whether you want to restore, flow, explore or simply float.
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To keep our hammocks and shared space clean, please arrive fresh and dry, wear socks and fitted clothing, and remove jewelry before class. If you are pairing aerial with another workout, we ask that you save the sweaty sesh for after.
01
Aerial Yoga Fundamentals
Learn the hammock, foundational placements and essential movements while developing comfort, control and confidence.
02
Aerial Restore
An all-levels slower supported practice designed to encourage release, mobility and deep relaxation.
03
Sound Float
Settle into the hammock while sound and gentle suspension create space for stillness and recovery.
04
Aerial Yoga Flow
Connect supported yoga postures through fluid sequences that develop strength, mobility, and body awareness.
05
Aerial Play
Not yoga, play. Explore new tricks, dynamic sequencing, spinning, and more after developing a solid foundation in the hammock.
Take your practice further.
Frequently asked questions
No. You do not need prior yoga experience to try aerial yoga at Phoenix Rising. While a basic understanding of yoga can be helpful, beginners are welcome.
All new aerial students begin with Aerial Yoga Fundamentals, including those with previous yoga experience. This class moves at a more approachable pace with deliberate instruction, giving you time to learn how to safely grip, position and leverage the hammock while building comfort and confidence.
Our aerial rigging is professionally installed and rated so the hammock itself can safely support far more weight than most people expect.
Body size can, however, change how we set up the hammock and approach certain movements. A person’s height, proportions, strength and mobility all affect how they interact with the hammock, which is why there isn’t one ideal body type for aerial yoga.
Aerial yoga is an active practice and does require strength to move through certain poses. If you’re concerned about whether a group class will work well for your body, we recommend starting with a private session. We can adjust the hammock, teach you how to use its support effectively and help you find approaches that work with your body rather than against it.
Yes. Because aerial yoga may include inversions and suspended movement, there are certain conditions that require additional consideration. People who experience vertigo or frequent seizures, are pregnant, or have a medical condition that may be affected by inversions should consult their healthcare provider before participating.
The aerial hammock can be an incredibly effective tool for people experiencing back and hip discomfort. Through supported movement, traction and carefully approached inversions, the hammock allows us to explore movement and positions that can be difficult to achieve in a traditional yoga practice.
At Phoenix Rising, we have worked with clients experiencing chronic back pain, scoliosis, disc-related issues and other long-standing limitations, and have seen significant improvements through consistent, intentional practice. Some clients find the hammock so beneficial that they eventually install a rig at home and incorporate a few minutes of focused movement into their daily routine.
For minor aches, stiffness and general mobility, our group aerial classes can be a great place to begin. If you have chronic pain, a diagnosed spinal condition or a more complex injury, we strongly recommend beginning with private instruction rather than a group class. This allows us to understand your individual movement patterns, determine how the hammock can best support you, and develop an approach you can eventually practice independently.
Aerial yoga is not a substitute for medical care, and results depend on the individual and underlying cause of the pain.
Yes! Phoenix Rising offers private aerial experiences for birthdays, bachelorette parties, group celebrations and other special events. Kids’ aerial birthday parties are available for ages 8 and up.
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Private events are tailored to your group, so no previous yoga or aerial experience is necessary. We’ll structure the session around the ages, experience and comfort level of your guests to create an experience that is approachable, engaging and—most importantly—fun.
Contact us with your group size, ages and what you’re celebrating, and we’ll help you plan the right aerial experience.