Aerial Yoga is a fusion of traditional yoga postures, breathwork, and meditative awareness practiced with the support of a fabric hammock suspended from above. The hammock helps to decompress the spine, open the body more deeply, and shift your relationship to gravity – inviting balance, lightness, surrender, and play.

While modern aerial yoga developed in the West through a blend of yoga, circus arts, and physical therapy, its roots can be traced back much further. Ancient texts and art depict yogis hanging upside down from tree vines – using inversion to shift perspective, encourage contemplation, and increase blood flow to the brain.

This timeless practice of surrender and altered awareness mirrors The Hanged Man card in Tarot – an archetype of pausing, letting go, and seeing the world differently. Today, Western circus culture and contemporary yoga have fused this ancient wisdom with modern tools, giving rise to the aerial yoga we know now.

ASCEND Aerial Yoga is Iris Bellve’s yogic and ritualistic approach to aerial practice. She noticed that many aerial yoga classes leaned more toward aerial arts – performance-based, with a focus on circus-like shapes. Aerial training programs often felt rigid, lacking breath connection, spiritual guidance, and the depth of yogic philosophy.

Iris’ approach – ASCEND – is a fusion of aerial and yoga training, softened with ceremonial undertones. These practices are guided like a mat-based yoga class or spiritual ceremony, flowing with breath, intention, and inner connection. Rather than stopping and starting to pose for photos, ASCEND invites a balance of movement and stillness, grounded in ritual.

ASCEND practices use industry-standard, low-stretch polyester aerial fabric for our yoga hammocks. Each is rigged with professional-grade hammock hitches, carabiners, and daisy chains — all with a strength rating of over 2000kg — so you feel safe, supported, and secure throughout your practice.

ASCEND’s signature "Aerial Silk Cocoon" or "Floating Savasana" is a deeply restful experience where the hammock is fully expanded to support the length of your entire body. An eye pillow and heavy blanket are gently placed over you. You can lie on your back, rest in reclined butterfly, roll to one side, or use a pillow under your head and knees.

Iris uses cocoons in floating meditation, sound healing, and Reiki experiences, or to close your aerial yoga practice. The hammock eases compression through the body and reduces physical distractions, allowing you to drop into deep rest and heightened inner awareness.

This feeling of weightlessness is often compared to float tanks or described as “being back in the womb”.

Aerial yoga isn’t suitable for everyone. You should avoid aerial yoga if you:

– Are in the first trimester of pregnancy (and beyond, unless under expert supervision)

– Experience vertigo, glaucoma, recent concussions, or other inner ear or eye pressure conditions

– Have uncontrolled high or low blood pressure

– Have had recent surgery, especially spinal, shoulder, or hip surgery

– Are prone to fainting, seizures, or motion sickness

If you're unsure, always check with your healthcare provider or reach out to Iris to discuss modifications or alternatives.