Overview: Aerial Yoga Classes
Aerial yoga puts your weight into a fabric hammock hung from the ceiling, which gives wrists and shoulders a break from the mat. Hung low, the hammock supports part of you. Wrapped higher, it holds all of you, and you end up upside down. People with high blood pressure, glaucoma, inner-ear trouble, a pregnancy or recent surgery should talk to the studio before booking.
Montreal is a circus city, and that shows in who teaches. The National Circus School there trains professional artists, runs teacher training and offers recreational classes, so some aerial instructors come from circus rather than yoga. Ask where your teacher trained and whether they teach hammock work specifically.
You'll probably sign a waiver before the first class. In Quebec, the Civil Code doesn't let a business exclude or limit liability for bodily injury it causes, whatever the form says. Wherever you are, read it before you sign, and ask how the rig is fixed to the building, how often it's checked, and how many people share a class.
Our listings show what each aerial studio states on its own website. Choose your province, then your city, to see the studios listed there.
Cost of aerial yoga in Canada
For a first hammock yoga class, compare the single-visit price with the full cost of a pass. Check which sessions welcome beginners before buying several visits.
| Class or program | Estimated price and payment unit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Aerial yoga class | C$20–C$45per person, one scheduled hammock yoga class | Confirm the class length, beginner suitability and whether a hammock is reserved for each learner or shared. |
| 10-class aerial yoga pass | C$160–C$290per person, total for 10 aerial yoga classes | Check which aerial classes the pass covers, when it expires and whether every visit needs a separate reservation. |
What affects the total?
- Class length and hammock sharing affect how much individual practice the fee buys.
- Aerial classes may use a different pass from the studio’s regular mat yoga classes.
Before you book
- Can I join with no experience, or is a separate introductory session required?
- If I miss a booking or a class is full, can I use the credit before the pass expires?
Budget tip
Try one suitable class before buying a pass, then check that enough beginner sessions fit your weekly schedule.
Other options
Ask about a private introduction if you would prefer individual guidance before joining a group.
These prices cover hammock-supported yoga. Silks, hoop, trapeze and independent circus training use different teaching formats.
Frequently asked questions
Does a waiver stop me claiming if I get hurt?
In Quebec, not when the studio's fault caused the injury. The Civil Code says no one can exclude or limit their liability for bodily injury they cause to someone else, and a notice on the wall can't do it either. You still accept the normal risks of hanging upside down. Outside Quebec, read the form carefully before you sign, and ask about anything unclear.
Who should not hang upside down?
Anyone with high blood pressure, glaucoma or other eye pressure problems, anyone pregnant, anyone with vertigo or an inner-ear condition, and anyone recovering from spine, belly or shoulder surgery. Some studios add recent botox or fillers. If you're unsure, ask your family doctor before the class, tell the instructor when you arrive, and take the seated version without apology.
Can I cancel a class pass I've already paid for?
In Ontario, early on, often yes. A contract with a for-profit fitness business that takes money up front gives you ten days to cancel after you get the written copy, no reason needed. Charities, co-ops and city-run programs sit outside those rules. In Quebec, a fitness studio can't take payment before services begin. Otherwise, check the studio's own terms before you buy.
Where do aerial teachers in Canada learn to teach?
Routes vary, so ask. Some instructors add a hammock course to yoga teacher training. Others come from circus, and Montreal's National Circus School offers teacher training certification alongside its professional programs. What you want to hear about is hands-on teaching of inversions, spotting practice and first aid. A good teacher answers the question without getting defensive.
Is this the same as silks or hoop?
No. A hammock is a closed loop that holds you. Silks are two open tails you climb and wrap yourself in, and hoop is a steel ring you hang from. Both ask for real upper body strength from the start. Montreal's National Circus School runs recreational circus classes, and many aerial studios teach silks and hoop as well.
Do any studios take children?
Some do, with lower rigs, closer spotting and a firm rule that no child touches the fabric without an adult. Ask how many instructors are in the room and what happens if a child panics upside down. The studio decides whether staff need a vulnerable sector check, which is a police check plus a search for pardoned sexual offences. For children's classes, ask whether it requires one.
