Meditating in a hammock is uplifting in more ways than one

Words: Sophie Hardy

It’s an otherworldly sight. In a lofty, dimly lit room, swathes of silk hang from the ceiling. Attached to a rigid structure holding them securely in place, the richly coloured fabric drops to different lengths, each piece creating a hammock that hangs above the ground. Inside each one, a person is cosily cocooned, breathing quietly and contentedly. As shadows cast by the flickering candles dance on the walls, a teacher moves slowly around the room, placing their hands on one resting form after another and pushing gently so that the hammocks begin to swing softly. The only sound is the teacher’s low voice, guiding the group on a meditative journey.

This is an aerial hammock meditation class, an experience that’s popping up at wellness centres across the UK and beyond and promises all kinds of unexpected benefits.

Mid-air meditation

From mindfulness and mantras to qigong, the art of meditation can take many forms. While you may associate it with stillness and the feeling of being grounded (the traditional image is often of someone sitting cross-legged on the floor), aerial hammocks offer a different experience via the soothing practice of meditating in mid-air. ‘It provides that extra bit of magic,’ says Luka Owen, aerial performer and founder of Rebel Manifesto Aerial in Coventry, UK, which offers aerial hammock meditation classes. ‘We decided to offer these classes because there’s just something so magical about floating in the air.’