Your first aerial yoga class: what happens and what to bring

By yum · Updated 3 November 2026

For your first aerial yoga class, pick a beginner class, book your spot, wear fitted clothes and long leggings with no jewellery or zips, and arrive 10 minutes early. The teacher shows you how to use the hammock, and you go at your own pace. You can always take a break. At yum in Sydhavnen, Copenhagen, aerial yoga classes are 60 minutes, and as a beginner you start with aerial basics or aerial retreat.

Here’s the whole journey from booking to heading home, so you know what to expect.

In short

• Choose aerial basics or aerial retreat if you’re new.
• Book via the schedule on yum.dk or in the Mindbody app. Cancel at least 4 hours before.
• Fitted clothes, long leggings (not shorts), no jewellery and no zips. Clean feet.
• Arrive 10 minutes early. The door closes when class starts.
• Aerial yoga is included in all yum memberships, clip cards and drop-ins, and in the yum intro.

Which class should I take the first time?

Choose a class made for beginners. At yum there are two good places to start:

• Aerial basics is for you if you’re new to the hammock. The class is built around new students, and you’ll be well looked after.
• Aerial retreat is for all levels. It’s slow and calm. No acrobatics and no high tempo. Mostly rest, stillness and time to feel.

The more challenging aerial classes need you to know your way around the hammock first. Save those for later.

If you’re not sure what aerial yoga actually is, start with what is aerial yoga?. And if you’re worried it might be too hard, read Is aerial yoga hard for beginners?. It covers strength, being upside down and who should wait.

How do I book?

You book in the schedule on yum.dk or in the Mindbody app. The first time, you create a Mindbody profile.

Three things worth knowing:

• Cancelling: If you can’t come, cancel at least 4 hours before. Otherwise there’s a DKK 75 fee, or you lose your clip.
• Waitlist: If a class is full, you can join the waitlist. If a spot opens up to two hours before class, you’re added automatically and get an email. Then the normal cancellation rules apply.
• Only via the schedule or app: Cancelling by email, phone or text doesn’t work.

No membership yet? Have a look at the yum intro or our memberships and clip cards.

What should I wear?

Aerial is a bit different from a regular class, because the fabric is in contact with your body:

• Fitted clothes that won’t ride up.
• Long leggings, not shorts.
• No jewellery and no clothes with zips. They can damage the hammocks.
• Clean feet and clean clothes.

If you have long hair, tie it up so it doesn’t get caught. It’s all in yum’s studio guidelines.

What should I eat and bring?

Eat light. We recommend a smaller meal or a snack at least two hours before, not a heavy meal. That matters even more in aerial, where you’ll hang and turn.

Bring a water bottle if you like. There’s water in the studio too. Bring a warm sweater for the relaxation at the end.

If you have injuries or health conditions, or you’re pregnant, tell the teacher before class. If you’re unsure whether aerial is right for you right now, check with your doctor first.

What happens when I arrive?

yum is at Alliancevej 22 in Sydhavnen, on the water at Teglholmens Sydkaj. The studio entrance is the door to the left of the café.

• Arrive 10 minutes early. The door closes when class starts, so everyone gets a calm start.
• Shoes off as soon as you come in. The studio is a shoe-free zone.
• Your things stay in the studio. There are no lockers, but they stay within sight.
• Come dressed. There’s no changing room. If you need to change, use the bathroom in the café. There’s only one, so there may be a queue. There are no showers.
• Your phone on silent, or better, off.

Say hi to the teacher and tell them it’s your first time. That way they can help you get started.

What happens in the class?

An aerial class at yum lasts 60 minutes. In aerial basics, you’re welcomed into the hammock and the flow is adapted to the group. Typically you first learn to sit, stand and lie in the fabric, and then you build it up a little at a time.

Some things feel strange at first. Letting go with your hands. Turning around. The fabric squeezing your hips. That’s completely normal. Just say so if something doesn’t feel right.

You can always take a break. Sit down, lie down or rest in the hammock. We ask you to stay in the room so you don’t disturb the others. And you don’t need to be able to do anything in particular. You just need to be curious.

Many aerial classes end with a calm relaxation. That’s where the warm sweater comes in.

What happens afterwards?

Roll up your mat and put the props back. After class you get yum’s homemade hibiscus shot. If you’re pregnant, ask for juice instead.

And the café is right next door. With a membership or the yum intro, you get 10% off in the café.

Many people want to come back. Next time, you’ll know how it all works.

How we do it at yum

• Aerial yoga (“flyin’ high”) is 60 minutes. See the schedule for current classes on schedule and booking, and see all yum classes.
• Beginners start with aerial basics or aerial retreat (all levels, slow and without acrobatics).
• Aerial is included in all memberships, clip cards and drop-ins, and in the yum intro.
• All classes are taught in English.
• No jewellery, no zips, long leggings and clean feet.
• Do you climb or dance? Read about yoga for climbers and yoga for dancers.

Want to try? With the yum intro you get 30 days of unlimited yoga, aerial included, for DKK 399 (30+) or DKK 359 (under 30). Questions? Write to us at yoga@yum.dk or via our contact page. Or come by Alliancevej 22 for a coffee and a chat.

FAQ

Which aerial yoga class should I take first?

At yum you start with aerial basics, which is for people new to the hammock, or aerial retreat, which is for all levels and has no acrobatics. The more challenging classes need you to know the hammock first.

What should I wear to aerial yoga?

Fitted clothes and long leggings, not shorts. No jewellery and no clothes with zips, because they can damage the hammocks. Come with clean feet.

How early should I arrive for my first aerial class?

Arrive 10 minutes before class starts. The door closes at start time, and there’s no changing room, so come dressed for class.

Should I eat before aerial yoga?

Eat light. We recommend a small snack or a light meal at least two hours before class, not a heavy meal, and remember to drink water.

Is arial yoga the same as aerial yoga?

Yes. Arial yoga is a common misspelling of aerial yoga, which is yoga in a fabric hammock. At yum, aerial is included in all memberships, clip cards and drop-ins.