The most critical safety factors:
1. Make sure that your rigging points (so, whatever you're attaching your hammock to) are able to support a dynamic load (your swinging weight, which can be several times your static weight.) We LOVE inversions at Flight Room and we want you safe when we're upside down!
2. Any installation into your ceiling should be completed by a professional to ensure safety.
Okay, now that we're agreed on how to be safe, let's get to your options.
Where can I hang my new hammock??
1. Loop daisy chains over a weight-tested exposed beam in your home, garage, porch, etc.:
2. Install x-mount bolts into your ceiling (we recommend two hanging points for aerial yoga, spread 16-18 inches apart):
(This is me in my living room and my personal at-home set-up. I just take the hammock down when I'm not using it and the bolts are super unobtrusive 😊)
3. Purchase an aerial yoga stand. These are awesome because they require zero expertise in setting up, can be taken outside and put away when not in use. We LOVE this one by Uplift Active (they make all of our amazing aerial gear, including your new hammock kit!) but we have students who use and love much less expensive stands as well.
4. Loop your daisy chains over an outdoor pull-up bar or swingset that can support your swinging weight. (Home swingsets can work fine as long as they have an adequate weight capacity):
5. Purchase a doorway system designed for aerial yoga/inversions (most home pull-up bars sold are not intended for users to go upside down). While these are less expensive than an aerial yoga stand, be aware your lateral movement is pretty limited:
Where should I NOT hang my new hammock?
While we LOVE practicing outside, we don't recommend rigging from a tree. It's hard to determine how much weight a branch can hold, even if it looks super sturdy.
How much weight can the hammock support?
Our hammocks are tested to hold up to 400-600 pounds safely and the carabiners and daisy chains can each hold thousands of pounds. Typically, the strength of the location you hang the hammock will be weaker than the hammock itself.
Where can I find someone to install my hammock?
You can see if there is a rigging professional in your area by going here and selecting your state and “rigger-theatre.” (Don’t make selections for the other fields.) Or, you can certainly use tools like Yelp or Thumbtack to find a contractor with good reviews. You want to make sure whomever you hire has experience with structural work so they can advise on your ceiling’s suitability for rigging. (Good news: in our experience, almost all homes can accommodate an aerial hammock.)
How expensive is it to have someone install for me?
This will vary by your area and by your rigger’s experience and certification. Generally, though, this is a quick and simple project for pros. My contractor installed our home hammock in under an hour.
