How to Tie a Yoga Hammock Knot (pt 2) - Figure 8 Knot

Hello Aerial Yogis and Aerialists! This video explains how to tie an aerial hammock figure-8 knot, wich is great for situations where you need to use up more fabric, or are tying knots using o-rings or slings.

The most common setup for aerial hammocks is to have the carabiner linked to your aerial fabric. When doing this setup, ensure your carabiner is large enough; otherwise, you may overload the carabiner. You will also want to ensure you're locking your carabiner and checking its ratings for extra safety measures. The carabiners I have are 25 kilonewtons of stainless steel, which is quite strong. If you're doing more aerial acrobatics or circus arts, consider alternate ring options, such as the o-ring or a nylon runner sling, otherwise known as a webbing sling.

Today I will use o-rings as these are one of the most popular options in our store. One benefit of using an o-ring instead of a carabiner for your hammock is that it doesn't have rough edges. So, when you're rubbing against the fabric, it's less likely to snag. Additionally, o-rings are rated really high and are fairly inexpensive. The o-rings I have are 22 kilonewtons of aluminum, and they make rigging and adjusting your hammock easy.

Today we’re going to be going over how to tie an aerial yoga hammock knot using the o-ring, which helps use more fabric. This figure 8 yoga hammock knot is a great option if you have fabric that is too long for your designated aerial location or you're trying to tie a shorter knot. You can tie knots with your o-ring, carabiner, or a webbing sling.

To start, you want to measure about a meter or three feet of fabric. The fabric should be bunched. You will want to walk your fingers along the fabric to ensure there are no twists or turns throughout the hammock. Then, take your carabiner; in this case, we're using an o-ring, so thread it through the bottom of your fabric. Bring the fabric to the one-meter or three feet spot. Then, you'll have your long tail and the rest of your hammock on one side and the short end on the other. Next, wrap one end over your arm, so you have four tails hanging down. On my end, I have two bits tied to the o-ring, and then I have the long tail behind me.

Take the o-ring and wrap it around the side so that you are holding everything in one hand. This step is important as you want to avoid making a mistake and wrapping it through the back. Then, take the fabric over the wrist and slide it over so that the o-ring comes through the back. What you're doing here is making an aerial silk hammock knot with the three pieces, almost like a braid. To tighten the knot, simply pull on the back, pull on the front, and wiggle the knot around to get out any lumps or bumps. And there you have it; a big beautiful knot that uses a lot of fabric.

The figure 8 knot is great for using up space and for a single-point hammock, which is good for spinning and air dancing. Single-point hammocks have more movement than double-point hammocks. Always check with a professional rigger if you're unsure about what is needed for your space and to ensure your knot is correct. If you’re looking for more services or tutorials on aerial yoga, check out our free tutorial videos or online studio.

If you're interested in any of the equipment discussed, you can shop all of the best aerial yoga equipment on our website. In addition to our aerial hammocks, we have aerial silks, hoops, nets, and more!