Eight Limbs of Aerial Yoga - by Jo Stewart (Paperback)

About the Book

Aerial yoga can be an incredibly versatile and accessible form of yoga practice. This trauma-informed, mental health sensitive resource guides yoga professionals on how to leverage aerial yoga's benefits for people with different needs, including older people, neurodivergent clients, people with larger bodies, and those with conditions such as EDS.

Book Synopsis

This book repositions the aerial hammock as a supportive, sensory tool to allow more people with diverse needs to experience the physical benefits of yoga and focus the mind.

Finding safety in our bodies is a central theme in yoga practice but a traditional class environment does not always meet the needs of people with mobility or mental health challenges. This inclusive and innovative guide addresses this challenge and explains the accessibility of aerial yoga, whilst honouring yoga's history and South Asian roots. With trauma-informed and mental health aware language used throughout, this book is informed by the latest research on the therapeutic applications of this practice. It also includes lived experience testimonials which highlight the variety of people it can benefit, including those experiencing anxiety, depression, and neurodivergence.

Professionals will benefit from over 250 photographs of yoga postures shared in a systematic structure designed to help them adapt the resource to their own needs and mixed groups. It explains how postures can be adapted for larger bodies, older adults, pregnancy and conditions such as EDS, and is supplemented with additional guidance on hammock installation and how to sequence postures together.

About the Author

Jo Stewart's creative approach adapts to each practitioners individual needs, with a focus on body positivity, self compassion and inclusivity. She is excited to share the whole spectrum of yogic experience - from supportive and playful movement in the aerial hammock, to calm meditation in the quiet of a yin style practice.
Jo has been teaching since 2005 and is the founder of Garden of Yoga, where she teaches Aerial Yoga, Pilates and Yin Yoga classes. She also co-hosts The Flow Artists Podcast with Rane Bowen. She is passionate about making movement accessible to everyone especially marginalised communities, and has taught free community classes with the Get Active in Darebin program since 2016. She lives in Melbourne.
She is also one of Australia's most experienced Aerial Yoga teachers in Australia, completing the first teacher training here with Antigravity creator Christopher Harrison in 2011 as well as advanced aerial yoga and Aerial Yoga Therapeutics certification with Renae Stevens in 2022.