St. Cloud’s only aerial yoga studio
Yoga that lifts you off the ground.
Suspended in an aerial silk hammock, you'll discover a practice that releases tension, realigns your body, and rebuilds strength — in ways a mat simply can't offer. No experience required. Any body, any fitness level.
Rebuild
Finally, we strengthen within the new alignment — building the support your spine and joints need to maintain these improvements beyond the studio.
Release
We begin by relaxing the muscles and calming the mind. The silk supports your weight so your body can let go — truly let go — in ways that are difficult to achieve on the floor.
Realign
Once the body is relaxed, we guide it into better postural alignment. Realigning before releasing causes injury — this sequence ensures it happens safely and effectively.
What the silk Gives you
Why Aerial yoga?
Spinal Decompression
Hanging freely in the silk allows gravity to gently lengthen the spine — relieving compression in the vertebrae and discs that accumulates from sitting, standing, and daily life. Many students describe immediate relief from chronic back tension.
Aerial yoga offers benefits that go well beyond what mat yoga can provide — especially for people dealing with back pain, postural issues, or anyone who wants a genuinely different way to experience their practice.
Postural Realignment
The silk reveals postural imbalances that are hard to detect on the mat. Supported by the hammock, your body can find and hold proper alignment in ways that build lasting postural habits over time.
Functional Strength
Supporting and moving your body weight in the silk builds deep core strength, shoulder stability, and grip strength — all functional, all transferable to your mat practice and everyday movement.
Accessible Inversions
The silk makes inversions achievable for students who would never attempt them on the mat. Supported headstands and backbends become available to every body — with the added benefit of increased circulation and a fresh perspective.
The practice
Not just for the acrobatic
Aerial yoga uses a soft, supportive silk hammock suspended from the ceiling to deepen your yoga practice in ways that simply aren't possible on the mat. Supported by the silk, you can experience genuine spinal decompression, accessible inversions, and a profound release of tension — regardless of your flexibility or strength level.
At Shanti, we practice the Unnata® Aerial Yoga Method — created by founder Michelle Dortignac, drawing from over 20 years of teaching yoga, meditation, movement, and aerial arts. Everything we do follows a deliberate three-part sequence:
Nervous System Reset
Being cocooned and cradled in the silk triggers a profound parasympathetic response. Students consistently report one of the deepest savasanas of their practice — a level of rest that goes beyond what the mat offers.
Trust & Play
Aerial yoga asks you to surrender to the silk — to trust it, and by extension, to trust yourself. This quality of playful courage carries into your mat practice and into daily life in ways that are hard to articulate but easy to feel.
Anyone with back or joint tension
The spinal decompression benefit alone makes aerial worth trying. Many students come specifically for relief from chronic back pain and leave as regulars.
The curious
You've seen aerial yoga online and wondered what it actually feels like. That curiosity is enough. The Fundamentals Workshop is your no-pressure starting point.
Yoga practitioners
Looking to deepen your mat practice from a completely new angle. Aerial reveals patterns and possibilities you can't access on the floor.
Athletes & active people
Runners, cyclists, hikers, lifters — aerial yoga is exceptional for spinal decompression and recovery from the compression that high-impact activity creates.
That thought is the most common thing we hear from people standing outside our aerial room. Here's what we know after years of teaching aerial yoga to students of every age, body type, and fitness level:
One requirement
Students must be 16 or older. All other bodies, fitness levels, and experience levels are welcome — any body, any age above 16.
“I’m not strong enough/ flexible enough/ young enough”
The silk does the heavy lifting — literally. You don't need to arrive with strength or flexibility. You build those things here. Our aerial students range from complete beginners in their 60s to experienced yogis looking for something new. The Fundamentals Workshop exists precisely so you can learn at your own pace before joining a regular class.
If you’re thinking "I could never do that” — This section is for you
Who it’s for
Investment: $60 per workshop, pre-registration required. Class Size: Limited to 8 students.
Aerial Yoga FAQ
Common Questions
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No — and this is the question we hear most often. The Unnata® method begins with Release, which means we start by letting the silk support your body, not by demanding strength from it. Strength and flexibility are things you develop through the practice. You don't need to arrive with either.
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The Fundamentals Workshop teaches you how to safely enter, exit, and support yourself in the silk — skills that regular classes assume you already have. It's not a gatekeeping exercise; it's how we make sure your very first experience in the silk is positive, safe, and sets you up for everything that comes next. Most students leave the workshop excited to come back.
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Our aerial silks are rated to hold well over 1,000 pounds and are rigorously maintained and inspected. If you have specific concerns, please reach out before booking — we're happy to talk it through so you can arrive feeling confident.
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You might be surprised — in most aerial yoga postures, you're only a foot or two off the ground. The experience is much more about being cradled and supported than about height. Many students who come in with height concerns find the silk feels grounding rather than scary. That said, tell your teacher and they'll work with you at whatever level feels right.
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Yes — once you've completed the Fundamentals Workshop, all regular aerial classes (Aerial Yin and Aerial Yoga) are included with all Shanti memberships and class packs. The Fundamentals Workshop itself is $60 and booked separately.
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Aerial yoga is often recommended for people with back tension — spinal decompression is one of its signature benefits. That said, some conditions may require modifications or medical clearance first. Please reach out before booking and let us know what you're working with — our teachers are trained to adapt and will guide you appropriately.
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Students must be 16 years or older to participate in aerial yoga classes and workshops at Shanti.
All new students begin with the Aerial Fundamentals Workshop before joining regular classes. It's not a barrier — it's how we make sure your first experience in the silk is safe, supported, and genuinely enjoyable.
Fundamentals Workshop required for all new aerial students
Before booking a regular aerial class, all students must complete the Aerial Fundamentals Workshop. This is how we ensure every student arrives prepared, confident, and ready to get the most from their practice. Once you've completed it, all aerial classes are open to you.
Start Here
your path into the silK
on the schedule
Aerial Fundamentals Workshop
2 Saturdays/month - 8am - 1.5hrs
Your entry point into aerial yoga at Shanti. In this 90-minute workshop, you'll learn the foundational postures and holds for using the aerial silk — how to support your body weight, experience tension release, begin realigning your posture, and build the initial strength you'll use in every aerial class going forward. Pre-booking required so we can anticipate your arrival and follow up with reminders.
Level: All levels (fundamental workshop required) Class Size: Limited to 8 students.
Aerial Yoga
Wednesdays at 5:30pm
A well-rounded aerial yoga class suitable for all levels once you've completed the Fundamentals Workshop. Each class moves through the Unnata® Release → Realign → Rebuild sequence, blending breath, movement, and stillness in the silk. A different experience every week, always grounded in the same intentional method.
Level: All levels (fundamental workshop required) Class Size: Limited to 8 students.
Aerial classes are included with all Shanti memberships and class packs once the Fundamentals Workshop is complete.
Aerial Yin
Mondays at 7pm
A deeply restorative aerial practice that combines the long-held, connective-tissue-targeting postures of yin yoga with the support and decompression of the silk. Expect extended holds, deep release, and a profound nervous system reset. Ideal after a long day or a heavy week. Fundamentals Workshop required before attending.
Our aerial teachers bring deep training in the Unnata® Aerial Yoga Method and a shared commitment to making the practice feel safe, accessible, and genuinely joyful for every student.
Amanda
Meet the aerial teachers
Your guides in the silk
Jesse
Julie
Ryan
Sarah
Terri
The silk will hold you
Our aerial silks are rated to hold well over 1,000 pounds and are rigorously maintained. The most common feeling students describe in their first class is surprise at how supported they feel — the silk is secure, stable, and comfortable.
Pre-booking is required
Because of our small class size and the setup involved, all aerial classes and workshops require advance registration through our schedule. This also lets us follow up with reminders and any information you need before arriving.
Class size is small by design
Form-fitting, flexible clothing — leggings and a fitted top work well
Shirt with sleeves — the silk wraps around your arms and bare skin can chafe
Long pants or capris recommended — silk will contact your legs
NO jewelry — rings, bracelets, and necklaces can catch in the silk
NO makeup or lotions on skin that will contact the silk — help us keep the silks clean
NO tank tops — sleeves are required for aerial classes
A few things to know before your first aerial class or workshop so you can walk in feeling prepared and confident.
wHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU aRRIVE
yOUR FIRST TIME
Arrive a few minutes early
Give yourself time to get settled, meet your teacher, and ask any questions before class begins. First-timers are always welcomed — let your teacher know it's your first time so they can keep an eye out for you.
Class size is small by design
We limit aerial classes to 8 students. This is intentional — it means your teacher can give you real individual attention, spot your form, and make sure you're moving safely in the silk throughout the entire class.
8
Maximum students per aerial class — small by design
6
Certified aerial teachers on our team
$60
Fundamentals Workshop — 90mins — your starting point
Shanti is proud to offer certified Unnata® Aerial Yoga instruction. Michelle Dortignac, the founder of the Unnata® method, joins us as a guest teacher — one of the only opportunities in the region to practice directly with her.
Using aerial silk reveals subtle insights that can only be found from an aerial perspective — and applies them to transform your practice on the ground.
Our method
Ready to leave the ground?
Start with the Fundamentals workshop
Every aerial student at Shanti starts here. A 90-minute Saturday morning workshop, limited to 8 students, designed to give you everything you need to feel confident and safe in the silk. $60, pre-registration required.
2x Saturdays/month— 8am — 90mins