Aviana vs Aerial Yoga Academy vs AntiGravity: Choosing the Right Aerial Certification

If you've been searching "best aerial yoga teacher training" you've probably run into three names again and again: Aviana Yoga, Aerial Yoga Academy, and AntiGravity Fitness. All three are legitimate. All three certify teachers. But they train very different kinds of teachers — and picking the right one can save you a year of doubt.

I'm Holly, founder of Aviana Yoga. I've studied under multiple lineages and I'll be honest with you about where each program shines, and where mine is different.

Quick comparison

	Aviana Yoga	Aerial Yoga Academy	AntiGravity Fitness
Teaching style	Divine-feminine, traditional & restorative, chakra + goddess sequencing	Traditional Hatha aerial	Fitness-forward, athletic
Prerequisites	Consistent practice; RYT recommended not required	200-hr RYT required	Fitness or dance background preferred
Hours	50-hour YACEP	50 & 85-hour tiers	Level 1 through Master
Cohort size	5–14 (intimate)	Varies by studio	Larger group format
Post-training mentorship	Lifetime Sisters of the Silks community + 1:1 with Holly	Alumni network	Structured continuing ed pathway
Best for	Teachers wanting depth, sacred embodiment, traditional yoga studios	Traditional yoga studios adding aerial	Gyms, fitness studios, athletic populations

Aviana Yoga — the divine-feminine, small-cohort path

Aviana is my life's work. I built our 50-hour aerial YTT for the teacher who wants more than choreography — for the woman who wants to hold sacred space, guide her students through inner archetypes, and build a soulful career around aerial yoga. Our cohorts stay small (5–14) so every student gets personal attention. Our curriculum weaves chakra-based sequencing, aromatherapy, and the goddess-archetype teaching arc into every class you'll learn to teach.

Choose Aviana if you want to teach a class that infuses body intelligent sequencing with sensory awareness in a heartfelt intentionally safe space — and you want a mentor who stays with you long after certification day.

See Aviana's current YTT cohorts →

Aerial Yoga Academy — traditional Hatha, established brand

Aerial Yoga Academy is one of the younger names in aerial certification. Their curriculum leans toward traditional Hatha yoga adapted to the hammock, with a strong emphasis on Yoga Alliance registration. If you already have your 200-hour RYT and want a straightforward "add aerial to my existing classes" credential, AYA might be the one for you.

Choose AYA if you already teach traditional yoga and want to layer aerial into your studio's existing schedule.

AntiGravity Fitness — fitness-forward, athletic

AntiGravity is the largest and most commercial of the three. Their trainings certify instructors to teach a specific branded methodology — AntiGravity Fitness, AntiGravity Aerial Yoga, AntiGravity Restorative. It's a well-oiled machine, and their material is genuinely excellent for athletic populations.

Choose AntiGravity if you teach in a gym, a large fitness studio, or want the credentialing of a chain-name system.

What matters more than the school

The truth is that your teaching voice matters more than the logo on your certificate. Any of these three schools will make you technically competent. Your job — once you graduate — is to find your own voice as a teacher. That takes years, mentorship, and a community you can call when a class doesn't land.

That's why the piece I care most about — and the piece I built Aviana around — is what happens after the certification. Our Sisters of the Silks community and my ongoing 1:1 mentorship exist because I know how lonely the first year of teaching can feel.

Have questions? Let's talk.

If you'd like to talk through which training makes sense for your path — Aviana or otherwise — I'm always here. Reach out and let's have a real conversation.

With honesty and love,
Holly