Confused by Aerial Sling/Hammock Names? A Beginner’s Guide to Aerial Terms
“I’d love to learn more moves from the Rachel Wrap,” a new student told me as we talked about class goals.
I smiled and said, “You’ll have to show me the move, because I haven’t heard that aerial name before.”
Twenty minutes into class, I went into what I call Perch to Belay, and she said, “Oh! That’s the Rachel move.”
And that’s when it hit me (again): in aerial sling and aerial hammock, the moves are real… but the names are not always universal.
Seatbelt can also be called Infinity Loop. Star can be called Arabesque. From one class to the next, the language can feel a bit like the Biblical story of Babel—same shapes, different words.
Even in the same studio, two teachers who trained at different schools might use totally different names for the exact same skill. And if you train online with one instructor and then drop into an in-person class somewhere else, you can feel like you’re suddenly “behind”… when really you’re just hearing a different dialect.
If you’ve ever thought, “Wait—am I doing this wrong?” because the teacher used a name you’ve never heard, you’re not alone. Let’s decode why this happens, and how to navigate it without losing confidence (or safety).
Why aerial move names are so inconsistent
Aerial has a naming problem—and it’s not because students aren’t paying attention. It’s because aerial arts grew from multiple lineages at the same time: circus, dance, yoga, fitness, and studio-specific training systems. That means names evolve based on:
1) Different training lineages (circus vs yoga vs dance)
Some teachers name shapes based on:
the wrap (what the fabric is doing)
the shape (what the body looks like)
the pathway (how you got there)
the purpose (conditioning vs choreography vs yoga)
So one teacher might call something “Seatbelt” because of the wrap across the body, while another calls it “Infinity Loop” because of the way the fabric circles and locks.
2) Studio culture + “local dialect”
Studios often develop their own shorthand. If a teacher learned a move as “Rachel Wrap” from a mentor named Rachel (or a creator who popularized it), that name can stick in that community—even if other studios call it something else.
3) People name new shapes as they invent them
One of my teachers at the world-renowned NECCA once said she hoped someday we could all come together and agree on a shared aerial language. I love that dream… but it’s tough, because aerialists are creative. As teachers get stronger, they play, combine shapes, and invent new transitions. And when something is new, the name is often… whatever came out of someone’s mouth first.
4) The same name can mean different things
This is the sneaky one. Sometimes two teachers use the same name, but they mean different entries, different wraps, or different end shapes. That’s why “just the name” isn’t always enough for safety.
The most important thing: names are less important than the wrap + pathway
Here’s the mindset shift that makes aerial names way less stressful:
A move name is a label. The wrap is the truth.
If you can describe (or recognize):
where the fabric is contacting your body
what is supporting your weight
what is free vs what is wrapped
how you entered the skill
…you can translate between teachers much more easily.
This is also why I teach foundations the way I do: not just “copy this shape,” but understand what’s supporting you so you can move safely even when the vocabulary changes.
How to handle name confusion in class (without feeling awkward)
If you’re in an aerial sling/hammock class and a name throws you off, try these phrases:
“Can you show the entry again? I know it by a different name.”
“What are the main contact points for this one?”
“Can you show a regression and a progression?” (great for mixed-level classes)
And if you’re the student who worries you’re slowing everyone down: you’re not. Clear language prevents injuries. Asking is a strength move.
A simple tip for online training + in-person classes
If you train online and in person, keep a tiny “translation list” in your notes:
My teacher calls it: Seatbelt
Other names I’ve heard: Infinity Loop
How I recognize it: wrap crosses the torso like a seatbelt + wraps around the thighs separately.
This takes 30 seconds and saves you so much mental load later.
The takeaway
I don’t have a perfect solution for the aerial naming problem. But I can promise you this:
If you’ve learned a move with one name and then go someplace new, you’re going to hear different names. That doesn’t mean you’re wrong. It means you’re multilingual now.
And the more you understand your foundations—activation, alignment, and what’s actually supporting you—the less intimidating the name game becomes.
Want a Clear Step-by-Step Path (without guessing?)
Inside my Aerial Foundations program, I teach aerial sling/hammock skills with consistent language, clear progressions, and safety-first foundations—so you feel confident no matter what a studio calls the move.