Tanya Thomas came to us with a sketch and measurements. She'd taken over a disused squash court in Geraldton (WA) and wanted to turn it into an aerial yoga studio. Here's how she built a freestanding aerial yoga frame from Titan AV truss, with the strength and flexibility she needed and without drilling a single hole in the building.
Image: Disused squash court in Geraldton before aerial yoga studio conversion.
Image: Tanya Thomas preparing interior walls for the aerial yoga studio.
Image: Tanya's new aerial yoga space featuring Titan AV truss.
The Math
Tanya's squash court is 9.8 metres long and 6.3 metres wide. She needed 10 hanging points so she could run a full class without people hitting walls or each other.
One big structure could span the space. But two separate structures let her optimise the space in a smarter way. Truss comes in set lengths. Sometimes you need a little more, sometimes a little less to nail exact distances. Two rigs gave her that flexibility.
Here's the strategy: position the frames against the long wall on one side, keep clearance on the other 3 walls and between structures, giving people room to swing safely and move through the space.
Each truss structure measures 4.6m wide and 2.6m long, with an inside hanging space of 4m by 2m. Tanya was clear on why: "It has to be 4m inner so I can hang 2 hammocks there with enough space from each other and the corner legs." Two people in hammocks, side by side, with room to move and room to miss the frame.
A hammock hangs from every 2m span of horizontal truss, except the span that sits against the wall. That's five hanging points per frame and 10 across the studio. Later, Tanya added an 11th point running between the two structures, positioning herself in the middle to teach and see everyone.
Image: AJ from our sales team sketched up the initial truss request.
Image: Final aerial yoga frame truss system.
What That Means Structurally
Two structures meant Tanya could configure the space precisely how she needed. Eight steel base plates sit on the floor, four per structure. Eight vertical columns of 290mm box truss stand on those plates. Each column is a 3m length of truss, and with the base plate below and the cube on top it reaches 3.3m overall.
The structure stands on its own. Nothing bolts to the floor, the walls or the ceiling. No drilling, no fixings and no permanent changes to the building.
That's the whole point.
At the top, a cube truss sits on each 3m column. From each cube, 2m sections of horizontal truss extend out to form the rectangular frame. That's 4.6m length, 2.6m depth. Cube truss is the right choice here. It has six connection points, it's stronger and it spreads the load better. It also leaves room to expand later.
During scoping, tri truss came up. It's strong enough, and a similar tri truss setup would cost roughly $5,000 less at RRP. The catch is the junctions. Tri junctions have three connection points, so if you want to add more truss or shift the layout later, your options are limited. Box truss with cubes gives you six connection points, more strength and the freedom to reconfigure without starting over.
Sometimes the cheaper option now costs more later.
The Order
Here's what Tanya bought for both structures combined:
- 8x 300 Steel Base Plate. One under each vertical column. They're the anchor point: the weight sits on them, they sit on the floor, and nothing bolts down.
- 12x 2m 290mm Box Truss. The horizontal beams that form the frame and spread the load.
- 8x 290mm Cube Truss. The corner junctions.
- 8x 3m 290mm Box Truss. The vertical columns that hold up the whole structure.
- 32x 50mm Truss Lighting Half Spigot for 290mm Box Cube. Each cube ships with 4 half spigots, which covers one connection. Each cube in this build joins two pieces of truss, so Tanya ordered 32 extra to cover all 8 cubes.
- 4x 50mm Lighting Clamp, Safe Working Load (SWL) 500kg. For additional instructor rigging points. Already thinking ahead about expansion.
The complete order comes to roughly A$20,000 at retail pricing (at the time of writing). For bulk orders at this scale, our sales team can work out better pricing.
Why 290?
290mm box truss is the heavy-duty end of our range. It's the truss we put through destructive testing with the University of Southern Queensland. It's what you use when the weight matters and the movement matters, like when people are hanging from it.
Building that strong means you never have to think about it again. The frame doesn't bend and it doesn't sag. It just holds, class after class, with people spinning in the air.
The Timeline
First contact came on 24 August with a sketch and measurements. AJ and Brad worked through the numbers with Tanya and locked in the final design. By 1 September the order was placed.
The truss shipped to Geraldton early September. Walls got painted, floors got polished, and Tanya's team put it together. There were no cranes and no special tools, just a hammer, a ladder, and a couple of mates. The build went quickly because all the measuring was done up front.
What Happens When The Lease Ends
Leases end. Businesses grow. Locations change. Your rig shouldn't be bolted to the first place you rented.
Tanya's frames are freestanding. If the lease ends, the business grows or she finds a better location, the whole rig comes apart, goes on a truck and rebuilds in the next space. Same design, same footprint, same 10 hanging points. There are no holes to patch, no deposit arguments and no waiting on contractors.
She can also rearrange it. Bigger space? Add more truss. Different layout? Move the pieces around.
This is where it becomes an investment rather than a fit-out cost. The paint will peel and the floor polish will dull. The truss will still be holding weight the way it did on day one, and it'll probably move with her business through a few more locations.
In Tanya's words:
"There are many aerial studios looking for proper rigging and the truss is perfect, especially if you are not able to alter the building/structure and have to use freestanding."
Planning Your Own Aerial Yoga Frame
Tanya's structure works for aerial yoga. The same approach suits dance studios, aerial training in gyms, circus arts spaces, even retail spaces where you need to hang displays or create the look. You get a rigid frame, pieces you can add to later, and hanging points where you need them.
The process is the same too. Measure your space, work out your clearances, and plan the layout around how people move through it. Then talk to someone who knows truss.
Send us your floor plan, ceiling height and how many people you want in the air. AJ and Brad will work through layouts, clearances and a full parts list, so you know exactly what to order. Call (07) 3423 3463 or get in touch. You can also browse our 290mm truss range or read our truss buying guide for weight limits and sizing.
Fitting out studios or venues for clients? Ask about Trade Club pricing.
See It In Action
Tanya posted a video of the rig on Instagram. Watch it on her profile, @tanyathomas_tt.