This is the most common fear for students new t aerial. It is a very rare occurrence and this fear just shows a lack of understanding of how an aerial class actually works. As an aerial teacher, it’s good to be able to explain to your students how it works to ease their fears.
The thing is, your hammock holds you… While you are floating your hips, thighs, or arms (or any combo of these!) are wrapped in the sling shape. So the sling actually supports you.
It’s true that the inversions can freak out a newcomer. But you can let your potential student know that so many postures have the head just a teensy bit off the ground (like in our photo above). It would be highly unusual to slip out but, let’s for a moment imagine you did. It would actually look like a slow slide through a few inches of air and then a pretty undramatic roll down to rest completely on the floor. Obviously not ideal but very unlikely to happen at all. (we are talking about adults here who usually come with a healthy dose of self-preservation. At our studio we allow kids aged 12 and up to our regular adult classes. Below that age, kids’ focus is a bit unreliable and they tend to move forward ahead of the teacher’s instruction. This, combined with their natural fearlessness can lead them to be a bit too enthusiastic in letting go before they are properly set in their hammocks.)
Also, remind your newer students never need to let go of their handgrip if they don’t want to. That is something to do when they feel ready. But the delight of a group class is how a fearful student gets motivated and enthused by the other students around them, and they usually feel brave enough to take that next step.
In our experience, it doesn’t take long for even the most fearful new student to feel ready to let go and get on with enjoying their aerial experience.