Did any of you do online training? How did you handle the practical part of submitting videos of yourself teaching a student? Did your studio allow you to co-teach a class? Were you able to rent a room and teach a friend? I'm struggling with trying to figure out the logistics of how I would accomplish this part of the course. I'm not worried about the actual teaching part, I feel I could do that once I understand theory and lesson planning better. But how do I get a space and student to practice this?

Any advice would be appreciated

Just like the title says I'm taking my first silks class on Saturday, I've been doing pole and hoop for a while but I'm wondering if less clothing or more clothing is better, also loose vs tight fit?

I've also been made aware that I'll have to take out my septum ring which is fine but anything else I should know before I go?

I’ve been training aerial hammock for a year and just started Lyra. I’m hooked. I need a single point rig for silks/lyra/pole. My husband thinks he can do it but I would like to consult a pro. Anyone in the Austin area that will both advise and install?

Hi, I’ve been doing aerials for 8 months now. Mostly hammock, pole, and Lyra.

Around 5 months, I started to just noticed a muscle in-between my shoulder blades would get tight after class. Specifically and usually always on my left side. It does bother me quite a bit bc sometimes I can’t get a full breath due to some pinching that occurs. I do some massages on myself with a foam roller and ball. I do get relief but I’ve come to the realization that I hardly ever do moves on both sides.

I’ve been better at it, however, it’s always there after classes. I do workout in the gym and have noticed I haven’t really been doing upper body workouts there since I mostly workout my upper body in aerials. Maybe that’s causing it?🥲

I’ve also noticed back pain (pinching/tension) on the middle of my shoulder blades when I do a straddle into a Delilah on the Lyra.

Anyone ever experience this? If so what did you do to prevent further discomfort?

Hey guys so I know this may be tmi and i apologize if anyone may feel uncomfortable about this topic. The reason I'd like to speak on this is because its very real and a topic that I never see discussed in Aerials but it's been heavily affecting me and I just wonder what you guys feel about it. So the thing is I don't know if it's all in my head but I swear I get extremely weak when around that time of the month. I'm talking like I could barely gather the strength to do any type of move on the hoop. The little bit of strength I have is non existent this time of the month and it really gets to me a lot. Especially since I don't hear of this issue for anyone else. Is it just me or does this happen to you guys to? If so, how do you manage? Do you switch up your routine? Do you avoid Aerials? Lets talk

I am non binary and I usually just wear leggings and a top of some sort, but I am starting to feel very dysphoric in leggings.

Does anyone have recommendations for pants to train in that won’t get caught in the lyra? I’m worried if I wear sweat pants or something it’ll get wrapped around and I’ll get pantsed lol.

Edit: Thanks everyone for the recommendations! I think I am going to try sweatpants or shorts over leggings, this seems like a popular choice and you have relieved my fears of getting pantsed!!

Hi, I’ve been practicing aerial sling for around 2 years now and I’ve gotten pretty good, I’m able to do a lot of advanced sequences, and I’ve recently started practicing on silks too.

The issue is, it’s very hard for me to invert from poses like crossback or allegra. I think it might be because I’m forced to work with shorter fabric due to ceiling length (maybe 5m of fabric?) but others who are relatively newer and don’t work out etc are able to get it while I can’t. Idk if it’s an issue with my core strength, even tho I train regularly, the fabric length, or just technique. The only way I can get it is if someone gives me a slight push, which defeats the purpose.

If relevant, I’m 5’3 and weigh around 54kgs.

The title, basically. I've not done any research into what good minimum practices are, but now I'm wondering how regulated studios are. I just kind of chose a studio a year ago to practice at, liked it, so I stuck with it. Now I'm wondering what safety practices they may be held to (I'm only asking out of curiosity, it's ok if they're not upheld exactly the same by my studio's insurance).

I'm only asking out of curiosity, as I recently learned about a person in my city that has a rig in their backyard and sells time on it for some small amount of money. I immediately dismissed that option as unsafe, but then I realized that I know nothing about what would make a studio safer than some random person with a rig 🤷‍♀️ I feel silly for not asking this sooner.

I ultimately trust my instructors to be experienced enough to vet the safety practices of the owner, and I've never had a safety scare, but I'd like to sate my own curiosity and ensure myself that commercial studios have at least some safety regulations they need to follow.

A few years ago I stumbled across a YouTube creator who had written a Python program for helping her come up with fresh lyra combinations. I tend to stick with the same routines over and over again and thought her program was such a neat tool for helping yourself get out of practice ruts, but I can't find it now. Does this sound familiar to anyone here, and could you point me towards it if so? 🙏

I bought a class pack for 10 classes at a studio that’s been around for years. At my first class, I discovered they don’t use crash pads, only that black felt gym flooring that’s about 3” thick. There are a couple crash mats stored, but not enough for all their rig points. How do I nicely say that they should get more mats and use them? I don’t feel safe (we inverted in the air). Without the mats, I am going to avoid their aerial classes and use up my pack on flexibility classes in the meanwhile. :(

Here I am again, two days after my most recent intermediate/advanced silks class, in pain around my low back and ribs (and not in a normal muscle soreness kind of way). We did some very intensely squeezy, C-shaping wheeldown variations in class and it felt horrible at the time, and now my body feels extra sensitive and painful.

Sometimes it feels like I'm just not cut out for aerial, because even after 5 years of training, I still regularly leave classes with my body feeling like trash in some way the next day. I don't have a dance or gymnastics background--I came to aerial when I started hitting a wall with yoga and felt like my progress there was stymied. Yoga became boring and I wanted something more challenging.

When it comes to aerial, though, my back is basically a board, and training my active flexibility hasn't helped much. I'm dealing with some pretty significant mobility and range of motion limitations in my hips and shoulders that never seem to get better. My most severe injury came about a year into doing aerial: I tore my ACL in the sling and it took 10 months to recover. To complicate matters further, I work as a personal chef and am on my feet for 5-6+ hours per day.

I'm 35 and I know people of all ages and body types can do aerial, but I just don't see this constant body pain getting any better as time goes on. I love aerial and I don't want to quit, but I can't help worrying that I'm going to injure myself again and it's gonna be much worse than an ACL tear.

Has anyone been in a similar boat in terms of pain and lack of flexibility? How did you fix it, or what was a game changer for you?

I’m super new to aerial yoga but already hooked and want one at home. I’ve gathered a portable rig is my best and safest option (as opposed to the ceiling), and have been looking at Prodigy Aerial Yoga Rig and X-pole Aerial A-frame. The prodigy is a bit cheaper, but the x-pole has more adjustable height so I could potentially get it 40cm higher than the prodigy, which would be ideal.

Would I be able to lean my body weight back on these without it wanting to tip over? Or would I be limited in the types of movements I could do with these rigs

(I’m located in Norway in regard to location and shipping.)

Hii! Im thinking about buying aerial chains but don’t really know where to start. I am new to rigging but have taken chains classes before and really want to get my own. Any tips about where to get them? And like sizes and length? I’m 5’4 if that helps! Also love spinning, and I was gonna buy a carabiner, swivel, and a paw rigging plate, do I need anything else?

Also wondering how heavy they are? I would be bringing them back and forth to my studio so just wondering about how heavy are they?

I just can't seem to get my straddle. I'm able to get into position, but I'm not able to hold it. Does anyone have any advice? As well as exercises I can do at home to help strengthen it? I don't have a home rig, my apartment wouldn't allow it. Lol

I am curious. I do feel my instructor going a bit fast since on second class we already tried mounting upside down and also did the straddle upside down in the hoop.

I’ve been doing aerial arts on/off for about 4 years. I’ve been more consistent the last year and am in my studio’s advanced class. With Christmas coming up, what would be some good things to ask for that could help my practice either at-home or during practice?

For example, I already have nice hand chalk. I do not have a rig at home or anything to safely rig, but would love to do more practical things like stretching, etc. I primarily participate in Lyra.

Open to all suggestions :)

So, a bit of background. I've been doing circus for the last 12ish years, and aerial for a large portion of that. I primarily do silks, and have a fair amount of experience with static trapeze, too. However, I only tried flying trapeze around a year ago, and I've only done it a couple times. I really enjoy it but I haven't had the time to add another discipline.

I saw a fly show recently and it was very impressive. What I'm wondering is, how does the timing work? Take something like a straddle whip (I've done them to the net but never to a catch, so I understand the timing of what the flyer is doing). What I don't understand is the timing for the take off, and how it lines up with the catcher's swing.

From what I observed, it seems like take off happens when the catcher is at the apex of their swing, closest to the board. My first thought is that that should synchronize the swings and would prevent a catch from happening. Obviously that's not the case. So how does the timing work for the catcher and flyer to end up on the apexes of their respective swings in a position that the catch can occur?

Does the catcher control the speed of their swing in order to time it correctly?

How does the rise fit into that? Shouldn't using it increase the amount of time one swing takes, since there's farther to travel?

If anyone wants to explain it, that would be great! I'm mostly approaching this from a theoretical standpoint of how does it work, and not how to do it (because obviously the way to do it is to learn from a coach).

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I recently got the hammock from Uplift Active, I noticed the material doesn’t feel very soft and it’s causing way more burns than the ones at the studio I practice it. Has anyone had experience with this brand? Or please recommend a softer fabric, thank you! 😻

Hi all!

I’m looking to progress my inverts! I’m fairly comfortable with a bent arm bent leg invert now, so I want to start working on my straight arm/leg inverts.

I’m wondering which one you usually teach/got taught first: bent arm, straight leg or straight arm bent leg?

Any tips generally would also be appreciated! I’m excited that I feel ready to start pushing my inverts further!

Just started some Lyra classes but unfortunately the studio I go to only offers once a week. Curious if that will be enough to see some improvement.

I would also like to get stronger and more flexible and tbh it’s hard for me to do it at home.

Hey everyone,

I just found out I’m about 4,5 weeks pregnant (first trimester)! I’ve read that it’s usually fine to keep doing lyra, sling, or pole while pregnant, but most advice says to wait until after the first trimester.

Has anyone here done these kinds of exercises in the first trimester? I’ll check with my midwife too, but I’d love to hear your experiences! I’ve been training in all three for the past 4 years, and they’re my go-to hobbies and way to stay fit.

One of my goals is to climb all the way to the top of the silk feet free. What are some conditioning exercises I can do to achieve that?

What's everyone's thoughts on Rebekah Leach's guides? (https://www.rebekahleach.com/store/p9/Aerial_Hoop_Manual_Volume_1_DIGITAL_DOWNLOAD.html) Any other hoop guides y'all prefer?