Beginner Tips for Learning Different Circus Apparatuses

So you want to get in the air? YES. I love this for you. Stepping into circus arts is one of the most exciting things you can do for your body, your brain, and honestly your whole outlook on life. Each apparatus has its own personality, its own feel, its own demands, its own magic. Whether you are drawn to the hammock, silks, lyra, bungee, sling, or dance trapeze, the right habits from day one will set you up for safe, joyful progress. Here is what I want every beginner to know.

Build Your Foundation First

Before you climb, spin, or fly, you need a base. Core strength, shoulder stability, grip endurance. These are what every single apparatus is going to ask of you. Planks, hollow holds, scapular engagement drills, mobility work. I know it does not sound as fun as being in the air, but trust me. Strong basics make everything smoother and help you avoid the overuse injuries that slow people down. We build from the ground up. Always.

Learn the Language

Every apparatus has its own vocabulary, and learning it early is going to make your training so much easier. In the hammock and sling, we talk about wraps, seats, and inversions. Silks add climbs, footlocks, and pathways. Lyra is all about mounts, balances, and transitions. Dance trapeze blends static shapes with swinging momentum. Bungee is about rebound mechanics and timing your body in a whole new way. When you understand the terms, you can follow instruction more easily and start to see the patterns connecting everything. That is when it really gets fun.

Stay Low. Work Your Technique.

I see this all the time. New students want to go high right away. I get it! But circus rewards precision way more than altitude. Working close to the ground is where you figure out your wraps, refine your form, and build real confidence. Once your technique is solid and consistent, height is the natural next step. There are no shortcuts here, and honestly, you do not want them.

Fall in Love With Repetition

Circus skills are built through repetition. That is just the truth. Pathways get smoother, your strength grows, your aerial awareness develops. All of it happens over time and through consistent practice. Celebrate the small wins. A cleaner line. A steadier balance. A smoother mount. Progress is not always linear, but if you keep showing up, it always comes. I promise you that.

Listen to Your Body

This one is huge. Circus training is demanding, and recovery is part of the process. Soreness after a new skill or a tough class? That is normal. Sharp pain? Stop. Rest days, stretching, and mobility work are not optional extras. They are what keep you in this long term. Learning to tell the difference between productive fatigue and actual strain is a skill every aerial artist develops. Your body is smart. Listen to it.

Benefits of Each Apparatus

Not sure which apparatus is calling your name? Here is a breakdown of what each one brings to your training. The good news is, you do not have to choose just one.

Aerial Hammock

• Builds full-body strength through progressions that work for every level

• Supports flexibility training through wraps and assisted stretches

• Offers a beautiful, gentle introduction to inversions and aerial awareness, where a lot of people first fall in love with being upside down

Aerial Sling

• A creativity machine that rewards people who love to explore dynamic sequencing and flow

• Provides stable support for learning wraps and drops safely

• Builds serious grip and core strength through controlled pathways

Aerial Silks

• Develops powerful upper-body and core strength

• Demands precision, coordination, and real problem-solving as you work through wraps

• Offers endless progression, from your very first climb all the way to beautiful advanced drops. It never stops challenging you.

Lyra (Aerial Hoop)

• Builds balanced strength in your shoulders, back, and core

• Improves your body lines, shapes, and transitions

• Builds confidence fast through spinning and controlled movement. There is something so empowering about feeling in control up on that hoop.

Bungee Fitness

• Low impact, high energy, and SO much fun

• Improves coordination, timing, and rebound control in ways that surprise people

• Builds leg and core strength while being kind to your joints. It is truly for everybody, which is why we also offer Bungee GOLD for students 55 and up.

Dance Trapeze

• Combines aerial technique with fluid, dance-based movement

• Builds dynamic stability through swinging and momentum

• Lets your musicality and artistry shine. This one is for the movers and the expressers.

You Belong Here

No matter where you start, I want you to know this: you belong here. We have had students from 8 to 81 walk through our doors saying "I can't do this." And they did it.

My teaching philosophy is simple. I am here to help people shine their brightest, wherever they are. My job is to help you feel your best and have fun doing it.

If you are curious about any of these apparatuses, come check out one of our intro classes. Every single apparatus at Aerial Fun and Fitness has an intro class that everyone starts with. No experience needed. No special body type required. Just show up and give yourself a chance.

See you in the air! You are amazing.

Zina's Aerialsophy - Straddle Strike Pancake Pike

Zina's Aerialsophy

This month's tip is all about two beautiful shapes we use a lot in  dance and aerial arts: the Straddle Strike and the Pancake Shape.  Can you spot the difference?  They shapes we can make in the air and on the ground, right side up and upside down. 

What is a Straddle Strike?
In aerials, a straddle strike is when you sit up, open your legs out wide to the sides — with strong, active legs. Your hips are at a 90 degree angle and you keep your core engaged. You can be sitting, standing, suspended  or upside down in the air when you strike this shape.  This is also considered and safety shape for cross backs in fabric.  If you pancake too much you could slip out of your wrap.   Think sit your bum on the ceiling and not fold.  Which takes us to the next shape.

What is a Pancake Shape?
From the wide straddle, you hinge at the hips and fold your torso forward between your legs. Imagine trying to flatten your chest toward the ground (or the floor if you’re upright). This creates the beautiful, long "pancake" line we love to use in poses and transitions. It’s a strong stretch that challenges your flexibility and core control!

Where You’ll See These Shapes

• Entering and exiting tricks like front balance, hip key, or straddle back.

• Conditioning exercises to build hip mobility and hamstring flexibility.

• Posing for flowy, graceful transitions in choreography.

Zina’s Quick Tips

• Stay Active: Pull those quads tight and point or flex your ankles/arch/toes with purpose. Keep your legs strong in either position.

• Control Your Fold: Engage your core so you fold with strength, or to hold the 90 angle in your hips.

• Check Your Support:  in wraps.... Can you tell/feel the difference in these shapes in the air?

These shapes are not just about flexibility — they build strength, control, and confidence in your aerial movement!

Zina's Aerialosophy - Peace and Love Injury Protection

Zina's Aerialsophy

In aerial fitness, injury prevention is key to staying safe while having fun. The PEACE and LOVE method is a simple approach to help manage injuries and support recovery, both short-term and long-term.

PEACE

When an injury first happens, follow PEACE to minimize damage and start healing:

1. P – Protect: Avoid moves or tricks that could make the injury worse.

2. E – Elevate: Raise the injured area above your heart to reduce swelling.

3. A – Avoid anti-inflammatories: These can slow healing, so let your body do its thing naturally.

4. C – Compress: Gently wrap or compress the area to control swelling.

5. E – Educate: Learn about your injury and listen to your body to avoid overdoing it.

LOVE

Once the injury starts healing, switch to the LOVE method to recover fully:

1. L – Load: Gradually reintroduce movement and weight to strengthen the injury.

2. O – Optimism: Stay positive—recovery is just as much mental as physical.

3. V – Vascularization: Keep blood flowing with light exercise, like gentle stretching or walking.

4. E – Exercise: Regularly work on strengthening and flexibility to prevent future injuries.

By following PEACE and LOVE, you can manage injuries smartly and get back in the air safely. Aerial fitness is all about balance—both in the body and the mind!

Teacher Training Updates

We’ve got something exciting in the works—a brand-new Hip and Core Challenge! Get ready to fire up your muscles and strengthen your practice or learn the details to have safe splits and back bends in a whole new way. More details are coming your way soon, so stay tuned!

2024 Showcase Tips - Zina's Aerialospphy

Showcase Tips from Zina

Our 2024 Student Showcase is just around the corner!

For all performers, the most important thing to remember is breathing. Before you start your performance, take a deep breath — a full inhale and a full exhale.

Try to let your face show how much fun you're having. I know there’s a lot going on in your mind, but remember how enjoyable this is.

And if you make a little mistake, that’s okay! Keep going. Mistakes happen, especially live, but if you keep moving and have a good time, the audience will too.

Remember to point those toes or flex your feet strongly, depending on what your character is doing. Be definitive with your ankle joint — make sure the audience knows it was a deliberate choice.

For hands, generally, the palms should face away from the audience. Lead with the back of the hand, then the elbow, the wrist, and finally the fingers. Complete the entire line, whether you're placing your hand in the air or creating a circle. Hands tell a story, but they’re probably the hardest part.

Remember to take a breath and engage your core when you climb — it will make your movements look effortless.

Most of all, have fun!

Zina's Aerialosophy - Splits to have or not?

Zina's Aerialosophy

(Get it? aerial +philosophy)

Those of us in aerial arts all want splits. We all want those ever-elusive splits...
But did you know that the shape of your pelvis could affect which type of splits you might be better at?

What if your hip bones are more to the side? What if your hip bones face more forward?

There are so many factors to consider when we start working on more advanced positions of the body. For example, everybody has a different amount of collagen and varying muscle fiber types. Are you hypermobile? Are you not hypermobile? Are you stiff? What type of job do you have? Do you sit all day? Do you stand all day?

The next big thing is, "Oh, flexibility will give me splits." Flexibility is a great buzzword, but do you have the strength to hold a limb or your body at end range?

We need to create core strength and mobility. Holding those extreme positions without getting injured should be the goal versus trying to do something more intense too quickly and possibly ending up injured.

Now, does that mean we can't do splits or we shouldn't do splits? Quite the contrary! It's always great to train these skills. After all, we are doing aerial and circus arts, so there are some shapes that need splits. We just need to learn to train them safely.

Consider these points: core strength, keeping your hips square, knowing how to use your core, keeping your quads and your hamstrings active. Do you know how to use your hip flexors and your glutes on the other leg? Do you think about how you breathe and use your core and pelvic floor? Are your ribs down in line with your hips?

I know that's a lot, but it's important to start thinking about these things when you want to start training. A quick fix for a lot of this is making sure you know where your core position is and that you can breathe properly.

Are your ribs over your hips? It sounds too easy, but if you can't breathe in a position, then you're not strong there.

If you have any questions, please reach out.

Our Values, Mission, and Vision

Get to Know Us — Watch Our New Video!

Join us as we move together. Our commitment is to our craft, our community, and our connections.

Values

• Treat Everyone Like a Friend

• Meet Everyone at Their Unique Starting Point

• Build Aerial Expertise Within Our Community of Students and Instructors

• Move with Purpose

• Raise Each Other Up and Be Amazing!

 

Mission

Welcoming you inside our family-friendly aerial community to experience the fun of being in the air with a safe and encouraging environment, enhancing your quality of life by transforming you to move freely and fully.

 

Vision

Leading and inspiring students and instructors into the next generation with education and passion. Cultivating and creating a unique movement community.

To Spilt or Not to Split ... Zina's Aerialosophy - July 2024

Zina's Aerialosophy

(Get it? aerial +philosophy)

To Spilt or Not to Split . Those of us in aerial arts all want splits. We all want those ever-elusive splits...
But did you know that the shape of your pelvis could affect which type of splits you might be better at?

What if your hip bones are more to the side? What if your hip bones face more forward?

There are so many factors to consider when we start working on more advanced positions of the body. For example, everybody has a different amount of collagen and varying muscle fiber types. Are you hypermobile? Are you not hypermobile? Are you stiff? What type of job do you have? Do you sit all day? Do you stand all day?

The next big thing is, "Oh, flexibility will give me splits." Flexibility is a great buzzword, but do you have the strength to hold a limb or your body at end range?

We need to create core strength and mobility. Holding those extreme positions without getting injured should be the goal versus trying to do something more intense too quickly and possibly ending up injured.

Now, does that mean we can't do splits or we shouldn't do splits? Quite the contrary! It's always great to train these skills. After all, we are doing aerial and circus arts, so there are some shapes that need splits. We just need to learn to train them safely.

Consider these points: core strength, keeping your hips square, knowing how to use your core, keeping your quads and your hamstrings active. Do you know how to use your hip flexors and your glutes on the other leg? Do you think about how you breathe and use your core and pelvic floor? Are your ribs down in line with your hips?

I know that's a lot, but it's important to start thinking about these things when you want to start training. A quick fix for a lot of this is making sure you know where your core position is and that you can breathe properly.

Are your ribs over your hips? It sounds too easy, but if you can't breathe in a position, then you're not strong there.

If you have any questions, please reach out.

Core for More - Zina's Aerialosophy

Zina's Aerialosophy
(get it - aerial +philosophy)

Core for More
Sounds funny, right? But seriously - the better you can learn to use your breathing and core, the more efficiently you can transfer forces and learn flows, tricks, and fun stuff. We are not stable in the air, so we need to create that from … yes, our core and where we are attached to an apparatus.

Learning how to stabilize the sides of our core to create that full cylinder all the way around.

What does that look like?
Try this: place your hands on your belly and on your chest - take a deep breath - which moves first?

1. Chest - less efficient and we want to get the breath lower into the belly

2. Belly - this is what we want - now can you breathe into the lower belly?

3. Other - reach out and I would be happy to give you some pointers.

Remember, make sure the exhale is a little longer than the inhale to help with feeling of lightheadedness, unless you really like that! 😂

Let’s breath better, (for) better core function, (to) function better in the air, (making) aerial skills easier, wink. (see what i did there? ha)

I also wrote a core challenge for our NEW APP and am working on 3 more courses to learn how to take your aerial skills to the next level. If you like to learn and can spend about 5 minutes 3 days a week on your own, reach out and we will get you the details on HOW to do this.

Can you say, Game Changer? Think you have a strong core? I bet you can find some challenges here that are aerial specfic  since most gyms are not flying through the air like you are.

Current courses: 

1. Core Corset/Cylinder: learn to control it all the way around

2. Hips and Core: in process

3. Shoulders and Core: coming Fall 2024

Time to set up RIG's to fly outdoors.

Zina's Aerialosophy 
(get it aerial + philosophy) 

March/April 2022

Time to set up RIG's to fly outdoors.
Did you inspect it?  Did you check the textiles (fabric or any of your nylon or polyester parts) for abrasions, rubs, and nicks?  Do you have crash mats?  Do you have a spotter or someone around?  Remember safe training - only do things you are confident in.  When trying new things make sure to have a spotter or coach. You can get STUCK, TWISTED, or LEFT HANGING (pardon the pun).   If you have any questions please reach out and I will be glad to assist you. 


Exciting Teacher Training news -  Look for 2 amazing students who have there own story and journey of Aerial here with us.  Stay Tuned for Apprentice teacher classes coming in May.  They will need help getting there apprenticeship so tell all your new friends who want to try some aerial. 

Congratulations to JoAnne Stout for completing and maintaining all her Aerial certifications and extra training and mentor hours for her new studio Uplift Aerial Arts.  Her studio is now an APPROVED LOCATION under our Aerial Technique tm program, which means she upholds and follows our safety and program guidelines.  So glad you still in our Aerial Family. 

You do you, each day!

     I celebrate you!  Zina    

Teacher Training Rebrand

Zina's Aerialosophy 
(get it aerial + philosophy) 

Feb 2022

So excited to announce 3 big items:
1.  Look for our NEW videos we are starting this month for tips and tricks about aerial fitness.  

2. Our teacher training program is getting a face lift.  After 8 yrs of training and coaching new teachers -  we are rebranding with  Aerial Technique TM.  We have come a long ways in 8 years and offer Hammock levels 1 - 3, Bungee, Lyra, and NEW this year Double Hammock and Cardio drumming coming this summer.  We cover aerial fitness to aerial arts.  Add your style.  Also starting our Approved location certificate.  This means that a location has gone above and beyond teacher training to learn more about rigging, training, systems to be an approved location under Aerial Technique TM which is part of our Aerial Fun & Fitness TM family. 

3.  Get ready for our 10 years celebration coming soon. We made it thru a lot and thanks to you we are still thriving and growing our community.


You do you, each day!

     I celebrate you!  Zina    

Gratitude

Zina's Aerialosophy  (get it aerial + philosophy)

January 2021 is here.

We will THRIVE not just survive. Thriving is a choice. Yes, this is a deliberate mental choice to shift your thinking. Your challenge this month is to change your mental state. Every day write down 3 things you are grateful for or thankful for. Gratitude is one way to thrive.

One one my entries this month was being thankful we are open for business to create a safe space, thankful we are all united in something to challenge us physically, mentally and some days emotionally, thankful for all of my great teachers, thankful for all of our students, and ALL of you who make this studio such a great place. In fact as I listen and watch sometimes, this is a dream come true. We have a true blessing to be together and cheer each other on.

Love, Monkeys and SeaHorses,
Zina

Long Term Success

Zina's Aerial Philosphy Corner - Feburary 2021
You may have seen our studio sign "We train and coach for your long term success, not instant gratification." So you might wonder what that all means... Cliff notes: We, the teachers will train you for skills when you have mastered the progressions. For example: if you are doing a knee hang climb and your shoulders are still riding up to your ears (you have squashed grapefriut between you ear and shoulder and have hypothical juice dripping down), you will need to have stable shoulders to invert hanging by your arms (think double wrist wrap candle stick / pencil). A couple of questions to ask yourself when you climb... Is my core active (core is front, sides and back body)? Where do I feel the climb? Do my shoulders forget when I learn a new skill? Am I breathing? These will help you tune into your mind body connection to create those beautiful strong shoulders. You got this.

Breathe and Cubed Core

Zina's Aerialosophy _ (get it aerial + philosophy)__

DECEMBER 2021

It's our holiday month… we have so much to do, so many places to be, including on our apparatus. First I'd like to take a moment and thank you for being a part of our studio family!  I'm so thankful for the teachers using their God given talents and gifts,  for the students who create this amazing community,  and for my husband of excellence who makes it possible for me to live my passion and help people with movement and aerial everyday.

This is a season to stop and take a breath!   Deep breathing is so important for relaxation response for the nervous system,  brain health, and movement quality.  It helps us process mentally better, it helps us move better, it helps us rest, digest and repair better.  I've learned so much this past year on breathing from Dr. Arianne Missimer that I have to pass it on. 

You have also heard me talk about the core as a cube.  There's a great 3D animation on anatomy and I love this word picture -   the core as a cube - meaning it has a front and back, two sides, and a top and a bottom.  The top and the bottom are especially important when it comes to breathing. For a couple examples:  if we only activate the top (super tense and not relaxed) and not the bottom,  we can have core compensations.   If we only activate the front and not the back we can't support the spine as well, and if we don't know how to activate the sides  we lack breathing options and mobility. 

So for this holiday season stop and take a breath whether it's before you eat, whether it is before class, whether it's before you're frustrated on a shape or flow you are trying to get,  stop and take a breath!

Sometimes when we're feeling anxious (for whatever reason), stop and take a moment,  breathe.  Stopping to take a breath can help you decide the next course of action in a better frame of mind.   You've got this!

 P.s.  Be on the look for our Aerial Fun Christmas card coming out called “The Shapes of Christmas”. 

Aerial Outdoors

Zina's Aerialosophy _ (get it aerial + philosophy)__

June / July 2021

Summer Cross Training -

We all want to be outdoors in the summer and it's great time for cross training.   Going to the beach, walking, hiking, or if you have your own aerial rig at home to be outdoors in the fresh air.

Here are some tips for your home rig:

1. Let someone know that you're on your apparatus and when you are done.

2. Only do things you know and can get out of.  Lots of stories out there of getting stuck.

3. Make sure you have a crash mat, and best to have a spotter (for anything new, you can get stuck, see above.) 

4. Check the weather.  Use Rust stopper and lubricant (Sta-Bil is one brand) for the steel parts of 

   1. Most of them will rust (unless they are made from Aluminum / Magnesium), where there are joints.

   2. Cover or take down your rig in bad weather.  (if taller than your house, think lighting rod, and without sands bags it could blow over)

5. Home Rigs (price point under $1,000) are not rated for drops or dynamic motion.  A 150lbs person could generate 900+ lbs of force.  Make sure to check your paperwork and what it is rated for. 

6. Watch your step, when hanging and unhanging your apparatus.  Bring a hat if the sun is in your eyes so you can see well to clip in and out.

7. If you're outdoors your feet can get a little dirty and if your mat is black it's going to get really hot, think burn your feet…

   1. So try adding a wet towel on one end on your mat to wipe off your feet 

   2. Also maybe add a white towel or a light-colored towel in the middle of your mat or a light yoga mat to reflect the heat off of your black mat.  

   3. You could possibly attach a tarp to keep the sun off if needed.

8. Slip or Stick

   1. Chalk for the sweaty hands  vs. rosin.  Watch for the sweaty hands which is better for fabric but if you're on a lyra make sure you have some chalk.

   2. Sweaty skin on fabric super sticky, 

   3. Sweaty hands and legs on untaped lyra super slick 

9. For those of you with an outdoor rig I created a Facebook group, to share tips and tricks “we love our rigs”  private group.

10. Since wearing polyester leggings all summer helps the sweat and stick factor, they are not breathable so try adding in some coconut oil, cranberry juice and or raw apple cider vinegar to your diet keep away unwanted yeast, and fungus.

11. Got some tips that work for you?  We would love to hear, share them in the group.

You Do You

Zina's Aerialosophy _ (get it aerial + philosophy)__

MAY 2021

We said last month that aerial fitness is so great for all body types and shapes.  Yes, different sizes and shapes will make different poses and flows easier, while other body types will be more challenging. Know that is OK. YOU DO YOU!  Compare yourself to you, not your neighbor.  

Are you ready to start taking it to a different level?  You are in love with this amazing aerial fitness and now you want to challenge yourself and set some goals to conquer some of these more challenging skills that involve climbing, inversion strength and a strong core for twisting and rotation.  REMINDER:  This type of goals takes TIME. You need to be patient, not compare, but show up and be your strong self. Look at some of our 5 year plus students, the determination pays off.  Yes, the struggle somedays is real.  But it's okay, be where you are each day.  You showed up, that's the first battle! 

There will be days you're not going to get it the first time and that's okay. There will be days you are strong and rested and get everything.  Then there will be some skills we see and may not want to do but admire and say that it is amazing, strong, flexible, etc…  and appreciate the aesthetic (or art) value of said skills.

Next, what is your superpower?  Everyone does something great.  I like to find what everyone's superpower is and build on that.  So can you find your aerial superpower?

The whole point of this is to acknowledge what you do great and give yourself some grace while you're learning your aerial skills and reaching goals. 

You do you, each day!

Stable Joints

Zina's Aerialosophy _ (get it aerial + philosophy)__

April 2021

Last month we talked about how great Aerial fitness is for all body types and how important it is to have stable joints - Now let's talk about  how we keep our joints stable and what forces can affect our joint strength and stability.

Aerial fitness skills work in multiple planes (think 3d 360 globe vs 2d flat circle image).  It has an unstable surface that creates more of a three-dimensional effect in our joints in our body as we move in the fabric or another apparatus.  In order to keep a joint stable, this uses outside muscles and deep inside muscles to make us strong and stabilize our joints.  If we load too much weight at once without adapting, we can get stiff, sore, and injured.   This can affect your performance mentally and physically.  We also want to make sure our movement patterns are in good alignment so the joint can move freely without grinding, noises, and or pain.

Assuming no injury - Here are a few things to consider along your aerial fitness journey that can affect joints;  lack of muscle tone, overly tight muscles, hypermobility/double jointed, weight, forces, length of levers (picture arms and legs), and overuse with incorrect alignment or bad form.

Here are some examples that may make a difference for you. See if you can notice a theme. 

• If you have low muscle tone, you will adapt and get stronger, it takes TIME.

• If you have tight muscles causing you to feel stuck, find out why.  This takes TIME.

• If you have hypermobile joints you have to strengthen the muscles around the joint.  This takes TIME.

• If you are carrying extra body weight the muscles need TIME to get stronger. 

Creating stable joints take TIME, dedication, and determination to “DO YOU”!  It does pay off, ask our long term students!  There are so many things you can do in the meantime, so celebrate! Aerial fitness is a great accomplishment at all levels!! 

Aerial Body Talk

Zina's Aerialosophy  (get it aerial + philosophy) 

Aerial Body Talk

March 2021

How fun is circus fitness?  Yes, that is what we call it.  You may have started with an aerial yoga style class but after your first few classes (If you decide you want something different) we pretty much leave that aerial stretch/yoga style of training, and introduce you to Aerial Fitness or Circus style fitness. Just saying you have options.

Fitness in general is always a journey, the great thing about aerial fitness or circus style fitness, being able to use an apparatus (silks, aerial hoop, bungee) allows so many different sizes and shapes.  I love seeing all kinds of ages being in classes together,  just enjoying something that we all love so much.  It is a rare find to be bonded by such a cool activity that bonds us together.  

We offer different styles of classes so we can meet people where they are at.  Whether it is stretching and flexibility, strengthening, adding acrobatic elements or bouncing in the bungee. We all have different goals and reasons why we're here.   Different body shapes and sizes make some moves easier and some more challenging.  One of the most important things for any style of aerial we want to be involved in, is that we have strong and stable joints for our aerial activities.  So stay tuned next month for the continuing article on how we keep our joints stable and what forces can affect our joint strength and stability.

Take a Breath

Zina's Aerialosophy 
(get it aerial + philosophy) 

DECEMBER 2021

It's our holiday month… we have so much to do, so many places to be, including on our apparatus. First I'd like to take a moment and thank you for being a part of our studio family!  I'm so thankful for the teachers using their God given talents and gifts,  for the students who create this amazing community,  and for my husband of excellence who makes it possible for me to live my passion and help people with movement and aerial everyday.

This is a season to stop and take a breath!   Deep breathing is so important for relaxation response for the nervous system,  brain health, and movement quality.  It helps us process mentally better, it helps us move better, it helps us rest, digest and repair better.  I've learned so much this past year on breathing from Dr. Arianne Missimer that I have to pass it on. 

You have also heard me talk about the core as a cube.  There's a great 3D animation on anatomy and I love this word picture -   the core as a cube - meaning it has a front and back, two sides, and a top and a bottom.  The top and the bottom are especially important when it comes to breathing. For a couple examples:  if we only activate the top (super tense and not relaxed) and not the bottom,  we can have core compensations.   If we only activate the front and not the back we can't support the spine as well, and if we don't know how to activate the sides  we lack breathing options and mobility. 

So for this holiday season stop and take a breath whether it's before you eat, whether it is before class, whether it's before you're frustrated on a shape or flow you are trying to get,  stop and take a breath!

Sometimes when we're feeling anxious (for whatever reason), stop and take a moment,  breathe.  Stopping to take a breath can help you decide the next course of action in a better frame of mind.   You've got this!

 P.s.  Be on the look for our Aerial Fun Christmas card coming out called “The Shapes of Christmas”. 

You do you, each day!

     I celebrate you!  Zina    

Showcase Time Nov 2021 Tips

Zina's Aerialosophy 
(get it aerial + philosophy) 

Nov 2021

It is showcase time....  Ann Marie summed this up so well.  Performers remember to breathe and as Kelsey would say "if you mess up, mess up with confidence".  My favorite part is how all these different types of people come together.  I love watching all this happen.  So proud of the teachers for inspiring students, students working together as a team, and all of this coming together to create our version of Aerial ART!    

On another note so excited we were featured on MY Fitness RX with Tanya Stroh.  Our segment begins at 14:25.



You do you, each day!

     I celebrate you!  Zina    

"It goes where?"

Zina's Aerialosophy _ (get it aerial + philosophy)__

OCTOBER 2021

“It goes where?”

Learning new moves, whether for class or  special event like showcase, can be a challenge .  Have you had these thoughts upside down? My foot goes where? My knee does what?  You want my belly where?  How do I get my arm to do that?  You want me to grab what?  And point my toes?  (I am laughing right now…)

These might be new body positions or  when your upside down it feels like a new body position...where to place your arm or leg or thread your head or your foot or even rotate your belly or your torso a certain direction can be challenging standing up let alone being upside down.

 STUDENTS:  Here's some tips you can even do some of these at home especially during showcase time when you only have a fixed amount of time to learn a routine…

One of my favorite tools is practice on the ground what you're trying to do in the air.  Yes it might feel a little awkward but it also will move your body in a new pattern and you might have some aha moments of all that's where that might go or talk yourself through it on the ground.  this is something that you can even do at home.   Plus another benefit to that is movement in all of your planes of motion.

 A few other things that would be helpful and these you can also do at home.  Break down each section into small parts and master each small part at a time.

•  Put things in your words whether it's verbally or write it out how you think. 

• Try visualizing what you're doing in your own mind

• Then try reversing what you just did, go out the same way you went in.

When you're in class ask for a spot if you need it,  or to clarify,  and then remember to take a deep breath and be patient with yourself.   **As we've joked in class if more than one person doesn't get it, the teacher might need to rephrase it or revisit it in the future.   I know I have done that, smile.

TEACHERS:  Break down the skills or teach in sections.  Help your students learn quicker by 

using your verbs first, require less thinking - reach, lift, turn, wrap, hook, thread, etc…  

You might even need to break things down to right and left especially if they're complicated flows level 2 and above or find another way to say it.  This can build on familiar skills and create some muscle memory on parts of the new skills before they get in the air.  And as we mentioned to the students, get on the ground and demo skills with them.  This is a great place to cover technique or safety items.  Also demo in the air so they can listen before they get in the air and have to process everything at once.  

Flying is a fun process and we all process and learn differently.  You will get the skills, be patient, sometimes we need to breathe, sometimes we need good cues, sometimes we need to get stronger, sometimes we need the nervous system to fire the right muscles.  But you will get there.   Fly well!