“How about you guys come and take a class with us?” I stared at my email for a long time and let out a loud laugh. An aerial acrobatics class? Me? On the aerial silks? Miss “I have to have Shaun assist me when attempting to do one pull up”? Well, sure. Why the hell not? I like to make a fool of myself and at least this one would be interesting.
So we found ourselves at Sky Candy for the Intro to Aerial Skills class on a Saturday afternoon. Long, beautiful aerial silks hung from the ceiling while lithe people worked their magic and a few people were twirling away on the static trapeze. These were the guys we got to see from their production, “The Circus“.
Yeah, I could get into this.
After a quick warm up where I quickly learned how out of shape I was (I couldn’t come up from an ab exercise), we went straight into the aerial silks.
Note: So after looking at the pictures we took during our session, I feel there is a couple of things you need to know. 1.) There is no way to look flattering in some of these positions on your first try. 2.) I’m a little more portly than I remember but I think it is important to try things out no matter what you look like – So curvy girls everywhere, this is for you.
The first bit of the class is to just get used to what the silks will feel like and get an idea of how to balance. Shaun and I aced this one.
Look at how awesome we look.
The rest of the class went kinda like this:
Andy, our very in shape ex-gymnast from Germany would show us these beautiful poses on the silks.
This one is getting into a straddle and pike. The boys took an extra moment to use their cores to pull up a bit.
This is how we looked doing it.
Shaun isn’t too bad.
While Shaun missed my epic straddle, he did get the very pretty cross legged pose. And oh lordie I learned something about being upside down in the silks – you become incredibly aware of how “handle-y” your love handles are. But one perk (as per Andy) is that it is much easier for women to stay in these positions while men (like Shaun) tend to slip out. Score one for the curves!
The second trick was to learn the gazelle. Andy’s was stunning.
Shaun and I, on the other hand, struggled a wee bit.
I think Shaun’s was prettier than mine. Also, note to the guys – when doing aerial silks, you have to be acutely aware of where exactly the silks are or you will consequently experience what Shaun describes it as, “ball popping pressure”.
The third trick was to balance on one foot and look pretty… or man pretty for the men.
Shaun rocked it.
And well… I’ll be damned, look at my confidence.
The fourth was a bit more difficult. We were to take the silks and wrap them around our leg and just hang out there.
Shaun is a damn monkey with superhuman upper body strength and it took little or no effort as he scaled to the top of the silks.
I, on the other hand, ended up like this:
But eventually, with every cell in my body, got up to here. Shaun was cheering me on because somehow I did it with what looked like ease. I experienced something like “OMG I have to do this or I will feel like I failed.” and mustered up the core strength needed to get there.
And as my exhausted body sat there quivering, Andy stated we were going to try another type of aerial art – the Lira, or the metal hoop you see people gracefully draping themselves over and spinning.
But a grin took over my face and I (masochistically) was ready for more.
We quickly did the exercise where we learn the sweet spots of the lira.
Our last trick of the day was a move which Andy giggled and proclaimed, “you have to BEND… and SNAP!” or, in non-Legally Blonde terms, propel yourself in a circle and make pretty (or man-pretty) poses).
Shaun rocked it.
I held onto the hoop, slightly shaking, my clammy hands grasping for dear life. I bent… and SNAPPED OMG-I’m-going-to-fast-and-losing-my… “AHHHHHH Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…….” and I fell to the floor mat.
Andy rushed to my side. “Are you okay!?!”
I looked at him with a huge smile on my face. “Absolutely! I fall all the time!”
He looked and me with an air of concern. “You don’t fall in here.”
I chalked up my hands and went at it again.
.
Perfection.
I want to take a moment to thank the wonderful people at Sky Candy Austin for taking us under their wing and giving us the opportunity to fly high with them. The aerial acrobatics movement is huge in and around Austin, and if you happen to find yourself here, I would highly suggest taking this class. Not only does it give you huge bragging rights but everyone there is incredibly helpful and professional. Thank you Joanna for hooking us up and a huge thanks to Andy for being so patient with us while we learned.
And another quick thanks to Lisa and Paul for scaring the crap out of me by knowing who we were ahead of time and asking me knowing questions.
You two are so freakin’ fabulous! Love this.
That looks like so much fun! You did better than I would. 🙂
There is a place in our new town in Brazil, and as soon as I get back there I’m going to try it. I’ve already talked a friend into trying it with me. You’ve given me a bit more courage to go for it!
you continue to amaze me sweetheart.
Love it! It’s been a while since I attempted tissu, I’m sure I’d fall off too. At least you kept your toes pointed : )
This is so cool!! I took an aerial yoga class one time, but this looks beyond my skills, man. I wish I lived closer to Austin!
You guys KILLED it. I’ve always wanted to try this!
OMG! I love this. The last two pictures are fantastic – you guys are rock stars!!
I wanna try this SOOOO BAD! I had no idea it was becoming a popular ‘thing’. Congrats on giving it a try, it looks really challenging.
This looks like so much fun! I’d love to try this if given the chance. You guys were really rockin’ the the lira!
This looks so incredibly fun. The former gymnast in me REALLY wants to try it!
Ack! How cool is this? This looks like soooo much fun! Thanks so much for sharing!
Yowzers! You kids have balls (and popping ones at that!) to try this. I don’t I could make it up the steps into the gym… 🙂
There was a guy that did this on Koh Tao but he left before I could take a lesson! Maybe I’ll just have to come to Austin now. You guys are great ambassadors for the place by the way!
Awesome post! This is very inspiring. I’ve always wanted to try aerial yoga, but have been intimidated. This is my new favorite blog!
Wow — this looks ridiculously challenging, but awesome at the same time!
There’s an airport in Germany (don’t remember which) which has a a very tall wall with bottles of wine, kind of like a cellar, and there are some girls who do this to grab the bottles customers want. Maybe doing this with a few bottles of expensive wine is your next challenge? 😉
You two are awesome!
Way to go guys, this looks like a lot of fun (and very difficult).
It looks like you had a fabulous time! I loved reading your description of what aerial silk work is really like! They make something so physically demanding seem so graceful and easy! Great job!
Look at you!! A natural! If you could do all of that the first time, what’s going to happen when you keep going back? 😉
This looks like so much fun! I would fall so much more than you did if I ever tried it. Glad you and Shaun went for it!
Looks like fun! Although I’m sure it would take a few tries to get beyond the “this is really hard” part.
You look great! I have zero upper body strength so you certainly did better than I would have. It does look fun though!
xoxo
We try to be badasses. It is a lot of work. 😉
I think you would do better than you think Peg. It was less upper body strength and more leg power than I thought (or there is no way I could have lifted myself off the ground).
I’m glad to hear that!
It helps that I have been in dance previously so it is a natural thing to do. I’m determined to see everyone try this.
OMG I want Shaun to start doing that with me. It looks so awesome.
DAMN SKIPPY. DO IT LADY. I want pics.
<3 So when are you going? They have kids classes as well!
Well, it is becoming a popular thing in Austin. We’re an artsy city full of weird things so I don’t think I would say worldwide or anything. 🙂
Thank you Beth! The lira was the easiest to hold on to but comes with more hazards (like a giant steel ring heading towards your face). 😛
Gymnast… yes, that makes lots of sense now. 😛 Come over and play!
Any time! I want to show people how awesome things are in Austin!
HAHAHAHA! I love working out and doing things of this nature. I’m just a little… rotund for most of it.
Thank you Alex, we’re trying hard to make ourselves a little more known in the Austin community since we are lacking funds for travels at the moment. 😛
ELLA! I am so glad you stopped by my blog! I had found you through your giveaway on you blog and I thought, HEY! There is FAMILY! 😛 Thank you for your kind words and I hope to see you around more often. 😀
Challenging yes but really fulfilling when you make things happen. 🙂
Thanks Sam! We try. 😛 I just wish we could do things like this more often!
For some reason I thought more people would be interested in doing it instead of being in awe. 😛 It was insanely difficult and highly frustrating (but I was happy at the end).
YES. I just sat there looking at some of the girls practicing and I was so impressed. It is so much work!
I told myself there is no way I’m going back until I can get into better shape.
I think you would have to give yourself more credit. There was another girl in my class I was concerned about and she totally showed everyone up.
I think it will take me another few classes. I left so exhausted.
I enjoyed every bit of this post! If anyone knows of ANY aerial silks classes in Houston (other than VauLt/GyrotonicHouston), please please please tell me! i’m dying to make this my forte!
Vonnie – if I found a silks class for you, would you mind if I emailed you?