Here’s Why You Should Try Aerial Arts

The fluid, smooth and graceful motion of aerial arts is hard to ignore. One peep at Instagram or Cirque De Soleil will have you transfixed by the talented individuals who twist and weave themselves through silks. It truly is a site to see, so of course many would be interested in trying the art form including myself.

The Search for Aerial Art Classes

My search usually starts with Google or Groupon and googling aerial art classes near me didn’t quite bring the deals I was looking for. Looking through Groupon, there were a few facilities offering introductory aerial art classes. I’ve taken a few classes, all beginner-level, but the first studio I went to was Trapeze Las Vegas. Trapeze Las Vegas is located in the Southern part of the city of Las Vegas. They offer a lot of different classes that are rooted in circus acts such as trapeze, Lyra, flexibility, and hammock. You get a taste of all the classes they offer just by being in the studio and seeing everyone practice their craft.

I also tried Shine Alternative Fitness which is not too far from Trapeze Las Vegas. They are an alternative fitness facility that offers a wide range of classes focused on different categories. Some of their classes include anti-gravity yoga, handstands, X-treme boxing, and pole dancing. I was interested in trying this place out because they offered so many of the classes that I’ve always wanted to try. It was like a one-stop shop for fitness exploration. That’s 2 whole facilities in Las Vegas, so if you live in bigger cities you can probably find a class somewhere around you so don’t give up your search. If you don’t find a class in your city, take one the next time you travel.

Upper Body Strength Activate

Between the classes I took at both facilities, my experience with aerial arts was an interesting one. I wore a standard athletic outfit of leggings, a T-shirt, and sneakers. The sneakers weren’t needed, but wearing sandals would have felt unrelated. I must say the only part that I truly expected was the 15-minute warm-up. Each class was about an hour, so the other 45 minutes really tested your strength, especially in your upper arms. That’s honestly the main thing I was worried about. I knew my upper body strength was lacking and it made me a little nervous going into the class.

During each class, I got to experience both the lyra hoop and silks. One hour of moving around both apparatuses will give you a full body workout. My love for activities involving heights was also a reason why I decided to take the class. I have to be honest though, I didn’t get that far off the ground but I did impress myself with my flexibility. Despite the nervousness I felt, it’s always a thrilling and fun experience to try something new and I’m happy that I did. I was happy with myself and the fact that I was able to flip upside down even if it was only a few feet off the ground.

Out of both the silks and the lyra hoop, I enjoyed Lyra more. As a beginner, it was a lot easier to maneuver and hold onto. I also felt like I could do more of the positions and moves like The Mermaid move. This could be because the silks have more length to play around with whereas the hoop is more stationary. It’s kind of like you work around the hoop while with the silks, you make them work around you. That’s how I’m starting to see it.

Challenge Accepted

I took one class by myself and one with my cousin, and each one felt very encouraging even when you didn’t know what to do. Participating in these classes provided such a great opportunity to challenge myself. My athletic style is more in line with dance classes or cardio or apparently any other alternative form of exercise that I can get my hands on, but it’s all usually stuff I’m comfortable with. Going into these classes, I knew it would be challenging but I also often find myself being surprised by what I can do. After attending class, both times, I was sore but I wanted to try again. I don’t know if it’s something I want to be consistent in but taking those classes did not steer me away from aerial arts, they only pulled me in closer because I genuinely enjoyed myself and seeing what I could do.

Have you tried aerial arts or are you thinking about it? Share in the comments your experience!

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