So… you’re thinking about signing up for an aerial class. Maybe you saw someone hanging upside down looking like a graceful bat, or maybe you just want a gym alternative that doesn’t involve staring at a treadmill for 45 minutes. Whatever the reason: welcome! You’re about to join the circus (well, sort of).
First things first: you don’t need to be strong, flexible, or secretly Spider-Man to get started. You just need a bit of curiosity and a willingness to laugh when your legs don’t go where you thought they would.
Here’s the lowdown on what to expect in your very first class.
What to expect.
When you walk in, you’ll see all sorts of mysterious contraptions hanging from the ceiling — silks, hoops, ropes, slings. Don’t panic. They’re not medieval torture devices (though your abs may disagree tomorrow) - these are the key ingredients of our adult aerial playground! And you're gonna love it!
Our Aerial classes are 75 minutes long. Broken down something like this:
- 15 Minutes warm-up: We’ll get you moving so your muscles are awake and less likely to rebel.
- 15 Minutes on apparatus conditioning
- 40 minutes tricks and skills: You’ll learn how to sit, hang, wrap, and maybe even get a little upside down.
- 5 minutes cool-down: Stretching so you don’t walk like a robot the next morning.
What should I wear?
Think leggings, not jeans. You want clothes that cover your skin a bit (because silks + bare thighs = ouch) and that won’t flip over your head when you go upside down. We'd suggest something that covers the backs of your knees and the backs of your shoulders.
Avoid sequins, zips, or jewellery unless you’re trying to audition as a disco ball. Bare feet are standard, though socks can sneak in sometimes.
Do I need to be strong?
Nope. That’s the whole point of coming to class — you’ll get stronger along the way. Everyone starts somewhere. And honestly? Just lifting your own body weight off the ground for the first time feels like winning an Olympic medal.
What if I’m scared of heights?
TBH - worrying about going too high is a lesson 2 problem. In order to get high in the first place, you have to learn how to climb and get there in the first place! So the good news is, we start low. Like… floor low. You only go higher if you want to. And we’ve got mats, coaches, and a cheer squad disguised as classmates.
FAQs We hear all the time
- Do I need to be flexible? Nope. You’ll get bendier as you go.
- Will I fall? Only in love with aerial (and no, we don’t apologise for that pun).
- Will I ache the next day? Yes, but in a very smug “look what I did” kind of way.
The bottom line
Your first aerial class is a mix of fun, wobble, and “I can’t believe I just did that!” moments. You’ll leave with a smile, probably some sore forearms, and maybe even a new addiction. But give it a few goes. Muscle memory is a wonderful thing, but it takes a little time to build up those memories! So bring your leggings, bring your curiosity, and get ready to discover what flying feels like. Spoiler: it’s brilliant.
