FAQs

First of all, you are enough exactly as you are, fitness and otherwise, so let’s settle that right up front. Secondly, this is why introductory classes exist! Intro classes are tailored to those with little to no experience and for aerial classes, they take place close to or on the mat (we lovingly call this “floor-ial”). Poses and conditioning skills are modified so that even those who don’t have a fitness or dance background are able to make a few fun shapes and leave class feeling accomplished. You may not be able to do absolutely everything on the first try/class (this is perfectly normal and it’s the nature of fitness and aerial in general- even at advanced levels), but most students are able to do more than they think in their first class and have fun doing it!

• Aerial Hammock Stretch is akin to a yoga class, but with the use of the hammock to aid you in poses and stretching; it’s slower paced, a bit gentler, and involves a floating savasana towards the end of class. The apparatus consists of a single piece of fabric rigged at about thigh height. 

• Aerial Hammock Sequence involves movements and poses that are combined to create choreography over the course of 1-4 classes. The apparatus consists of a single piece of fabric rigged at about hip height.  

• Aerial Split Silks and Hammock Sequence classes are more fitness based and circus-esque in nature, with the focus being on conditioning, fun wraps/poses, and inversions. Split Silks, while also being a single piece of fabric, is rigged so that the fabric hangs in two separate pieces with tails flowing down onto the mat. 

Snug fitting shirts that cover the armpits and pants that cover the backs of the knees are recommended. It’s helpful to be able to tuck shirts in if needed. For trapeze/lyra classes, tall, thick socks are strongly recommended.

There is no weight limit. Our rig points can withstand a MINIMUM of 2,000 lbs of force.

Class begins with a warm-up on the mat, followed by conditioning with props (blocks, bands, etc.) when appropriate, as well as utilizing the apparatus(es) themselves, followed by skills/poses/or sequence, ending with a few minutes of free play and a cool down. Please note that class will begin promptly at the designated time- that means that students should be ready and on their mats at the start time- so please plan to arrive at least 5-10 minutes early. Appropriate warm-up is imperative for student safety. Students who are 5 or more minutes late will not be permitted to participate in class, and no refunds/credits will be issued for that class/pass

This is a loaded question and varies greatly from person to person for a variety of reasons. So, the answer, although annoying, is that everyone is different. Though we require a MINIMUM of 4-5 consistently attended (once per week or once every other week at the very least) Introductory classes before continuing on to Half-Level Split Silks or Intermediate Hammock, some people may need more time in Intro. Some factors to consider that can affect how quickly you gain strength and body awareness in the air are:  

• Do you get a full 8+ hours of quality sleep most nights?  

• Are you fueling your body with nutritious foods and enough water?  

• How are your stress levels?  

• Are you participating in other fitness endeavors and non-aerial activities and on the ground to further your strength in the air?  

• Are you giving your body enough time to rest and recover between classes and other workouts?  

This is not a complete list but are things to consider. There’s nothing wrong with remaining in any level for any amount of time necessary. This isn’t a professional circus troupe and nobody’s judging you. Come to the studio, build strength and community, and have some fun!

While we take every precaution to make your experience at Fit to Fly, LLC as safe as possible and focus on injury reduction, elimination of all risk is impossible. Aerial arts are inherently more dangerous than other forms of fitness. It is not uncommon to feel sore for several days after class. You may also notice some minor bruising, fabric burns or scrapes, depending on the apparatus and how you interact with it. Some soft tissue injury may occur at some point during your aerial journey, and severity can vary. Much less common but more severe conditions can occur and can never be completely ruled out or accounted for, which is why we aim for risk reduction, as total prevention is, unfortunately, just not possible. However, with the proper precautions, warm-ups, conditioning, quality equipment, students participating in appropriately leveled classes and practicing self-awareness of what their body can handle on any given day, those risks are decreased.

We have a professional rigger who is versed in aerial arts and rigging come in bi-annually to inspect everything and make sure all our equipment is of the utmost quality and level of safety. Additionally, all equipment is given a cursory inspection by the instructors before each class, and a more thorough inspection of all equipment is performed by the owner, Jackie, once per month, recorded, and replaced as need be. Industry standards state that if a piece of equipment has 10% or more structural damage, then it should be retired from use, and that is the standard to which we adhere. While nothing is ever 100% fail proof, we do our very best to make sure that our rigging is safe and keep up with current safety protocols.