Aerial Silk Takes Your Workout to New Heights
Andrea King
| 3 min read
Those of you who know me know I’m always willing to try anything at least once. And if I hate it, I’ll let you know, that, too. So being big into fitness, combined with my love of dance, aerial silk seemed like a perfect “fit” (pun intended).
Typically, I workout 5 to 6 days a week, mixing it up between personal training, various cardio and an assortment of classes. You get the point, I pretty much love to keep active. That also means I love variety: cue aerial silk.
Not only is it an original way to keep in shape, and be able to incorporate dance, but it’s literally always different each time you practice. One day you could look like a professional performer, while the next you may barely be able to lift your arms.
If you don’t already know, aerial silk dance is a modern form of aerial slash acrobat dance, where the artist (in this case me) uses a hanging fabric. And not to toot my own horn (okay, sure, I will) but this definitely takes a lot of strength, flexibility and power (an extra thank you to my personal trainers). Scaling the suspended fabrics and trusting your skill to wrap, swing, spin and spiral in and out of wild positions, all while flying through the air is no easy feat.
Why do it, you ask? Simplest answer: because it’s fun, duh. And let’s be honest, it looks pretty darn cool, too.
Flying with greatest of ease
At least once a week, I like to practice at Pulse Fitness, challenging myself and my body to new moves. It really is a full body workout, toning the arms and legs, stretching your limbs, building endurance and gaining more flexibility. Not only do I physically feel better, but mentally, too, releasing those endorphins and getting that feeling of accomplishment. Sure, you’ll probably be a little sore due to the full body workout, but that’s when you know you’ve worked hard.
In-flight tips:
- Get the basics down first. Start simple with the “101’s.”
- Work at your own pace. Your level of ability will differ from others.
- Be safe; don’t push yourself into the point of danger.
The art of aerial silk is not for everyone, but if you do try it, just have fun with it. I mean, that’s what being healthy is really all about anyways, right? Ok, so maybe I’m not going to join the Cirque du Soleil anytime soon, but at least I know that if I want to, I’ll have a head start. Just give me a few more months.
When she’s not dangling from aerial silks, Andrea King likes to keep active through running, personal training, dance, yoga and other cardio burning moves. To give her body a rest, she loves to give her Visa a workout instead through traveling around this mighty world, shopping local boutiques and dining out at the latest hot spots. (This message has been endorsed by her tabby cat, Tiny).
Check out this YouTube video to get a glimpse of my experience:
Photo credit: A Healthier Michigan
If you liked this post, you may be interested in reading:
