When I was told that I would be going to an aerial silks class for this column, I had to do a little research.
I’ve tried a lot of boutique-fitness, trendy workouts, but never something like this. The best way that I can describe this class is “acrobatics in the air.” You’re suspended by two pieces or a single loop of wide fabric hanging from a gym ceiling, and use the fabric to climb, flip and twist for an hour. To me it sounded mildly terrifying, but Rachel Hipszer, who has been doing aerial gymnastics for eight years and teaches the ariel silks class at All Star Gymnastics, assured me I would be fine. So, I decided to give it a fair shot.
I walked into the gym thinking that the class could go one of two ways: I would either fall tragically from the ceiling or I would be ready for Cirque du Soleil in an hour. When I told Hipszer my ideas she replied, “We’ll shoot for something in the middle.” That was a reasonable suggestion, but I still secretly hoped that I would be able to join a circus by the end of the class.
We started with some stretching and some exercises utilizing the fabrics to engage the muscles needed to complete the class, mainly the shoulders and abs. Then we moved to the fabrics. Hipszer demonstrated different poses and how to transition from each one and then I tried them myself.
Almost immediately I was on the silks, flipping and twisting, but mostly tangling myself up midair. It looked so easy and effortless when Hipszer was moving through each pose that for a while I almost tricked myself into believing I possessed that same grace. But then I glanced at the mirrored wall to my left and promptly quit lying to myself.
At the beginning of class I couldn’t stop thinking to myself, "I am suspended upside down in some crazy position in the air, and I’m held here by just a couple pieces of fabric wrapped around my body. How am I still alive?" But about 10 minutes into the class, I forgot all about this terrifying tidbit of information and stopped worrying.
From that point on, I had the best experience. And even if I didn’t look like figure skater Gracie Gold, I felt like a goddess. Definitely not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning.
This is a great workout. I felt like it mainly targeted my upper body, but because you’re engaging so many muscles to flow through each pose I would consider it a total body workout. It’s not a sweaty cardio session, but I left with a definite shine on my forehead. If you like barre, yoga or dance classes, then you will love taking your workout to new heights in an aerial fabrics class.
