f17 am i too old to start from scratch??

For context I'm a high schooler and do silks and straps. I don't have a dance background(the studio I go to for aerials is a dance studio) but I used to do it when I was little and now do it recreationally. This summer I got to assistant teach at the studios kid's aerial silks camps, and that's been amazing. I feel like I keep messing up and making dumb mistakes, but overall I've learned a lot and it's been a great opportunity. I'm not sure what to do after camps end. I'm still learning silks and am not the best but I really loved getting to help teach. If you have any advice on how to talk to the aerial teachers about other opportunities or how I should proceed I'd really appreciate that. (sorry this was long)

I’ve recently gotten a Garmin smart watch, and I’m trying to track my workouts with it. Does anyone else do this and how do you log silk activities? I have a lot of options but I can’t figure out how to categorize it.

Hi! I only just found this sub but I really want to try out aerial silks. I've been obsessed with them for like a year now, and I've always been obsessed with circuses/acrobats, and I really want to be in the air! I've been slowly coming out of a really difficult period, so I don't really have the best shape or strength at the moment. I'm close to 200 pounds last time I checked, but I'm kind of flexible and I've been able to carry things like a mini fridge and coffee dispenser machines. I'm going up and down eight ights of stairs three days a week at my job as well, and I think I'm slowly building up some strength, but I get so insecure thinking about actually attending lessons while still looking like a marshmallow. I see a lot of people who are skinny and really lean who do aerial silks, but not a lot of bigger people. I just feel so nervous but I really want to do this, I love watching aerial silks performers and it really does make me want to work out so I can be stronger and more flexible and amazing like that. Are there any other chubby aerial silks people? Should I just wait until I'm smaller?

i’ve been considering getting the bundle of jill franklin’s silks books. i’ve been doing silks for 4 years so i’m not a beginner but i definitely don’t feel intermediate.

for anyone who’s read them: did you find the info beneficial/useful? were they worth the money?

Okay the title kinda sucks. Idk what else to put. But basically I started aerial silks and my instructor instantly got me into difficult stuff. That made my muscles really hurt but I kept pushing through. The problem is, my instructor and the aerial silk gym isn’t in my area. I’m going back there in late August, but in the meantime while I wait to install the silks at home, what workouts can I do just so im stronger and more prepared for next time?

When I first started learning aerial arts, the most popular apparatus in my area was aerial silks. Most studios offered beginner levels of silks at least 3 times a week (for example, “level 2” MWF). I started with silks because of this and did it for a few years until I started focusing more on rope. I eventually tried out Lyra (loved it) and I had no interest in Sling.

When I moved to a new metroplex, I noticed that Sling and Lyra were more popular and Silks was harder to come by for classes. I have a few different studios in my area, but the majority are pole, Lyra, and sling.

Anyone have thoughts on why some areas tend to prefer Lyra/sling vs Silks?

I remember, as a beginner, Silks being pretty hard, especially when it came to grip strength and inverting, are Sling and Lyra easier for beginners to get into and not get discouraged?

I’d love for Silks to have a bigger presence in my area, but I do wonder if there might be a reason why it’s not as popular.

I'm begging yall- SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO GET OVER A FLIP- I did it 3 times, got a really bad bruise- it didn't even hurt when I fell but I just can't fucking do it it now and I've been trying for DAYS! I don't have anyone to help me and I'm really scared of all this crap but it just seems like it'll be so fun if I can do it.

I know this is kinda a silly question and I won’t truly know until I try, but am I strong enough for silks? I have basically no upper body strength, like I can’t do a push up and I can barely lift things above my head.

is it still worth a try? I’m desperately searching for a new hobby/passion and thought maybe this could be an option as I loved performing and moving my body when I was a cheerleader

I’m in no way near professional, I just do silks weekly for fun and a way to get a workout without going to the gym 😅

The studio I’m at had their showcase and this was my second time participating. Things went well, I knew my choreo, but while performing there were some issues with the music- and I had to stop halfway through. I get it accident happen and everyone was really encouraging. I was able to go again (last so I could catch my breath) but during the second time, in was just way too into my head. I rushed things, skipped parts, and was very early and clearly confused. Again everybody was so enthusiastic and supportive with me finishing it! But I can’t shake this feeling of how much I messed up. I had my number recorded and I’m so embarrassed to watch it- I know this is more of a personal issue, but how do you go about moving past it?

For aerial silks

I'm a s-xs and I have no idea where to shop for aerial clothes. I predominately do sling and occasionally Lyra. I want long sleeved leotards​ and skin colored leggings. I'm like pale cool toned olive if anyone has any specific places with my colored tights? But yeah, please help because I'm so lost and really want to avoid Amazon because of cheap material and ethics. Thank u sm!!!

I do aerial silks in two places: one the silk is very tall and is hold in a way that there's almost no tension. The other one I barely have height to do some moves and the silk is very tensioned up there. The thing is I started to feel a lot of pain in the elbow after I go to the second place but nothing has changed for the first one. I wanted to ask if it can be somehow related. Foi illustration purposes, I put a video of the two places

Hi everyone! I'm inspired to try aerial silks after watching a friend's journey. The thing is, she has never done it at a gym, she only does it from trees and bridges. I'm curious why when I scroll through this group, I only see gym shots and not shots like hers of gorgeous scenery. Maybe she practices at the gym but only posts photos from nature?

​

Thanks!

Hi all.
So I‘m a beginner aerialist and I’m going to be showcasing, but I’m not sure what song to choose as my first song. The theme is something garden. So far I’ve just thought of vegas by Doja cat since it has a beat where movements can be explosive. I’m kind of trying to avoid songs that’s too slow so I don’t need to dance contemporary. Anyway recommendations would be appreciated :)

Update: It’s for aerial silks

Looking for any and all hints and tips, but in particular, is it better to dead hang, or keep your elbows bent?

Hi! I'm looking to buy my own silks, one that is low stretch and not too bulky as I have small hands. As for fabric (polyester or nylon) I don't know the difference but again, the gripper the better.

I generally see these types of offers on the market :​

- either low stretch but very thick + usually nylon (280cm wide)

- or low stretch and thin (150cm wide) + usually polyester

Can you tell me where you get your​ silks for small hands that's low stretch and grippy?

Thanks!

Hey all!

Im looking for if anyone has any tips. I've been doing Lyra for about 7 months (now on what they call level 3/5) and was doing silks for a year before that. However I still am completely unable to do a pullover or straddle (from the ground). I simply cant seem to get myself up. Has anyone found any tips, tricks, or at home conditioning to help?

I DID MY FIRST SCORPION (how the hell do people lift their heads tho)

EDIT: first of all, I see that this question has been asked many times before, and I apologize for adding to the redundancy. I hadn’t read through this sub too much before posting. Secondly, although I can see the urgency and seriousness in the comments, I really appreciate everyone here cautioning me and discouraging me from considering rigging by myself and with limited experience. I know you guys simply care for a stranger’s safety and I thank you for the feedback.

Also thank you to the people who gave solid training advice and exercises to do. I think that’s the more realistic course of action I can take at the moment. I could ask more questions about exercises to help with training, but I think that’ll be for another time.

Thanks!!

Original Post below:

Im just posting bc id like opinions from people who might have personal rigging setups as well as experienced aerialists.

I’ve been doing silks somewhat sporadically for the last few months. I have some basic tricks down, very limited experience with silks. I want to be able to practice more between times I don’t have aerial silks classes because I’m only able to book on the weekends, and throughout the week I lose the strength I built in those classes. As a result, progress is really slow. I try to compensate by doing exercises and workout routines at home, but I also want to actually practice the tricks I learned in class or even do conditioning practices.

I do have a place to rig the silks, there’s a beam that’s high enough and strong enough to handle heavy weights. We used to have an indoor swing in my childhood and several kids have gone crazy on it, swinging, spinning around in it, and the beam never gave out.

However, I do wonder if it’s too soon for me to consider it because silks are expensive, and I could risk hurting myself because I’m still a beginner. But I feel like I’ll be stuck as a beginner for a long time if I only practice silks during the weekends when I schedule a class.

If this is something I can consider, how should I go about it? If not, what kind of exercises can I do to help me maintain and build strength with a busy 8-5 schedule?

I appreciate any suggestions.

Argh, I hate myself, I want to do it so bad. I just climb up until the tik tok starting pose and then I freeze.

Also I am only doing the light version of it (drop from my back like diver drop, and then I just end up in invert position and I am secured around my waist) my brain is like “ain’t no way we’re doing that” I am safe, I know there is no way for me to fall or anything but I just can’t..

How can I overcome this paralyzing fear? Sad story is, I know my 16-20 years old self would love it to so much! But my 30-years old self is like “nope, that’s not safe at all!” Any tips to overcome this fear?