Wakeful Ascent Aerial Arts

While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think of aerial safety, this one object can be lifesaving: A sturdy, easily accessible ladder . Not for changing light bulbs. Not for adjusting décor. For rescuing a student . It's never fun to think about emergency scenarios, but it is absolutely necessary for anyone who teaches or is thinking about teaching aerial arts. 1. The Ladder Is Your Access Point in an Aerial Arts Emergency The most critical use of a la

There is a lot of discussion about cueing strategy in the aerial teaching world, and sometimes we get caught in the limitations of "which cue?" This can block us from the possibility that maybe there should be no cue. Sometimes no cue is the best cue in aerial arts, and neuroscience can tell us why. The Explicit vs Implicit Learning System First we need to look at the Explicit and Implicit learning system outlined by Psychologists and researchers Fitts & Posner. I've been

Have you ever noticed when you're learning an aerial skill that you make lots of mistakes, lose connection to your body, and get confused easily? And then gradually you do it more and more and it starts to feel great? This is a real, studied thing. Teaching and training aerial arts is a fascinating real-time exploration of the three stages of motor learning (a good aerial teacher training will explain this) . Understanding this process helps aerial instructors strategize t

Gone are the days of any prevailing belief that the best aerial teachers are the strongest, bendiest, or most advanced performers. Culturally, acceptance has grown that being amazing at aerial does not translate to being an amazing teacher. Indeed, those are two VERY different skill sets! Skilled aerialists can sometimes run into limitations because they have a harder time relating to the struggles of their students (hint - your non dominant side is excellent for this). Some

(Spoiler: It’s less about being perfect and more about being prepared.) In an industry that doesn't require certification to teach, it's very common for aerialists to feel less confident about whether they're “ready” to begin teaching aerial. People swing between: “I need to be a super advanced aerialist to teach.” and “I've been doing this for a while - I'm ready.” The truth is somewhere in the middle. Imposter syndrome comes in when we hold a belief that we should not be d

At the time of writing this article, there is no governing body  overseeing aerial arts instruction. No  required national test. No  “official” license. No  universal standard that every studio follows. So no one can you say that you need an aerial teacher training certification to teach aerial arts - at least legally. Because of this: A studio could technically hire someone with zero qualifications You could technically open a studio with no certification Anyone could call t

If you’ve been training aerial arts (aerial silks, aerial hoop, trapeze, corde lisse) for a while, there’s a moment that sneaks up on a lot of us. You’re showing a friend.Or helping someone in class remember their footlock. Or catching yourself explaining a wrap with surprising clarity… If you’re here because that whisper to begin teaching aerial arts is getting louder — or because you’re seriously considering joining an aerial teacher training — this guide is for you. Why Pe

I can't tell you the number of times I've seen tutorials for single footlock from the floor that glossed over all the details. The truth is, regardless of how "beginner" or "basic" it might seem, this skill requires precision and has a lot of pitfalls. It's not just "pull slack to your ribs and wrap over your foot." This isn’t simply a demo, but a full lesson and a training  that explains what's really going on with this wrap. {Watch the Free Tutorial} I promise you’ll wal

Have you ever noticed that some mixed level aerial arts classes are a dream, and some are a nightmare? There's reasons for this, and not entirely about "who" ends up in the class. Before getting into it, what makes mixed levels a good thing at all? Note: this is written to teachers of aerial arts, but is also very helpful for students to read. What makes mixed levels aerial arts classes great or challenging: -Newer students can see what lies ahead, and this can be very ins

How the art of transitions is the gateway for your expression, fluidity, and personal style in aerial silks.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since I first fell literally head over heels in love with aerial silks. A full decade. That feels impossible, yet here I am. One of my earliest memories of aerial entering my consciousness was watching Wings of Desire , the German film with that unforgettable image of a trapeze artist floating in an ethereal world. I remember it not as a thought, but as a core understanding: That's for special people . I could never be magical like that

If you’ve ever searched for aerial silks tutorials online, you’ve probably noticed: they’re not all created equal . Some are beautiful to watch but hard to follow. Others skip crucial steps, leaving you guessing (or worse, doing something unsafe). Some showcase cool tricks but poor form and engagement. Some straight out provide incorrect instruction. Many of them simply lack details. The problem is that anybody with iphone and a silks rig can start making "tutorials." It's i

True story—I genuinely believed I’d never create an original silks sequence.Why?Because my spatial reasoning felt... non-existent. I couldn't visualize wraps. I couldn’t explain why anything worked. I’d follow my teacher’s cues, perform the sequence, and have no idea how I pulled it off. (Assembling furniture? Also a disaster. So I figured silks theory would be out of reach too.) I assumed that anyone who created original sequences must be some kind of wrap-savvy genius. I

I can't tell you the number of times I've seen tutorials for your aerial silks single footlock from the floor that glossed over all the details. The truth is, regardless of how "beginner" or "basic" it might seem, this skill requires precision and has a lot of pitfalls. It's not just "pull slack to your ribs and wrap over your foot." This isn’t simply a demo, but a full lesson and a training  that explains what's really going on with this wrap.I promise you’ll walk away with

Choreography is such a fun and rewarding part of aerial silks - there's nothing quite like creating an original act and sharing it, fully embodying yourself as an aerialist and an artist.  Let's look at three common mistakes to avoid as you set out to create choreography and perform: 1. Too many tricks, not enough transition You've packed your routine with epic tricks, drops, and poses, but now you're rushing from one to the next. Allow room for your act to breathe - create a

Let's look at some aerial silks strength drills! These are three powerful moves that bring detailed awareness to technique at the same time that they build strength. If you're serious about training and progressing, be sure to check out my SilkFIT program to cut to the chase and get the results you're looking for. Comes with 6 weeks of direct coaching access! Skin the Cat Planks A lot of aerialists work extensively with shoulder flexion, so this extension is a really nice c

Every aerialist approaches learning differently, and understanding your learning style can help you progress faster, overcome challenges, and make training more fun. Most people are a mix of styles but tend to lean toward one dominant way of processing information. Let’s explore the main learning styles in aerial silks and how they impact your training. Before we begin - studies show that the idea of learning styles doesn't really work how we think! Research shows that learn

Aerial silks classes offer absolutely essential opportunities for instruction, community, and safe training. They are foundational and should not be skipped by any aerialist. But in what ways could they be limiting? Could some solo training be the key to your next breakthrough? Performance anxiety Being watched can make you feel self-conscious, especially if you're highly sensitive or empathetic. This self-consciousness often leads to overthinking what the observer might be

Where to begin? A common question I get from my students is, “Do you start creating an aerial choreography  by choosing a song first or writing out the sequence of skills and poses first?” It depends! For example, you might have fallen in love with a song, and have no vision of your act or simply KNOW you want to do a splits and an angel drop in an act but you have no idea what the music will be. There is no right or wrong–start with what you do have and work from there.  Ch

Is aerial silks safe? What are the risks, and how do you mitigate them? How do you evaluate the safety of a studio or other setting?