Guest Article by Kari Kistler
It’s time for your vacation! Yay! But you don’t want to give up on your aerial practice…. Maybe you’ve got a performance coming up a few weeks after you get back, or maybe you’re just really into a groove, training consistently, feeling strong, and you just don’t want to lose your trajectory. A decade ago it was really difficult to find aerial studios anywhere but major cities (think NY, LA, London). But these days, whether you’re visiting family in California, taking a work trip to Kansas City, or backpacking in Europe for a month, it’s becoming easier to find a studio where you can get some airtime.
The first (aerial) priority when you are trip-planning is researching the studios in the area where you are traveling. A simple google maps “aerial” search in the city/area where you are traveling should suffice. You might get a drone company, or a photographer thrown in the mix, but for the most part you should find at least a few aerial studios. Next, dig a little deeper. Look at the websites, who owns the studio, their schedule and availability for private lessons or training time options. Not every studio will be a great fit for what you want. Try to find one (if you have the luxury of choosing between studios) that most overlaps with your home studio’s ethos. These days it’s becoming easier to find a studio that has experienced teachers, and has a history that you can research.
Once you select the studios that you want to contact go ahead and send them an email or contact the on social media! So many studio owners are incredibly friendly, and happy to connect with aerialists from “off”, as we say here in the Lowcountry. Here is a good list of things to include in your email:
So many studios are accommodating, and if they can make something work for your schedule they would typically love to!
Here are a few things to keep in mind. Many studios run their regular classes in a semester format meaning, there may not be availability for you to drop into a class one time. If that’s the case then a private lesson can be invaluable for learning something new and getting some airtime while you’re away from home.
Also keep in mind that many studios limit their open training time options for students who are learning from their instructors. There is great liability in allowing an unknown aerialist to come in and train without instruction! Setting up a private lesson will likely be your best bet in this situation, and that’s perfect because you can communicate with the instructor about what your goals are for the lesson.
If you are able to find a drop-in class, keep in mind that it might not be the ideal fit for you (it may be either too easy or too hard). Make sure to contact the studio and double check whether you will be okay to take the class. You might find yourself in a class where you feel incredibly challenged, or you might end up in a class where you are by far the most advanced aerialist there. No matter the situation always try to be grateful that you are there and in the air.
As studio owners our first priority is always safety. A visiting student is unfamiliar with our teaching style, and we are unfamiliar with their learning style. This can increase the risk for miscommunications, both ways.
Think about it: With a regular student in an ongoing relationship, teachers become very familiar with their particular quirks, learning styles, movement memory, and blind spots, and know how to communicate clearly with each student while teaching. This goes both ways: the regular students are familiar with their teachers quirks, teaching styles, demoing techniques and diction. The relationship takes time to build.
Because of this, we typically teach visiting students at a slower, easier pace, because we’re just getting to know them and their aerial quirks.
Remember that you always need to train smart and keep yourself safe. If some material you’re learning feels beyond your comfort level, definitely take a step back and be honest with the teacher or coach about any questions or concerns you may have. If you’ve joined a class that has been working up to something over weeks, but that material is new to you, then you’ll absolutely need to take a step back and be okay about working on easier progressions first.
Also keep in mind that sometimes stepping into a new space can be a bit uncomfortable. Are you incredibly hot because it’s summer and the studio doesn’t have AC? Is your grip failing you because you’ve been traveling for 3 weeks already and your hands just will not comply with what you’re asking of them? When traveling it can be a good time to step back and focus on keeping up with your training, rather than trying to advance your training to the next level in the middle of your vacation when you’re out of your regular workout routine. Sometimes less can be more.
If you’re taking a class that is well below your skill level, that can actually be a great time to get a new perspective on moves you’ve been doing forever! The longer you’ve been training, the more you can come to appreciate small nuances and differences in technique, and travel learning is a great place to dive into those small details.
What if you can only find a studio that has very low ceilings (think aerial yoga or pole in an 8 foot room)? On those days conditioning and mobility will be your friend. It is definitely worth checking out those studios because through word of mouth you might discover an off-the-beaten-track aerial studio in the area! Some studios are just too small to have a web footprint. Being friendly and talking with whomever opens up their space for you can lead to some wonderful connections and great training sessions in places you might otherwise not have found.
So the next time you travel, and want to continue training, do some research. Find some studios and reach out to them, even if they might not be the ideal place for you. The aerial community is quite wonderful, and full of people who will do their best to welcome you to their aerial home.
Happy travels!
Kari Kistler has been training with Aerial Fit since 2013 and has performed in numerous showcases. She travels frequently for work and is always looking for ways to stay in the air.
