Elevate Your Fitness Routine in 2024 with These Aerial Workout Classes

You’ve done pilates, barre, yoga, cycling and crossfit, but have you tried an aerial workout class? If you’re stuck in a rut, incorporating some novelty into your life can contribute to a more fulfilling workout class experience and aerial classes are the perfect thing to try.

Aerial workout classes involve exercises performed in the air. A lot of times, they use equipment like silks, trapeze or bungee. These classes combine elements of strength training, flexibility and acrobatics providing a unique and engaging fitness experience.

I’ve driven all over Austin to give you aerial workout classes that are perfect for your first time. All these classes are accessible for beginners and will make you soar into 2024 with renewed energy!

Intro To Aerials

Sky Candy
1023 Springdale Road, Bldg 8A
Austin, TX 78721

I loved the idea of being able to try different aerial classes in one go. The teacher was very helpful and made sure to make everything accessible no matter what fitness level you are. After taking this class, I realized that I love silks and sling the most.

Interview with Julia Kennely, Owner and Instructor

How would you describe this class to beginners?

It’s an aerial sample platter! You’ll try out silks, sling, trapeze, and lyra (aka aerial hoop). I recommend it because it’s hard to know what apparatus you’ll enjoy the most until you try them out, and this class puts our most popular apparatus in one place.

How should someone prepare for this class?

We recommend clothes that cover the backs of your knees and allow full range of movement. Bring water and be prepared to have fun.

What are common misconceptions?

I sometimes hear things like, “I would love to do that but I’m not flexible enough” or “I don’t have the upper body strength,” but we don’t expect anyone to know how to do a pull-up or flip upside down when they start. The best way to develop the strength, flexibility, and coordination you need for aerial classes is by taking aerial classes! Our coaches are knowledgeable and supportive, and they’ll meet you where you are.

How did you get into Aerial Arts?

I fell in love with the circus when I saw Cirque du Soleil as a kid, but I thought that I was too old and too unathletic to start circus arts. When I finished college, aerial arts were still the thing I wanted to do most, so I found a school with classes for adult beginners, and moved across the country to train at Circus Center in San Francisco. I don’t have a background in gymnastics or dance, so the learning curve was sometimes steep, but I had great teachers who helped me find my home apparatus: trapeze. When I came back to Austin, I started training and then teaching at Sky Candy; now I’ve been teaching for 11 years, and I still can’t wait to get in the air every day.

Beginner Friendly Classes

Intro to Aerials Thursdays 7:30-8:45p, Fridays 11:00-12:00, Saturdays 12:30-1:45
Intro to Aerials for Plus Size Bodies Mondays at 7:30
More information on Skycandyaustin.com

Acro Yoga

Empowered Acro
8127 Mesa Dr # A105
Austin, TX 78759 (Third Coast Martial Arts Studio)

I can’t even begin to explain to you my experience with Acro Yoga. My husband Todd and I were looking for a fun activity we can do together and I came across Empowered Acro. We both did not have prior experience with acro yoga. We started with a warm up for core, wrist and some hamstring stretches. Afterwards, we were broken up into groups to work on specific partner poses together. We all alternated being each others partners and taking the role of base, flyer and spotter. For me being in the air feels exhilarating. It was also a great way for me and my husband to create connection in a different way.

Interview with Katrina Repman, Owner and Instructor

How would you describe this class to beginners?

It’s a group fitness class where we work in groups to stack people and we really focus on the technique to use alignment instead of just muscle so it’s a really accessible activity people are surprised at what they can do on the first day

How should someone prepare for this class?

Tight Hamstrings. One of the biggest things that can be a roadblock in the beginning is tight hamstrings. We offer props in class to help lengthen the hamstrings but it can be discouraging in the beginning if hamstrings are tight. I recommend legs up a wall a few hours before class.

Knowing Your Personal Boundaries. This is a contact sport but it’s unlike other contact sports because you are collaborating. You are touching each other with the purpose of working together and building structures with other people. We encourage people to be ready to state their boundaries. It’s totally fine if you don’t wanna do a certain role or pose. NO is a complete sentence. YES invite people to do things. Part of acro is learning about these boundaries and finding it applicable to acro and life.

What are common misconceptions?

Some people are afraid to come to class because they don’t have a partner but we don’t need partners because we work in groups of 3 or 4 and we split up into roles we’ve got a flyer, a base and a spotter. Safety is really important in what we do and when we teach the class we teach all the roles so that everybody knows how to work as a team to keep each other safe and people can switch roles as much as they desire.

How did you get into Acro Yoga?

I had a background in yoga when I got into acro. I was teaching a lot of partner yoga. I really love the connection that happens when people work together.One of my friends invited me to try acro yoga. I had my first flight, did one of the most basic poses and I was elated! I came home thinking I wanna do this all the time. I definitely got bit by the bug and followed my passion.

Beginner Friendly Class
Acro Level 1 class Mondays, 6:30pm

They also offer private classes that cater to groups, couples, families of all levels.
More information on EmpoweredAcro.com

Intro To Bungee

Sky Candy
1023 Springdale Road Bldg 8A
Austin, TX 78721

I didn’t really know what to expect on my first bungee class. I loved the stretching work in the beginning. Because I was suspended in air it made some of the stretches more accessible to me. I especially love the hip opener stretches. I felt so loose after. It was a lot more upper body workout than I expected with was a pleasant surprise.

Interview with Julia Kennely, Owner and Instructor

How would you describe this class to beginners?

You know those baby bouncers that hang in doorways? This is like that, but for adults (and with much stronger rigging). In Bungee, you wear a harness with bungee packs attached at each side, which gives you super-powered jumps and makes squats, push-ups, and lunges more accessible at a deeper range of motion. It’s an extremely fun way to sneak some cardio into your day.

How should someone prepare for this class?

Wearing a harness takes some getting used to, and you’ll be more comfortable if you wear layers that protect your hips and inner thighs. Lots of students swear by bike shorts. A water bottle is great to have too!

I encourage you to explore these aerial workouts this year if you’re up for it – they were a blast!