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Beginner’s Guide to Aerial Silks: What You Need to Know Before Your First Class!

4/15/2025

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New to aerial silks? Here’s what to expect, what to wear, and why your first class doesn’t need to be perfect—just don’t give up!


Welcome!
So you’ve signed up for your very first aerial silks class—and you’re feeling equal parts excited and totally unsure of what to expect. That’s completely normal! I’ve been in your shoes.
In fact, my first aerial experience was actually a pole class at Body & Pole in NYC… and I hated it.
I felt awkward, got super bruised up, and left thinking, “Aerial just isn’t for me.” But because I had a class package, I decided to try aerial silks instead.

I wasn’t good at it. Not even a little...But I enjoyed it.

I felt safer, less banged up, and even though I didn’t master a single move, I had more fun than I expected. That one class led me down a path that completely changed my training—and eventually, my career.

If you’re curious about trying silks but feeling unsure, let me walk you through what to expect and how to set yourself up for success.


What to Expect in Your First Aerial Silks Class
  • Warm-Up: Most classes start with 10–15 minutes of bodyweight movements and stretches to activate your muscles.
  • Basic Technique: Expect to learn things like how to climb, do a footlock, or even try a straddle inversion (with help!).
  • Lots of Instructor Support: Your coach will demonstrate moves and often spot you as you try them.
  • Cool Down: A short stretching session to help your muscles recover.
Don’t worry—you’re not expected to flip or drop or “do tricks” on day one.
You’re there to explore, move, and learn the foundation safely.


What to Wear and Bring
  • Fitted leggings and a close-fitting top that covers your waist and armpits
  • NO jewelry, zippers, or buttons (they can damage the silks or cause injury)
  • A water bottle and maybe a small towel
  • Optional: Wrist supports, grippy socks, or a back warmer if you’re prone to tightness
-I’ve listed my favorite Amazon must-haves for aerial beginners in this blog post (includes affiliate links with Paid Commissions Earned!)
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-THE GYM PEOPLE HIGH WAISTED LEGGINGS

-SENDESTAR WATER BOTTLE

-SG TRAINING FIT

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Three Must-Know Tips for First-Time Aerialists
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1. If you don’t like one apparatus—try another!
My first pole class made me think aerial wasn’t for me at all. But trying silks opened up a new world.
Different apparatuses feel totally different. Silks, lyra, hammock, and rope each require different strengths and offer different experiences.
2. Don’t expect to “get it” on day one.
Aerial is humbling. You might not get off the ground—or you might get stuck mid-climb. That’s totally normal.
The goal is not perfection—it’s participation. Give your body a chance to learn.
3. Progress is not always linear.
Some days you’ll feel like you’ve made huge leaps, and other days you’ll feel like you’re back at square one. That’s part of the process, not a sign of failure.


Final Thoughts: You Belong Here
If you’ve ever watched aerialists float through the air and thought,
"That looks amazing... but I could never do that…"
Yes. You. Can.

Every aerialist--every single one—started where you are. Feeling unsure. Feeling awkward. But showing up anyway.

So don’t let that first class be your last just because you didn’t master the climb or nail a pose.
Keep showing up. Keep exploring. Keep having fun.
You never know where it might take you.
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Aerial Silks vs lyra: Which one is right for you?

4/2/2025

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Choosing between aerial silks and lyra (aerial hoop) can feel like a big decision, especially if you’re just starting your aerial journey. Each apparatus has its own unique challenges, strengths, and learning curves. As someone who has trained on both, I can tell you firsthand that neither is easy—but one may suit you better depending on your body, goals, and preferences.
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My Aerial Journey: How I Discovered My Favorite Apparatus

I didn’t actually start with either silks or lyra—I began with pole dance. But I quickly ran into a big problem: my hands were just too sweaty to grip the pole! No matter how much I chalked up or wiped my hands, I found myself sliding right off. It was frustrating because I loved the movement and strength required for pole dance, but my body just didn’t cooperate with it.
That’s when I found aerial silks. It was still extremely hard, but at least I wasn’t slipping off the apparatus like I did with pole. Instead of relying on grip strength alone, silks allowed me to use wraps and techniques to hold myself up. I committed to training regularly, and even though it took time, I started to see real progress.

A year into my silks training, I decided to try lyra (aerial hoop).
And let me tell you—I was NOT prepared for how painful and challenging it would be! Unlike silks, where you can use wraps and fabric to support yourself, lyra is a metal hoop that digs into your body. On top of that, you have to invert right away to get into the hoop, which requires a lot of core and upper body strength from the very start. After that first class, I didn’t take another lyra class for an entire year.

But eventually, I gave it another shot. Slowly but surely, I got better, and I even performed a couple of pieces on the hoop. However, time became a big factor for me. When I first started aerial, I had hours a day to train. Now, my schedule is packed, and I need to focus my efforts. Since I personally find silks to be better for full-body strength and a little kinder on my body, I chose to dedicate my time to it.

But that doesn’t mean you have to choose just one! If you’re wondering which apparatus is right for you, here are some key things to consider.

Aerial Silks: The Pros and Cons

Pros:

✅ Uses wraps to help with grip (great if you have sweaty hands!)
✅ Builds full-body strength, especially core and grip strength
✅ Easier on the body in terms of impact (less metal digging into you)
✅ Offers endless creativity with wraps, drops, and sequences

Cons:

❌ Requires a lot of patience—it can take a while to feel confident in the air
❌ If you’re afraid of heights, it may feel intimidating (silks are usually rigged higher than lyra)
❌ Wraps can be confusing to learn at first

Lyra (Aerial Hoop): The Pros and Cons

Pros:

✅ Great for fast progress—you can learn beautiful poses quickly
✅ Develops core and upper body strength very effectively
✅ Often lower to the ground, making it feel less intimidating
✅ Can incorporate dynamic movement like spinning and swinging

Cons:

❌ Painful at first! The hoop digs into your legs, back, and hips
❌ Requires immediate inverting strength—you have to get into the hoop right away
❌ Can be rough on the lower back, especially with repeated tricks

So, Which One is Right for You?

At the end of the day, you don’t have to choose—many aerialists train in both! But if you do want to focus on one, think about what’s most important to you:
  • If you love flowy movement, dynamic drops, and building endurance, silks might be your best bet.
  • If you prefer compact shapes, spinning sequences, and a more grounded feel, lyra could be the one for you.
No matter which one you choose, aerial training is an incredible journey that pushes your strength, flexibility, and creativity. And who knows? Maybe you’ll start with one and fall in love with the other later—just like I did!

What about you? Have you tried both silks and lyra? Which one do you prefer? Let me know in the comments!

CLICK ON THE IMAGES BELOW to check out these Practice Aerial Silks and Lyra I use to train AT HOME from Amazon: (Paid Commissions Earned on Affiliate Links:
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    Author

    Laurie is a professional performer, flexibility coach, and aerial enthusiast with a passion for movement and artistry. With over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry, she blends her background in musical theatre and aerial arts to help others build strength, mobility, and confidence. Having personally experienced the transformative power of flexibility training, Laurie loves sharing effective techniques to help others unlock their full potential—whether on the ground or in the air.

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“Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right.” Henry Ford

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