How My Aerial and Flexibility Goals Have Shifted—And Why It’s Okay If Yours Do Too

 When I first started seriously training in aerial and flexibility back in 2017, I was in a completely different place in my life. At the time, I was a full-time actress and performer, and one of my biggest motivators was the dream of booking aerial and contortion gigs. I wanted to be strong, flexible, and capable of performing at a professional level.

I dove in headfirst. I joined the unlimited class program at Body & Pole, spending hours in the studio nearly every day. Some weekends, I was practically living there, bouncing from class to class, pushing my body to its limits. While my drive was strong, my approach wasn’t sustainable. The constant overtraining led to injuries—setbacks that forced me to take months off at a time.

A Forced Shift in Focus
Then came 2020. Like so many others, the pandemic forced me to take an unexpected break from aerial training. With no access to the studio, I pivoted to focusing on flexibility training at home. To my surprise, I noticed something: I was injured less. I was recovering better, feeling stronger, and moving in a way that felt good rather than just pushing through pain.
When I returned to Body & Pole in 2021 as part of their work-study program, I decided to train more smartly. I cut down on the number of classes I took, prioritized rest days, and found a balance that worked. This approach kept me feeling strong and capable—until I started teaching.

Realizing Teaching Wasn’t Sustainable for Me
When I began teaching at Body & Pole, I didn’t expect it to take such a toll on my body. Demoing the same skills over and over again—often favoring the same side—started to create imbalances. Minor injuries, which I might have been able to recover from with proper rest, became chronic issues because I had to keep teaching through them. Before long, I realized that regular teaching wasn’t sustainable for me.

At 45, I’ve come to terms with the fact that my body is different from when I started this journey. I also have different responsibilities and priorities. My parents are getting older, and I no longer feel comfortable taking gigs that would pull me away from NYC and them for months at a time. I also want to spend more time with my husband. In addition, The idea of putting my body through high-pressure training and performance schedules no longer appeals to me in the same way it once did.

Shifting Goals Doesn’t Mean Giving Up
That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped loving aerial or flexibility training—it just means I’m choosing to engage with it in a way that aligns with my life right now. Instead of chasing high-intensity gigs, I’m focusing on creating content—things like my YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok, where I can still film and practice whenever I want, without the pressure of performing on a schedule.

More than ever, I’m interested in building a career that gives me freedom—one where I can work from anywhere and be present for my family when they need me. I’m still passionate about movement, but I’m embracing a new season where I get to train and create on my own terms.

Your Goals Can Shift Too—And That’s Okay
If you’ve ever felt like your fitness, training, or career goals have changed, I want you to know: that’s completely okay. It’s natural for priorities to shift, for bodies to change, and for new passions to emerge. What once felt like the ultimate goal might not feel right anymore, and forcing yourself to stick with something just because it used to be important isn’t the answer.

Your journey is yours, and it’s meant to evolve. Whether you’re dialing back, shifting focus, or chasing something entirely new, give yourself permission to embrace the change.

What is a goal you have had that has changed over time? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your story!

(Since this BLOG POST mentioned a lot of injuries I thought I would include some affiliate links for Injury Prevention Products:)-Commissions Earned on all Affiliate links.

​Injury Prevention & Recovery Must-Haves Over the years, I've learned that training smarter, not harder, is key—especially as we get older. These are some of my favorite tools that help with injury prevention and recovery so I can keep moving without pushing my body too far:

✅ Foam Roller – Perfect for releasing tight muscles and preventing stiffness after training.

✅ Massage Ball Set – Helps target deep muscle knots, especially in the shoulders and back.
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✅ Epsom Salt Soak – A warm bath with Epsom salt is a game-changer for muscle recovery.

✅ KT Tape for Support – Great for minor injuries or extra joint stability while training.

Taking care of your body is just as important as training! These small recovery habits make a huge difference in staying strong and injury-free.