Ten Times Down Lincoln Drive – March 8, 2009

Now ten classes in to my aerial training, I was beginning to notice a change in my body. I weighed as much as I did before beginning the class, but I had definitely begun to tone up. My jeans were a little less tight and my tummy had definitely shrunk a little bit. I was a little less muffin-toppy, and I had noticed an increase in my abdominal and arm strength. I realized that I was on the road to accomplishing my goal of getting back into shape. It came not a moment too soon as I was now beginning to try on dresses for prom, and no one wants to look out of shape and flabby at prom.

The class began with the usual warm-up, nothing new there except maybe a few extra sit-ups during the warm-up. As usual, we began on the corde lisse. I continued to work on my “waist block”. Having all but mastered it off the ground, I decided to try it from a few climbs up. I struggled and never quite did it correctly. I would get close, but then fall. Jackie suggested that I lean back farther when I do it, because it is very hard to flip a rope over your hip, when you are just about vertical.

We did not spend much time on the corde lisse, and we finished with a brief practice of the "upside-down descent".

On the trapeze, we reviewed the “splits” and “upside-down X” moves. We learned seven new moves: the “trapezius angel”, “rainbow”, “monkey roll”, "crucifix", “up and over” and “front balance”.

“Trapezius angel” looks like this . I do mine with the bottom leg pointed more toward the floor, but I’m not sure if that is a style difference or if one of us is not doing it correctly.

This is a picture of me attempting “rainbow” with the instruction of Jackie.

“Monkey rolls” are done by hanging by your knees under the trapeze, swinging your arms up under your legs, grabbing onto the rope and pulling your self around. It is both awkward to do and explain. It looks like this (except w/o the wipeout).

Crucifix is done by lowering your body in front of the trapeze to about your bra strap. At that point, you arch your back and straighten your arms into a T behind the rope. Basically, you look like a crucifix. Getting in required control, but getting out requires a little leap of faith and some strength. Still arching your back, you must reach as high as you can while remaining functional on the rope, and pull yourself back up so you can sit on the trapeze. To my surprise, and the rest of the class’s, I was able to pull myself back up. Even my instructor, Jackie remarked that it took her a few tries when she first learned the move.

Finally, “up and over” and “front balance”. Both can be explained very easily. “Up and over” is a way to mount the trapeze, by leading with your feet, and pulling your body over the top of the trapeze. “Front balance” is done by straightening out your body like a plank on top of the trapeze. “Front balance” requires more balance than strength, while “up and over” needs a certain degree of strength.

During the strengthening exercises today, I was able to do one pull up by myself. And while that may seem a little lame, consider that the trapeze is not anchored to any wall, so it moves when you do, and it’s been a while since I’ve done anything to work on my arms.