aerial silks

Dancing Paws started this discussion · 7/12/2011

Just got back from my first silks class and holy crap on a cracker! It kicked my butt. Those silks are way harder to climb than my pole! I am definitely going back! I noted 2 random things. 1) The guy teaching me looked like Taylor Hanson with facial hair (he's the middle brother from Hanson, and I know that because I have been in love with them since I was 12, and I am now 25.) 2) One girl wasn't wearing a bra of any kind, so when she leaned forward to stretch I saw some boobie action. 😲 I personally don't care. I go without bras any time I can. I just thought it was funny. That's Oregon for ya! I will say that the silks smelled like B.O. so that wasn't pleasant. 🤮

16 replies

HollySatine · 7/13/2011
hahaha ewwww.... but that's still really cool! I've always wanted to try silks... :)
Dancing Paws · 7/13/2011
I was having trouble climbing. I stopped for a second and the guy told me that my wrapping foot (the one we wold but the top of our foot on the pole when climbing) is suposed to be flexed, but I was pointing it. Made sense since I am so used to climbing a pole.
amy · 7/13/2011
you're also supposed to use mostly legs in teh climb, just like with the pole! once you get the technique down you'll be flyin up those silks =) i love that you have known and loved Hanson for your entire adult life and half of your lifespan! lol
nymphdancer · 7/13/2011
ugh I suck at climbing silks. But it took me several years to learn to climb the pole so I will get there someday I'm sure. But I actually like hammock more then straight silks.
Sair · 7/13/2011
Keep at it! :) you'll be surprised how quickly you get used to climbing ;) you're def. right, it's so hard remembering to flex those feet instead of pointing!!! :) Bummer that the silks were stinky though! Eww! :) haha
moonflower · 7/13/2011
I just starting with silks as well! I found the trick is to flex the wrapped foot and put your weight on that side. It took me a few tries to get it secure. One thing for sure though, the straddle invert is 10x easier without a bulky pole in my side!
kissingaudrey · 7/14/2011
I've done silks for a couple of years also. I have found that practicing silks really helped me a lot with my strength on the pole as well! There are also some moves I struggled with on the pole (like the basic "chopper" invert) that once I practiced it on the silks a little, it was easier for me to get on the pole also!
byrdgrrl · 7/15/2011
Silks rock! Sometimes when I'm having trouble with one way of climbing, I just switch to a different way. I have discovered though that when doing the French or Basic climb, if I think about flexing my toes on my base foot back toward my leg, and actively engaging my foot, it makes it easier to hold.
ORGANIC ANGEL · 7/15/2011
I love silks.I just went to one studio that has "Flying Yoga" which was a relaxing part with the silks. So cool! I felt sore in my arms the next day and was surprised since I have been poling for six years. Have fun. Post any cool things your aerial silks studio has.
marle777 · 7/16/2011
I recently got to try the silks and I thought it was going to be more like pole than it is, but truthfully there is more exertion in the legs and even moreso in the feet holding you up than you have in poling (the exception is the inverted crucifix but even then you have the pole for support where with silks your leg is the 'pole' support). Pole tricks are also most times focused on arm strength which is not so much the case with silks. The flexed foot thing definitely threw me off instead of pointing and when I tried the lyra I had trouble not crossing my ankles and just having straight legs for hanging poses. They were both fun though and I'm looking into getting silks and an aerial hoop to accompany my pole. :)
SpyralBound · 7/16/2011
I tried silks for the first time today too and it was AWESOME. I only got to do two things because it was part of a sampler class at the studio, and it was the last thing we did, so we were running out of time. But I would LOVE to do it again and learn more. I just want to play on them! And the instructor did a routine that was just sooooo pretty. I can definitely see it being a good addition to pole over time because it is a full-body thing - which, pole is too, but probably not quite so much as silks. Roamy, flying yoga sounds so cool! As a longtime yoga lover long before I was a pole dancer, I love to see crossover between the practices.
Dancing Paws · 7/16/2011
I think I was climbing wrong. Maybe that is why it was so hard for me. I was starting out with my hands at a pole hold position, wrapping my leg, climbing, so my hands were at chest level, then returning my hands to a pole hold position. Basically I was holding my whole body in a pole hold while climbing.
marle777 · 7/17/2011
I was making the same mistake until my arms got tired, lol. Body weight does seem to be held from the hip to foot instead of arms and shoulders.
SpyralBound · 7/17/2011
The instructor in my class said the more you are "one" with the silks, the easier it is - that you should hold yourself close to them if you feel yourself falling back. This reminded me a lot of when I used to go rock-climbing (in a gym...I'm not *that* cool) because a lot of the same principles applied - don't try to hold yourself up by your hands/arms only, use your legs too and lean into the wall.
byrdgrrl · 7/17/2011
@ sensualscimitar Yep. Using your legs while climbing will help you a lot. You should be able to hold your weight with your feet so you can advance your arms. Also trying to reach up above you head and pulling from there is easier on your arms.
PolefitFanatic · 7/19/2011
I have tried aerial silks at a workshop once. I loved it. I found it exceptionally hard on my arms as I was hanging on like nothing while trying to wrap my feet properly. But once you have the foot holds in place you can do some really pretty things. Ended up a bit burnt though. I have seen a magnificent live performance. Yuk about them being smelly - how gross and unhygenic..!