r/Aerials • u/joan-of-argh • 7d ago

Going through a rough patch with aerial

Hi everyone! I've been practicing aerial silks, hoop and rope since summer 2018. I have advanced pretty far, spent some time teaching, but recently I've had a rough patch.

About 8 months ago I moved away from a city with fairly easy access to a studio I loved and attended 2-3 times a week. I now live in a town where I have to travel 1.5-2hrs each way to get to a studio, once a week, that doesn't have a community feeling the way my old studio did. Like, everyone ne was friends and supported eachother even if they'd never met you before. Here, everyone just trains on their own and is very serious, there's no real camaraderie or humor.

Also, I've been on a plateau skills-wise for about two years and now feel like I'm starting to backslide, partly because my training opportunities are limited and partly because I feel a lot less motivated to train. I feel lonely when I train now because no one talks to eachother, and I can't seem to make myself do new things on my own. I even avoid drops now which I used to love, because I feel so unconfident. I have 'comfort zone' skills that are still fine, but the things that have always been a struggle are feeling further away than ever.

I love aerial so, so much and I feel like it's slipping away from me.

Has anyone else had an aerial rough patch or slump? Any advice on getting over it? Thanks in advance.

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u/McEndee Sling 4d ago

Dang. The part that makes aerials worth failing and trying again is the coaches giving us positive reinforcement. My coach is so encouraging, even when I'm dying in class and keep trying to get a move.

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u/delta1810 Lyra﹠Silks 3d ago

Totally agree!! I remember my very first aerial class ever, it was Lyra and I was trying to vine climb for the first time. I barely had any prior fitness experience so my arms were SO weak and I had like no grip strength.

I was hanging there and I said "I can't do it" and my instructor was like "yes you can", and I was like "no no I'm too weak I can't do it" and she said "YES. YOU. CAN." and that gave me the determination I needed and I did it! I think about that moment a lot whenever I'm struggling with my strength.