Do you feel that your fear of heights prevents you from taking an aerial class or advancing in aerial arts? If so, don’t worry; you’re not alone.
Acrophobia, which is a fear of heights, is very common. According to Psychology Today, the fear of heights can come from a lack of body-in-space orientation or control. Learning how to move and orient your body through space is just as important as strength conditioning and flexibility in aerial arts. It can feel scary when you are hanging upside down or up 10 feet in the air because there is less control than standing on the ground.
Your fear of heights shouldn’t stop you from trying an aerial class or advancing to skills that involve more height. Instead, here are tips and tricks to confront and overcome that fear.
Acrophobia, which is a fear of heights, is very common. According to Psychology Today, the fear of heights can come from a lack of body-in-space orientation or control. Learning how to move and orient your body through space is just as important as strength conditioning and flexibility in aerial arts. It can feel scary when you are hanging upside down or up 10 feet in the air because there is less control than standing on the ground.
Your fear of heights shouldn’t stop you from trying an aerial class or advancing to skills that involve more height. Instead, here are tips and tricks to confront and overcome that fear.
When starting a new aerial move, it’s essential to start as low as possible. For complete beginners, that means starting all your moves from standing on the ground. For example, in aerial silks, you would learn a foot lock by keeping one foot on the ground and wrapping the other in the air. For trapeze or lyra (aka hoop), you would start with the apparatus low enough to walk up to it and sit or stand on it. By starting your move from the ground first, you gain a strong sense of control and foundation, which will help lower your fear of heights.
At Cirque Art Studio, you will have multiple coaches present to help guide you through the different aerial techniques and skills. They will even hold you so that you can feel less afraid. These coaches have trained for decades in the circus, and so you can feel assured that you are in good hands during mixed aerial class or youth aerial class.
In the aerial world, your equipment/rigging and body awareness are the main things that keep you safe. You should also practice with someone present to help (or call for help) should you need assistance. You’ll want to make sure that the apparatus is rigged securely and safely. Thankfully, the coaches at Cirque Art Studio will handle all the rigging for you to keep you safe. In addition to spotting you, the coaches will also give you safety cues like “keep your knees cinched” or “keep your core engaged” to keep your body safe while in the air. Being confident in the equipment and your coach’s instructions can help overcome your fear of heights.
Sometimes the best way to overcome a fear is to face it over and over again. For example, if you start low, you can practice a move consistently to the point that it becomes second nature. That way, when you take it to new heights, your muscle memory can help you overcome your fear of heights. With Cirque Art Studio, you can take aerial classes up to 4 times a week! Generally, it will take a 1-3 months of consistent practice to get comfortable enough with a new technique to overcome your fear of it. We suggest buying bulk classes to help your progress.
Lastly, you need to have trust in yourself and your abilities. The more you trust yourself, the more confident you become, and the less fear you feel about going into the air. To build trust, you need to have patience and good support. Coaches like Byamba and Konstantin will help you build the strength, technique, flexibility, and confidence to take on new heights.
