Training Tip: Never Train Alone
Never. Train. Alone.
Or, to be less of a downer about it: always train with a buddy!
With the Christmas season here, we are just finishing up our yearly slue of emails asking for advice on where to buy aerial equipment for home use, and how to rig it safely. Our answer is almost always the same: it is only safe to rig and train at home if you
Are an intermediate to advanced level student or professional performer who understands the basics of rigging for aerial arts.
Have trained consistently for several years at an intermediate or advanced level and know how to prevent injuries through proper conditioning, muscle activation, and recovery.
Have invested in an engineer certified system and apparatus, and know how to use and care for them.
Have discussed your plan with an instructor who can advise you on whether or not you are ready, and can help you develop a safe plan for training at home.
So let’s say you’ve checked all the boxes above, you’ve installed your rigging, and you’re ready to train at home. The question remains: who will be your training buddy?
Even the most experienced professionals are careful about training alone. You truly never know when a wrap you’ve done a thousand times is going to slip in some weird way, leaving you trapped 10 feet above the ground. Conversely, a momentary loss of friction could lead to a serious fall or dislocation, even from a mere 2 feet off the ground.
Of course, there are some thing you can safely do by yourself, and knowing that line is part of the package when it comes to being ready to train at home.
Examples of things you can absolutely train on your own:
Ground skills and conditioning such as core exercises, bridges, and splits.
Upright skills on the apparatus, such as pull ups.
Working on creative concepts and movement styles for act development.
Choreography and exploration of wraps and transitions from the ground.
Honestly, when it comes to the expense and hassle of rigging at home, plus the burden of finding a training buddy with a free afternoon (who won’t put you into the position of becoming their instructor, which is a totally different ballgame), it’s just plain easier and more fulfilling to attend open gyms at your local studios. You’ll meet people, develop relationships, motivate each other, and share ideas.
That’s part of what circus is all about!
Happy Training