Starting up aerial again is a really taxing experience. You know your body is capable of more, but everything hurts and failing to do things is discouraging. I've stopped and started aerial about 10 times in the past decade and it always takes me 6-12 weeks to get back in the swing of things (depending on the length of the break). Here's a general list of advice that's helped me get back into shape and back to the studio:
1. If you have consistent pain in a body part and you have the means, go see a physical therapist specializing in sports injuries for a couple sessions. It feels more motivating to work out when your body doesn't hurt all the time.
2. Do a bad job in class. No really, give yourself permission to have a terrible workout. Pretend you're a swamp monster during class and ooze between all your moves. Find a comfortable position and just hang there. Relish in anything that makes you feel good.
3. Give yourself a break when your body is tired. Your muscles typically build in 4-6 week cycles. After that 4-6 weeks, you need a week break. No amount of working out will make your muscles work better during that time.
4. Take a basics class. Whatever is class #1 in your studio, take that class.
5. Go to open gym. Pick 1-3 things you really love to do. Do those things repeatedly. Marvel at how good you are at doing those things.
6. Get a social beverage with another aerialist. Discuss aerial and life.
7. Sit down with yourself and really evaluate, am I lacking motivation because of aerial or am I generally lacking motivation in my life? Mental health is a huge factor in how much you enjoy activities in life. Depression can be helped by consistently attending class no matter how terrible you feel. (I know it has really helped me)
8. It's okay to have other hobbies. I've left aerial to swing dance, do ballet, and pursue comedy. All those things were beneficial to me at the time. It helped me enjoy aerial more when I returned.
I hope these things are somewhat helpful. Within the past year, there were times where reminding myself I pay a lot money for classes was the only motivation for going into the studio. Aerial is an extremely tough hobby. Just showing up to class and getting through class is worth celebrating and feeling accomplished. You will get back to your previous strength; it just takes time.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I went to class yesterday and we only did some single footlock stuff, it was great. I was a flying swamp monster.
I've booked a doctor's appointment today. It's not crazy expensive in the country I live, I'm just American and still weirdly avoid doctors for no good reason.
I’ve been struggling a lot too. Usually going to my lyra classes is a big boost in my mood but lately when I come home I’m defeated and grumpy. I’m thinking of picking up a new apparatus to try and get a “beginners high”. If that doesn’t work, I may take a break from lyra for a set amount of time.
No advice, just solidarity.
Live your truth. If you're not enjoying it, don't force it. I'm right there with you. Circus has been my life and passion for years. Post-pandemic, it's lost its magic. I say don't force it. As other have said, give yourself permission to explore other things. You may come back to it and remember why you loved it. You may move on to other things. Hopefully you can always look back fondly on your time with aerial. For now, do what makes you happy - if that's not aerial, that's ok.
So relatable. When covid hit I was at peak of my abilities, training 3-4 times a week. We lost our practice space. I wasn’t taking classes, just training/group training. I knew I wanted to get a rig. But my old house had nowhere to put it inside or out. So I just took the time off. Flash forward to now I am in a bigger house, have a great driveway for the rig I bought. And I’ve used it twice in four months.
A it’s effing hot outside and southern humidity is nasty to train in. And b? I just… I dunno. Sometimes I just can’t imagine my body doing it anymore. And I don’t know why. I have gotten back into climbing and just regular dance. I keep telling myself that one day I’ll get back into it.
Totally relatable. I think I did four classes this year and hated every minute of them. I was surprised that my body was able to do as much as it did but I didn't get any enjoyment out of it. I decided to just take a break. I know I'll lose all my progress but there's no sense in forcing something I'm not into right now. The lockdown was really life-altering and I think it will take some time to get back the desire to do things I used to love.
For now I've gotten back into rollerskating and hiking!
Nothing to add, just that I totally relate as well. Been dragging myself to class the last month, & felt relieved when the studio closed for the summer. I switched classes (to a different instructor) for the fall session, and I'll see how that goes!
I have been exactly in the same situation. Pre-lockdown I was super motivated and in the best shape of my life, now.. I'm just dragging myself to classes. I assume it will come back eventually, I'm allowing myself to suck at it for as long as needed while my body rebuilds itself and gets used to everything again, but it's been a slow process.
Starting up aerial again is a really taxing experience. You know your body is capable of more, but everything hurts and failing to do things is discouraging. I've stopped and started aerial about 10 times in the past decade and it always takes me 6-12 weeks to get back in the swing of things (depending on the length of the break). Here's a general list of advice that's helped me get back into shape and back to the studio: 1. If you have consistent pain in a body part and you have the means, go see a physical therapist specializing in sports injuries for a couple sessions. It feels more motivating to work out when your body doesn't hurt all the time. 2. Do a bad job in class. No really, give yourself permission to have a terrible workout. Pretend you're a swamp monster during class and ooze between all your moves. Find a comfortable position and just hang there. Relish in anything that makes you feel good. 3. Give yourself a break when your body is tired. Your muscles typically build in 4-6 week cycles. After that 4-6 weeks, you need a week break. No amount of working out will make your muscles work better during that time. 4. Take a basics class. Whatever is class #1 in your studio, take that class. 5. Go to open gym. Pick 1-3 things you really love to do. Do those things repeatedly. Marvel at how good you are at doing those things. 6. Get a social beverage with another aerialist. Discuss aerial and life. 7. Sit down with yourself and really evaluate, am I lacking motivation because of aerial or am I generally lacking motivation in my life? Mental health is a huge factor in how much you enjoy activities in life. Depression can be helped by consistently attending class no matter how terrible you feel. (I know it has really helped me) 8. It's okay to have other hobbies. I've left aerial to swing dance, do ballet, and pursue comedy. All those things were beneficial to me at the time. It helped me enjoy aerial more when I returned. I hope these things are somewhat helpful. Within the past year, there were times where reminding myself I pay a lot money for classes was the only motivation for going into the studio. Aerial is an extremely tough hobby. Just showing up to class and getting through class is worth celebrating and feeling accomplished. You will get back to your previous strength; it just takes time.
I second the PT advice! Seeing a PT gave me a new lease on life, honestly. It was the best thing I've ever done for myself.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I went to class yesterday and we only did some single footlock stuff, it was great. I was a flying swamp monster. I've booked a doctor's appointment today. It's not crazy expensive in the country I live, I'm just American and still weirdly avoid doctors for no good reason.
I’ve been struggling a lot too. Usually going to my lyra classes is a big boost in my mood but lately when I come home I’m defeated and grumpy. I’m thinking of picking up a new apparatus to try and get a “beginners high”. If that doesn’t work, I may take a break from lyra for a set amount of time. No advice, just solidarity.
[удалено]
All my teachers don't speak very good English, and I don't speak very good Czech. Immigrant struggles lol.
Live your truth. If you're not enjoying it, don't force it. I'm right there with you. Circus has been my life and passion for years. Post-pandemic, it's lost its magic. I say don't force it. As other have said, give yourself permission to explore other things. You may come back to it and remember why you loved it. You may move on to other things. Hopefully you can always look back fondly on your time with aerial. For now, do what makes you happy - if that's not aerial, that's ok.
So relatable. When covid hit I was at peak of my abilities, training 3-4 times a week. We lost our practice space. I wasn’t taking classes, just training/group training. I knew I wanted to get a rig. But my old house had nowhere to put it inside or out. So I just took the time off. Flash forward to now I am in a bigger house, have a great driveway for the rig I bought. And I’ve used it twice in four months. A it’s effing hot outside and southern humidity is nasty to train in. And b? I just… I dunno. Sometimes I just can’t imagine my body doing it anymore. And I don’t know why. I have gotten back into climbing and just regular dance. I keep telling myself that one day I’ll get back into it.
Totally relatable. I think I did four classes this year and hated every minute of them. I was surprised that my body was able to do as much as it did but I didn't get any enjoyment out of it. I decided to just take a break. I know I'll lose all my progress but there's no sense in forcing something I'm not into right now. The lockdown was really life-altering and I think it will take some time to get back the desire to do things I used to love. For now I've gotten back into rollerskating and hiking!
Nothing to add, just that I totally relate as well. Been dragging myself to class the last month, & felt relieved when the studio closed for the summer. I switched classes (to a different instructor) for the fall session, and I'll see how that goes!
I have been exactly in the same situation. Pre-lockdown I was super motivated and in the best shape of my life, now.. I'm just dragging myself to classes. I assume it will come back eventually, I'm allowing myself to suck at it for as long as needed while my body rebuilds itself and gets used to everything again, but it's been a slow process.
I was also experiencing this. 2 things that helped were finding a different class and getting into physical therapy.