Ever looked at your aerial sling and thought, “Can I really do this?” You’re not alone. Every aerialist—no matter their age, shape, or experience—started right where you are: a little nervous, a lot curious, and maybe tangled up more than once. But here’s the truth: your body belongs in the air, and your journey is uniquely yours.

In this post, I’m sharing five real-world tips that go beyond safety—they’re about claiming your space, celebrating every wobble, and finding pure joy in the process. Ready to ditch perfection and discover what you’re capable of? Let’s fly, together.

"If the foundation isn't strong, the house can't stand forever," my grandfather used to say. Years later, struggling on the ice with a simple exercise that should have been easy, I realized I'd lost the foundation my first coach had given me. I'd hidden bad habits within speed and impatience. Now, as I teach aerial arts, I see the same pattern everywhere: we want the big jumps, the Instagram-worthy tricks, the instant results—without building the foundation that makes true flight possible.

If we were left alone, with good nutrition, no one around us, would we age in the same way, or would we find our own pace for life and our dreams? Would our biology remain younger if we didn’t see the passing of time or bought into the belief that it had to happen?

The sunny, hot weather had dried up the water, and a usual Class III — IV river had dropped to a fun bumper boat ride. The boulders, normally hidden deep below the raging water created beautiful rock gardens that needed to be maneuvered quickly and precisely, as I followed the flow of the river through the maze.

When I was in high school my favorite teacher said, “The ‘A’ student will end up working for the ‘D’ student someday.”

I worked hard to get perfect grades and high SAT scores because I had been told since I was in kindergarten that it was the only way to success.