Blue Ridge Flying Trapeze: Spring Weather Edition

The weather was absolutely gorgeous this weekend. And I'd REALLY wanted to go to flying trapeze around my birthday so I made the trek up to Blue Ridge this weekend.

I tried a different route. The route going up took 2:40 and didn't have the horrible winding mountain roads that the other route had. So a tiny bit longer and a lot prettier. (I saw lots of butterflies. I really didn't want them to hit my windshield.) This route went up through Gainesville north through Dawsonville.

Again, I did this trek by myself. Because I cannot get anyone to come with me.

I arrived and it was a party. Lots of trapezists from around the country were in town for the owner's birthday. Some were flying, some were off on the lake boating. It was fun chaos. (Also lots of people to work the board.)

I worked on my swing some. I'm still working on the hang straight. I kick back too much and arch too much. Colby told me to swing more with my arms (as opposed to just kicking). I'm working on that.

Set.

I did three swings and then started working on a new trick. It was supposed to be a straddle flip. Haha.

The first time, I let my hands go on the call. Oops.

The second time I didn't straddle. I had the lines between my legs so when I crashed, the lines bruised my thigh!

The third time I let go with my hands again.

At this point, I'm not straddling so decide just to try a layout.

I went again and piked like of a somersault. So not straight body like a layout. I did it once more like this too.

I saw the video and know what I have to work on for next time.

It was so pretty to fly though. Glad I went and glad I got to work on something new.

TSNY Trampoline classes

Trampoline classes at a trapeze school sounded like THE BEST THING EVER to me. I love trampolines. And I love flying trapeze. So when I had a work trip to an area with a TSNY, after I booked my flight the first thing I did was book a trampoline class. (And trapeze class second.)

I didn't know quite what to expect in this trampoline class, but given my history with trampolines—well I was just hoping it was fun.

The day of, I met the instructor. I told him my goal was to have fun, that I'd never even been on one of these fancy Olympic trampolines before but that I'd spent a lot of time at the trampoline park. I don't think he was expecting much from me.

My class was three people. Me. A girl who had done trampoline as her college PE (that sounds amazing) but was out of practice and a lady who was an instructor at TSNY and was working on cool flips.

Since there's only one trampoline, we all took turns.

The warm-up was to bounce up and down and stay in the middle. And the trampoline was a lot bouncier than I'm used to so this took some calibration. I also use my arms to balance me and the teacher was standing to my side, so he had to move before I could do this. Once I got the hang of that (and staying in the middle, not bouncing off to the side), we practice straddles, pikes, seat drops and back drops. I think the teacher was surprised I could fearlessly do a backdrop.

We tried cradles—back to front. And I'd never been taught the right way to do a lot of these things, so he had to show me where my hands should go etc. But I got back to front and front drops—he was pulling a mattress in front of me.

And then he decided I should work on backflips.

I have never been brave enough to do a backflip. Ever. But I was feeling brave. So we decided to go for it.

And Rich is the best spotter ever.

He would jump with me, count to three, and then I'd try to jump back so my shoulder would land on his shoulder, with my back and butt in a straight line with my shoulder.

After a few rounds of that, I'd try to get up and over. And he'd kind of push me so I'd get in the right—back and over.

And I had the same problem as with my front flips. Not waiting. And rotating too fast. My flips were all rotation. No height.

But I started getting them. And I was so SO CLOSE. I was pumped.

I went back to the hotel and sent the video to my adult gymnastics instructor. And I was high as a kite on adrenaline for a few hours.

Almost doing a backflip when you've been terrified for years is amazing. And that was some amazing spotting.

I ended up taking THREE trampoline classes in three days while I was in D.C.

I came back the next day and took a class with a gymnast. I wanted to get my back flip. Only the second teacher couldn't spot that. I was so disappointed. She had me working on front drops and cradles. And I am not good at them and don't care to do them.

My last day in DC I took another trampoline class after flying trapeze. Another class with Rich. I needed to get my backflip. This class was also three people. Another girl from the flying trapeze class—who used to live in Athens and work at UGA. And there was another lady who worked at TSNY in NY.

The instructor was working on cradles, which is a back drop, and you go up like for a front drop but rotate over so you land on your back again. I can't do the rotation. I think it's all about waiting and getting enough height in the air. I have enough power in my drop but can't.

The other girl really wanted to learn net tricks for flying trapeze. She was working on back drops. They are so scary and hard to learn.

I wanted to work on my backflip.

(Thanks Nadia for the video) 

I didn't quite get it. Either it wasn't as good as a few days ago (or I was tougher on myself. The first time I was so thrilled just to be making progress, so not as tough on myself.) And then I worked on front flips. I don't know how to land them. I was trying to stick the landing. Like on a mat. But with a trampoline you just bounce. Haha. That's what I learned.

I love these classes and wish I could find one in Georgia. I found a gym that does have trampoline classes—but more for kids. I messaged them and they told me about their open gym. Not interested.

Verdict: Trampoline classes—LOVED. Need in my town.

16 Fitness goals for 2016

Classes to try.
1. Try a class at Blast.  (Interval training with treadmills)
2. Take a yoga class.
3. Try a barre class at Ramsey.
4. Try a SUP yoga class. (or just rent a paddle board one day when it's warm.)

Running goals
5. Run a 5k.
6. 7 minute mile

Tumbling goals
7. Connect fly springs
8. Walk overs
9. Touch my feet to my head
10. 10 second handstand
11. Practice handstands at home. (Daily?)

General goals
12. Conquer the Ninja course at Rush
13. Try another flying trapeze place. Bonus: Get my cutaway!
14. Get a body composition test done
15. Stay on budget with fitness clothes. (Spend less money at Lululemon)
16. Active wear brands to try: Goldsheep, Alala, Sweaty Betty, Heroine Sport, Michi, Koral Activewear, Albion Fit

What are your goals? Any goals I should add?

Fitness Christmas list for Santa

Santa Baby,

I've been an awfully good girl this year. I've run hundreds of mile, tucked at Pure Barre, leapt at Flying Trapeze, flipped at the trampoline park and finally got my pull-up.

This year, I'd like the following fitness items:

1. Padded run socks, $14-$18
I love a pair of good dark colored run socks. I have a few pair of Lulu run socks. I could use 2 more pair so I'm not constantly washing them.
I prefer dark colors so they don't show Georgia red mud that gets on everything. Also, no no-show socks. I hate when socks fall down when I'm running. No fun.

Bonus: Hickies for my running shoes so I don't have to worry about tying laces. (They replace the laces.) $15

2.Sports bra with pockets, $42-$52
Canada has the Lululemon Run Stuff Your Bra, which I need two more of. The U.S. doesn't have it.
So I'm looking at the North Face Women's Stow-N-Go II-SS Sports Bra in a medium.

There's also a Swoob pocket bra, but I'm not sure I like that design as much. I want to be able to fit my iPhone 6 in my bra for tunes when I run (and to connect with my Apple Watch.)

3. S'Well water bottle, $45
Why does this water bottle cost so much? Is it the best thing ever? I feel like I need to try to find out.
(Bonus, celebrities swear by it. I've seen it on a lot of Favorite Things list.)

I'm also curious about the Hydro Flask bottles that the sorority girls all carry.  ($18-$42)

4. Jaxx Fitpack, $40
This is pretty much what it looks like when I bring my food for the day to work: breakfast, snack, lunch, snacks—so many containers. I need this spiffy lunchbox. Because food—I eat a lot of it.

5. Wireless headphones. Maybe cool neon ones. Something for listening to tunes when I run. I ordered some cute pink ones from Amazon, but the jack didn't fit in my iPhone 6 with case, and I need this Lifeproof case and am not taking it off my phone.

6. Pretty much any crops (or swimsuits) from Werkshop
• Werkshop Panther (on left)
• Werkshop Owl
• Tiger, Monkey or Elephant. Haven't decided which is my favorite.
Because I'm pretty sure they are the most awesome crops ever. I love wearing them.

7. Vegan Protein powder. For smoothies after gymnastics. (I need protein but don't feel like eating.)
I should just order this but don't want to spend $40 on something I might not like the taste of. (No whey protein for me. Milk allergy.)

8. Class Pass to come to Athens so I can take unlimited classes for $100 a month instead of my current situation of paying multiple memberships and fees.
(Will also accept gift certificates to the trampoline park or to try new local fitness classes.)

9. Trapeze rig for my yard ($30,000)
 OR a trapeze rig to open up driving distance from my house.
(Will also accept gift certificate for a Club Med vacation to a location with flying trapeze.)

10. Mini Cooper Countryman to get me to and from the gym, $23k+
Because I drive a nine-year-old Subaru and don't want a car payment, but I do LOVE mini coopers. (Blue please!)

If that doesn't work I will also accept gift certificates to Lululemon.

Not on my list: Apple watch. My present to myself for all of this miles logged!

Also looked at Polar M400 as a fancy running watch.

Road trip flying trapeze

With Leap closed, I'll have to travel to other rigs to try my hand at flying trapeze. This Thanksgiving, there was some warm weather, so I drove 2.5 hours north to flying trapeze in Blue Ridge.

Road trip selfie

This is currently the closest rig to my house—though the owner is trying to open in Atlanta. An hour drive is much better than a 2.5 hour drive, so I have my fingers crossed that will work.

After I survived the drive through the North Georgia mountains (seriously, why are mountain roads so curvy? They were S-shaped for 20 miles with a speed limit of 25 that I happily followed.)

The rig was set up in the yard of a pretty house—and overlooking a lake. It's run by a husband and wife, and their nanny was working the board. (Can I have a trapeze in my yard? They're living the dream. GORGEOUS!)

It was the second rig I've ever been to. All in all, I'd say it was run very much like the rig I was used to.

The safety belts were a little different.

The net was much bouncier (can we do net tricks next time? That would be fun.)

And getting off the rig was a little different.  (No ladder, which is fine with me.)

But the calls, the direction, the board, catching—everything was very similar. (Yay, all in all. I had a great time.)

It was a smaller class—five people. We went for two hours and got a lot of turns. The owners said we could go as long as we wanted, but we were too tired after two hours. And two days later, my lats are still killing me.

The owner, Colby, gave really good critique after you're done. He too pointed out that I need to work on my take off (more back and in a 7 position) and we worked on my swing for a lot of turns.  (The swing is so frustrating.) I'd been working on my full swing from the front. Colby had me starting the swing from the board—and this change (and not having flown in almost a month) threw off a lot of my turns.

I feel like I need to work on my take-off for a whole class. There's so much that goes on in a take-off. I need to roll my shoulders back before take off (His wife Kristy helped me with thi.). I need to throw the bar up more when I take off. I need to jump up and back and not down. Except, I'm still going above the bar and doing almost an uprise over the bar. (Been doing this as long as I worked on my swing.) It's so much to remember.  (And it was kind of nice to hear the same critique from Colby, who I've never met before the class, as Kaz and Shain. He definitely knew what he was talking about.)

And then in my swing—I'm still not getting that third position. He told me to do forward, backward, hang loose and straight and long—to relax and not kick back. (Which is exactly what Kaz has been telling me.) I need to go to trapeze every day for a week just to get these things.

It's so difficult to get new skills when you're not going every day and it is so easy to forget skills.

For the session, I was really being hard on myself. I had a couple of garbage turns—where I should have been doing a trick when I was expecting to swing longer, or I just didn't do what I was supposed to do. I'm at that weird intermediate place in trapeze—where I've outgrown the easy tricks, but am just not on an advanced level yet, and I'm frustrated I'm not there. But everyone goes through that.

But the class was fun. The weather was gorgeous. The owners were nice. I got some practice in. I worked on my backend split. And I had the first catch of the day!

And by the end, it had turned into a dog and baby party. The owner's dog was outside with us. Some of her friends came over. We were playing with the dogs–until they decided to play in the mud. And the owner's baby, and her friend's baby were outside. Her son was hilarious. I feel like he's cheering for me in one of my videos. (I liked the distraction. It was good to get out of my head and make funny faces at a baby.)

I'd definitely go back.

Preferably, with a carpool.

The owners were talking about sharing a house rental with a group of friends and doing a trapeze weekend with two-a-days. That does sound tempting. I feel like a need a camp or trapeze vacation to get my swing solid.

I'm not sure I'll get to fly any more in 2015—being that the weather is getting cold, but we'll see. I'm still thinking of what friends and relatives I could visit that are located near flying trapeze rigs.

And the mean time—COLBY please open a rig in Atlanta. There's enough of a following that you could have enough business.

The end of Leap

One of Athens' hidden gems has flown into the sunset. Leap trapeze, a flying trapeze business on Collins Industrial Ave., closed operations in November.

The business operated for 4.5 years and taught attendees flying trapeze tricks—the circus style tricks where you fly through the air and get caught. And while you can be 20 feet in the air, there's a nice bouncy net under you.

Leap was run by two local couples—Shain and Kara Dyckman and Kaz and Larissa Stouffer, who have decades of trapeze training between them.

The email to clients said:

Our lease is up in November, and we will not re-open in the Spring...We have been running Leap on evenings and weekends, in addition to working our full-time jobs and raising our families. We are not able to run the rig in the manner that we would like to be able to, and while we are all sad to let it go, it is time. 

I heard about Leap last summer. A girl at my gymnastics class told me I should try it. I filed it away and put it on my Athens bucket-list. At $45 a pop, it was a special occasion class.

I finally decided to do a class for my birthday and invited five of my bravest girlfriends to come fly with me.

By the end of your first class, you would have learned a knee hang, and a backflip and then be caught by a catcher hanging upside down from another trapeze bar. The catcher will catch your wrists, swing you and toss you gently into a bouncy net.

Does this sound like the most fun class ever? Because it is.

After my first swing on the trapeze, I was hooked. My family asked me if I was going to run away and join the circus. I went back as often as I could and learned how to swing, a good number of tricks and catches. This fall I got serious and got to take a workshop—a weekly series of classes. And I'm even more hooked now.

The instructors were fabulous (and internationally recognized) and the people were nice and welcoming. The classes stayed booked up and I was hoping they could expand soon and offer even more classes.

But Athens, haven of all things ecclectic and artistic, is losing this gem. The flying trapeze rig in Atlanta just closed too.

Athens, consistently ranked of the fittest places in the country,  is the perfect place for this activity. It's perfect for adventure seekers, those ticking off a bucket list, circus aficionados, couples looking for a fun date, gymnasts, acrobats, or just people who like fun.

And yet, so many people I talked to had never heard of it. They thought I was talking about Canopy, which teaches static trapeze. Flying trapeze is completely different. It's 100 miles per hour. It's adrenaline and callused hands. And the people are so supportive.

I love how eclectic and artistic Athens is—that there are so many options for arts, fitness and adventure. And Leap fits in so perfectly with this. I'm heart broken that it's closing. It was one just another reason Athens is such an awesome place to live.

Leap, I'm sorry to see you go.

Farewell flight

The flying trapeze rig  had a fun fly in place of the workshop show, which never happened since it was rained out two weekends in a row .It was also final hurrah before closing. Forever. The rig is coming down on Saturday. And apparently, they're selling it.

It was one last chance to fly and be caught.

It was a little bit a free for all. I think 15 people showed up to fly, including the owner's children and people I haven't seen in forever.

I was the first to put my belt on, but ended up being #10 on the board, because people just went up there—and knew how I free fly worked. I didn't.

It was a little chaotic. We had three catchers there. Lots of staff. There was tons of food. (Lots of people brought food.) It was also really chilly out. They turned the heat lamp on and I huddled around it most of the night until I went and got a North Face fleece from my car. I was much comfier after that.

I worked on my swing. It's still a hot mess. And every staffer calls my swing differently, and I wasn't accustomed to the calls, so that made it worse than usual.

On my second turn it was time for a trick. I decided to do my backend split. Then, my seat roll. It was my worst seat roll in weeks. Probably because another lady did it. Oh well.

Then it was time for catching (it's usually have five turns). I did a practice backend straddle and kicked the bar. I kicked the crap out of it. I actually checked to see if I was missing skin it was so bad. It bruised almost instantly. I did this because I was opening with my hands and lower body when I just need to move my hands for the trick.

The next time up, I asked Shain if I could work in hands. I've wanted to do this for months. He first brought it up—and then I went weeks of no catches. My straddle is very catchable, so that's what I wanted to work on.

So I caught, and Rhuben told me arch and then he told me the commands that the advanced flyers do—maybe seven, hollow, sweep. I just figured it meant forward, backward, forward, so that's what I did. It was fun. I went high up in the air. And Rhuben was too far away to ever tell him that I DON'T KNOW THOSE CALLS. Apparently, I did good. (Or they were just happy it was the last night.)

Man, I wish I had a few more classes to get my return to the bar. After years of trampoline craziness, I think I could get my return to the bar soon. (Ha ha. It's probably really difficult.)

We ended catches with Megan ALMOST getting her double. It was so loud when she missed. And to end on a good note, she finished with a split catch. She has a very pretty split.

At this point, a few people were crying. Trapeze is their life. (I get it! I'm seriously considering moving to be closer to a rig.) I'm still in denial though. I'll find another way to fly. Something will open up in the spring.

Then, there was singing and birthday cupcakes. It was one of the owner's birthdays. There was a champagne toast. And shots. And hugs. And reminiscing.

At 10 p.m., people were getting happy and silly with the very liberal shots of tequila being poured. I'd been at work and ON since 7:30 that morning. I was waiting for someone to leave so I could slip out.

It's my old lady bed time! I have to be at work at 8 a.m. I left. Feeling a little out of place. I was the new person. Everyone had been coming longer than me. And are all close friends.

I haven't cried yet about the rig. I feel like I should. I'm heart broken. I've brainstormed ways to get a rig.

• Doesn't the university want a rig? (If FSU has one, shouldn't we?)
• Something has to open up in Atlanta (apparent Trapeze School NY tried and failed in Atlanta.)
• They'll change their minds (selling the rig does seem pretty final)
• Maybe they'll teach circus classes in town (they've said they don't have time.)

I love having circus in my life. And don't know what I'll do without it.

What I learned in my flying trapeze workshop

I took my last workshop class. It was six classes on Sunday or Wednesday night. I think my big takeaway is that I have so much more to learn.

I started learning my one-handed take-off. I started learning my swing. I'm still working on both. But a swing does usually take a while to learn. Everyone told me this.

I didn't learn as many tricks as I thought I would over the 6 classes, because I had to learn so many of the foundation skills. And because after the front end tricks—the tricks get harder. They're not one-class tricks anymore. And towards the end of the workshop, I worked on perfecting my two tricks for the end of workshop show, so I could throw them even when nervous.

I did catch both of my show tricks at class tonight ;) (Woot! Only person with two catches tonight. Bonus: Two catches for two tricks)

Backend Straddle. 

Seat roll. Wonky catch. I need to straighten out after coming off the bar. 

Also, I got to swing with Kaz on the bar. I didn't think he was serious when he said we were both going to swing on the bar. But we did, so I could feel/see what my swing should be. Forward, backward, forward, extend, etc. Once I got over the extreme embarrassment of it, it was actually helpful. But it took at least five minutes to stop being embarrassed. (I still need to be smoother, one fluid motion, maybe more relaxed than I am now.)

It starts off okay and then my timing gets off

It was my first class with a rain delay.  The weather has been gross all week. The forecast for today was rainy but I was confident it would clear up for the class. The morning started out cold and rainy and then cleared up and got up to 75 by the afternoon. So it was beautiful at the rig. But about 30 minutes into class, I hadn't even had my second swing, it started sprinkling gradually. And then it was a light rain. (My iPhone weather app said CLEAR even though the phone was wet. It's in an Otterbox so it's fine.) But it's looking like the weather might not be great for the show Sunday. The forecast is currently 100% chance of thunderstorms.

Since it was the last workshop class ever, I did end up buying a T-shirt. And then since it was $5, another T-shirt. So I can look legit when I go to other rigs.

Here's what I learned in the workshop:

1. I started working on my swing. So I learned most of this. (Still on forward, backward forward, not Seven, Hollow and Sweep)
2. I learned how to take off my safety lines. And I got a lot better at unhooking them and walking them to the board. (This got noticeably better!)
3. Trick: Backend straddle
4. Trick: Backend split
5. Started to learn trick: Straight jump
6. That I'm still a belt hold. I can work towards not being a belt hold, but for now, I am.
7. The importance on filing down your calluses so your hands don't rip. (I don't need grips yet, but do make sure to chalk your hands before your swings.)
8. That going to the trapeze rig once or twice a week really helps. It's amazing how fast your muscles forget a trick.
9. If you take a night class, wear white or neon to show up in videos.

I think I am better than when I started the workshop. The safety lines might be the biggest difference.

I'm very glad I got the opportunity to do this workshop and to take trapeze classes this fall. I love it.

Circus Sunday

I had a fun Circus Sunday.

I took a 3 p.m. class at Leap. Today, I was just working on tricks for the show next Sunday. I've decided my two tricks are back end straddle and a seat roll.

Your show tricks are supposed to be tricks you feel confident in—that you can throw when your'e nervous. They're not necessarily you're best trick.

In a perfect world, I'd love to do my cutaway (but think that might take a few classes to get) and a straight jump, but I didn't work on those today. I worked on my seat roll, which I did earlier this summer.

I decided on that trick because it looks cool, isn't a particularly difficult trick and no one else in the show is doing that trick. (There are lots of similar backend tricks)

I went up and did my seat roll. Which I remember being an easy trick.

It's amazing how quickly your muscles forget how to do a trick.

I was slow to get up on the bar. I remember it being a slow trick. But it's not. I feel like I don't even have enough time and this is the slow version of the trick.

The trick is to go up into a pike, knees over the bar, sit, toes out to straighten and lengthen, lay back on the bar and hands.

I was slow every time, but I could save it by the time it's time to release hands for catch. I just need to calm down and realize I have enough time for this trick.

I also worked on my backend straddle. Only I didn't warm up my swing, so I had to muscle into the straddle, which affects the timing.

We practiced my swing once and I still need to work on my extend.

For catching, I caught my seat roll on the third catch.

I missed the first one because of a timing issue. (We had a guest from Club Med pulling lines.) The second one, I opened too narrow and got it on my third try. It was a little sloppy and I need to straighten out my body next time. I have a Wednesday and Saturday class before the show so hopefully I can get it.

Bloopers from today
1) I'm still a belt hold. They didn't do a belt hold one time and that felt weird. I'm not there yet.
2) Calling my own timing. What? They asked me to call my own ready once. I need you to just tell me what to do.

Battle wounds
It was the class of battle wounds. On my first time up doing the seat roll, I tore my tank top and got a red bruise on my upper abs. (I think my safety belt collided with the bar).

My foot hit the bar and got a bruise on the inside of my right ankle

I opened my hands too narrow for a catch, and was caught one handed. It stung. I fell. There's a bruise on my hand.

And I came home with bruises on the fronts and back of my knees and generally felt pretty beat up the next day.

CANOPY SHOW
After the class, I went to the show at Canopy. A few friends were in it. It was awesome.

Shocking news: flying trapeze is closing

I am in shock right now. Shock.

Leap Trapeze is closing.

I was looking forward to having my birthday party there in the spring, to taking more workshops and learning so many more tricks. Short term goals: straight jump, half time seat roll, cutaway.

What am I supposed to do now? Go to Club Med? Ashville? Hope a new trapeze place opens in Atlanta?

I'm just so sad it's closing. I knew it was hard for them to run the rig with their full-time jobs, but I thought they were making money. All the classes sold out and I thought they were really close to being able to expand and do trapeze full-time instead of part-time.
• They had so many athletes willing to work for them. Especially college aged ones that wanted to learn.
• It's hard to get a class there they sell out so fast

I just thought the next step for them was expanding—doing workshops, camps, more classes.

But they're closing. Shain's been looking really tired lately. He's been running all the classes since Kaz broke his hand. And he can't do it alone. I just really hope that they all get the rest they need and open back up in the spring—because they miss it too much. Really hoping that.

They moved here to open the rig. So will they sell the rig? Move away? Are they doing more classes in November?

I wish I had gone to Leap sooner—last summer when I first heard about it, and then I could have done more. But I'm glad I went—and got to learn what I did. I've been bugging some of my friends about going—or going back and now they'll never have that opportunity.

And I had so much to learn. I guess I'll spend the weekend researching flying trapeze and where else I can go. I feel like I need flying trapeze in my life. It made me happy. A fleeting happiness, apparently.

Flying Trapeze: Straight Jump, Attempt 1

Another Saturday at Flying Trapeze. And I got some sun.

I thought it was going to be cold, but it was sunny and warm and I'm a tad bit tanner for it.

On my warm-up swing, I told the girl working lines to be ready for a shaky bullet drop. So of course, I nailed it. Ha ha. Juli said she didn't even use the lines to slow me down. I'll take that.

I'm still working on my timing on my swing and probably will be forever. I have awful timing.

I asked for a new trick today (I am sick of the backend split). Shain suggested straight jump, which is basically a swing and release to jump to the catcher.

And it looks so easy on Youtube.

It's not. It's a trick all about timing, which I clearly need to work on.

I didn't catch it today. I kept releasing late. I was never sure which was the swing I was going to let go on. I've watched the video of me back a few times, and think I understand the trick a little better now. And I think I have a better idea of what swing to release on (forward, backward, forward, hands!).

Class was fun. With 7 people it went by quickly.

There was a new guy working the board. He'd previously worked at a Philadelphia rig. He caught too. He caught a crazy cutaway.

One time on the board, he pulled the lines up, and clipped them on the net behind us. I reminded him that I am still in lines. (Yes, I'm the only one still swinging in lines.) Then, Juli called up to him that I was in lines. I laughed at yelled that I had gotten a promotion! I quickly told him that I was a hot mess and needed those safety lines. Which it totally fine with me. Safety first.

Another time he asked me if I needed a riser ;) I'll take that as a compliment. Melissa needed the riser for her cutaway. She's tall and thin and working on a more awesome trick. So no riser for me. I haven't tried that yet. (What is it for? There is so much to learn.)

Also, I'm getting better at unclipping my lines. I was really excited to walk my lines over to Juli. I unclipped them normal speed (not too slowly) and walked them over (not falling on my face.) The net is tricky to walk in. Definite progress here, if nothing else.

Working on my calluses.
Also these lulu pants are the best. 

Worries
I don't know what I'm going to catch at the workshop show. I feel like I don't have any tricks.

In a perfect world, I'd catch my cutaway. Because that would be a good show trick.

I talked to the owner afterward. He said I have my backend straddle (too easy. It's a baby trick) and my backend split (which I am sick of).

I want better tricks. (I want to be better than I actually am.)

Could I get the straight jump? Maybe.

I told him I might want to do my seat roll, because I really liked that trick. He said to just practice it before the show.

How does the show work? Do you show up and practice early? This will be my first workshop show. Everyone else has been in shows in before. I don't know what to expect.

Because I didn't catch my trick, here's Michele's beautiful layout.

Trapeze obsessed?

Last night I dreamed about flying trapeze. I'm flying this weekend and I keep double checking the time.

In my dream:

I was taking a quick power nap on the couch. I wake up and it's 7:30 p.m., when class starts at 7 p.m. I figure I can still make half of class so I scramble to find clothes and get out the door and to text them that I'm going to be late, but I don't know they're number. And it's this frantic, anxious dream.

I realize my class is 1 p.m. and I've missed the whole thing and am sad.

I wake up. And my class really is 1 p.m. this weekend. I haven't missed a class. But probably will check the time 17 more times before I go.

Actually, I better make sure I have cute clothes to wear. And my lucky socks. :)

How to afford flying trapeze

The problem with adventure sports is that there's always something more exciting, more awesome....and more expensive.

I thought barre was expensive and then I found flying trapeze. How in the world do you afford a $45 a pop class? Well, I don't really know, but I'm trying to figure it out.

1) A special occasion is a great time for a first class. I did my birthday class there. it was easy to justify the $100 down payment as a birthday expense. (And it paid for the class for me and my sister.) My friend and I went back when she graduated college. And just getting off your butt to try it out can be the hardest part.

2. One class equals dinner out. So I tried not bring my lunch to work every day and go out to eat with the husband less. That put me at 1 or 2 classes a month.

3. Give up gym memberships. I gave up my $144 a month barre membership, and instead started running and going to the student gym. That saved me enough to do a trapeze workshop.

A lot of the ladies that go seem to have well paying jobs (doctors, business owners, medical sales) and/or well paid husbands. A few don't have children, some do. Some of them go on vacations with flying trapeze. That sounds amazing. I might have to get a consulting gig or something before I can do that. (My vacations tend to be cheap ones visiting family.)

Flying trapeze isn't cheap. It's a two hour class of 8-9 people. It's an expensive operation, so I understand the cost, there's

1) The rig. High flying trapeze, nets, ropes, ladder, bars, tape. Lots of pricey equipment. The electricity, water, rent etc.
2) Insurance. I don't even want to think about this one
3) Staff. Three people work every class. Usually one of the owners, who have each been doing this for 20 or so years. They're highly trained and the only ones who can work the safety lines for the more advanced tricks. They usually call the tricks (yell up to you telling you what to do and how to move and when). There's also someone to work the board (the take-off platform). This person clips you into the safety lines and helps you take-off. There's a third staffer—to switch out on board or lines, or to catch at the end of class. They train athletes to work in these positions, but the training is intense, so I don't imagine it's a minimum wage job to work at flying trapeze.
4) The fact that 8-9 people are booked for 2 hours with three staff members. That's a really low ratio. (Not the same as a barre class with one teacher and 30 students doing the same workout every single day.)
4) The price of operating the website, and booking app.

And I get a lot out of these two hour classes. Quite honestly I learned more in three classes than I did an entire 9-week series at static trapeze. It's definitely worth the $45. But it's not a cheap hobby.

I do hear sky diving is more expensive though ;)

Flying Trapeze: Bullet Drop

I got my bullet drop tonight. Hooray. I struggled a little too long with something I should have gotten the first time, but hooray, progress.

The bullet drop is the flat back drop to the net after you practice your warm up swing. I've landed on my butt, released late and somersaulted out of it. But tonight I had two solid drops. It's all in the hips. Not legs. You go straight, like plank, thrust your hips out so you're in a straight line. Then drop.

Hooray. Let's hope I can keep this up for next class.

Today, we worked a lot on my one-handed take-off. I still need to throw the bar up more. I need to dip my wrist more and to the right. Dave was showing me how to do it on the board (like we're dancing. Dave is so fun.) We did more practice take-offs.

I know it's a real struggle. The girl in the last Sunday class was working on this. I need to get this.

The motion is kind of weird. I was trying to turn my wrist out and I think it's in and down. (Or could be vice versa!). And I keep tension in my wrist when I need it to go slack. Sigh.

We practiced my swing for three or four times tonight. It does look like a swing (It's not horrible, and it's not effortless). I'm missing calls, missing my timing, piking. I get it in pieces, the front half, and then have to reset for the back half. I'm a little confused about what I should be doing myself and don't want to anticipate, but rather wait for the call. Like I should be arching, and they're not calling it anymore. And I'm not sure what to do on extend. It will get there. That's why you work on it every class.

More backend split practice. My first run through, I didn't get my thigh up against the bar, so it was a "floating split" and so I wasn't really ever in position. And I couldn't arch because I wasn't in position.

Try #2, my timing was off. I couldn't get into position fast enough. And I let go to early on hep.

Onto catches.

I swear I'm working on my blooper real, because on hep, I only let go of the bar with one arm. I don't know if I hesitated. But that was an awful mess.

Onto second attempt, and I was one second too slow getting into position and the timing wasn't there.

Watching this back, and my takeoff position is awful. 

I need to put my hips out more. 

I've been wanting a fast trick. This is it. And I'm not fast enough.

So this is class #2 I didn't catch my backend split. I should have gotten this last class.

Maybe I'll head to the pullup bar and practice position.

Also, does flying trapeze hurt my back? I think it might be time to go back to the chiropractor.

I'm at this intermediate stage—between the easy tricks and not quite at the next level of tricks. Backend tricks don't look difficult, but really are. And I'm in a class of 8 people who have all been flying for more than a year and taken multiple workshops. So I want to be so much better than I am. One day though....

Flying trapeze: Unclipping Lines and the Blooper Reel

After a miserable rainy weekend, the rain held off long enough for trapeze Sunday night. I felt lucky to not have to reschedule the class.  Also, only half the class showed up.

There were 5 of 9 people there, so the class went by super fast. I got lots of turns and was exhausted by the end.

What I learned tonight: unclipping my lines.
I wanted to learn to unclip my lines. Because all the cool flyers hand their lines back up the board. I asked Shain to teach me this. It looks easy, but it really isn't. 

So you're clipped in, one carabiner is clipped into the hook on either side of your safety belt. The carabiner is what attaches you to the safety lines. So when you're done with the trick, you unscrew the carabiner, open it. Then unscrew and open the other one. You clip them together and walk closer to the board for the staffer to catch the lines with a hook. Sounds simple! Except, you can't let go of the lines. Or they'll fly up to the top of the rig and someone will have to climb up and bring them back down. Eek!

In theory, unclipping the lines sounds simple.  Except, I am so bad at things like this. It takes me forever to unscrew them. And then do the second one, one-handed—while your arms may or may not be tired from all that hanging. Geez! All the frequent flyers make this look so easy.

It was a good night to learn this—since the class was so small, we weren't rushing and I could take my time with the lines.

Working on my swing
I kept working on my swing tonight.

I still need to work on my take-off, especially getting the bar back up to eye level.

I'm getting closer to understanding the bullet drop. I'm kicking too hard. We tried it on the practice bar. And it's kind of like a plank in that you want your body to be straight. Next time I want to try just thrusting my hips Pure Barre style and not kicking at all.

My second go-round, I kicked too hard and almost landed on my head. I somersaulted into the net. Oops.

I need to remember to arch at the end of the swing. I'm not sure they always call it. And I still need to make my swing more relaxed and less forced. Kaz even said I don't necessarily have to wait for the calls, but to feel it.

Shain started calling extend and I wasn't sure what to to there. Have I only been swinging for 2 classes? It feels like more. Maybe I'm getting used to it. (Kaz even mentioned swinging from my take-off instead of hanging straight. Does that mean progress?)

For a trick. We tried my back-end split.

The first time up, I was expecting more swinging. The trick was called after the first forward, backward, forward, and I wasn't ready for it. Oops.

The second time up, my hands were too narrow for the split. (Kara called this down to me from the board.) After weeks of straddles, this makes sense. It's muscle memory. But wrong trick. Oops.

Then it was time for catches.

My first time up was one for the blooper reel. On my swing I bumped the board with my butt, which got my timing all off. Then, we practiced the trick. Something happened (not sure what!) and I was dangling one arm from the bar. I pulled my other arm up as quickly as I could. And the trick was over. Not sure why that happened. But good to know, I can survive a one-armed hang. However brief. I'm not counting this run ;)

(I tried to calm down after this trick, to take deep breaths so it wouldn't happen again. One of the other ladies made sure I was okay and to not be too hard on myself. It was really nice of her. Thankfully, I wasn't pouting, just trying to chill.)

(Sorry you really can't see me, I was wearing purple that just didn't show up.

 Will try to wear neon next time ;) 

My second first time up was my best trick of the night. I swung into my trick. First (one leg straight, thigh on the bar, one leg with knee bent, foot near the bar) and final, go into the split and arch. I reached to catch and we touched and I fell. The catcher said his timing was off. It was probably me, but oh well.

The last time up, I was a second late in my swinging back and that threw the timing off for the whole trick. Another miss for me.

Blooper reel:
Tonight I managed to
• Somersault out of a bullet drop. I kicked my feet too high and almost landed on my head. Oops.
• Hit the board hwile swinging. Oops. I have lots of padding in my butt so this didn't hurt.
• Let go of my hand instead of swinging up for my split. So I was hanging one handed from the bar.

Class finished 15 minutes early. I was too tired to try again. With five people I was constantly climbing the ladder. My shoulders were super sore towards the end of class. That's a lot of holding your body weight.

All in all, a solid class (despite my bloopers)  I didn't catch my trick, but I felt like I'm getting used to my one-handed take-off, my swing. I learned unclipping my lines. I'm really learning a lot.

I still need to learn working-in-hands. We couldn't do it this class because I didn't catch my trick, but Wednesday for sure.

Trapeze hands. Working on building my calluses.
You know you're legit when you tear your hands. 

Flying Trapeze: Learning My Swing

I love flying on the weekend.

Sunday morning, I headed to class. It was foggy and sprinkling rain so I kept checking my phone to see if class was canceled. The forecast had said cloudy, but it lightly raining at my house.

I drove to the rig, and sure enough there were people there. I pulled out the rain jacket that lives in my trunk (from college) and set up shop in one of the white plastic chairs. Class was on and the rain was dying down.

The ladder wasn't slippery and neither was the bar. In fact, the net wasn't wet like I thought it would be. The weather wasn't really an issue actually. I would have preferred sunshine, but it was dry enough to safely fly and I had a blast.

Class was eight people. Four regulars (I'm including myself in this!), two middle aged lady, and a couple. The girl was an experienced flyer who'd been to two other rigs, and her boyfriend was a newbie.

Today was the day I practiced my swing. Or at least the back half of it. You learn it in pieces.
(All the regulars practice their swings, so to me, it's a step that I'm moving up! I was ridiculously pumped to learn this.)

There are so many things to learn so I'm fine with this.

First time up, I don't go on hep. Haha. After one night of one-handed take-offs I'm still getting used to it.

The swing is: (my version of how I remember it is)

Take off

Hang straight

Towards the end of the arc, arch with your feet behind you.

Then, it's three kicks: forward, backward, forward.

You practice this a few times, and then it's the bullet drop.

You eventually drop straight to your back on the net.

My first time up, I swung way too hard. I also dropped like a dead bug to the net.

Shain told me to swing SMOOTHER and connect them together.

I was happy that I swung big enough. I've been doing these awful tiny swings so, I'm probably overcompensating.

The regulars tell me learning your swing is frustrating. Shain says not to try to be perfect the first time. I think I made a valiant an un-embarassing effort.

Try two: Take off was better. I think my bullet drop was closer to straight. Not quite there. Shain tells me the goal is to get into a rhythm, to try and get there.

Try three: More swinging. I'm trying to make it smoother. And I'm trying to anticipate the calls (which is bad, Just listen to Shain!) My drop on this one was awful.

We talk about it. I don't understand what I'm supposed to do for the drop. Am I suppose to kick on the "ready" call ? I will work on this more next week.

TRICKS
For my trick, I'd been doing a straddle whip for a few classes (and catching it), so Shain suggests a back end straddle. I've got this. He has Laura demo it for me.

I go up on the board and they put the lines BETWEEN MY LEGS.

Well this is weird. I take off. And when I straddle the LINES POP OUT TO THEIR NORMAL POSITION.

And IT IS THE WEIRDEST FEELING EVER. Am I supposed to move my legs out of their way? My brain is exploding. What am I supposed to do? And then I remember that Shain said that was supposed to happen and that means I did the trick right. I straddle. And whip for the catch. And save it.

It's not a perfect first attempt. I tell Shain the lines confused me. He said for a second I tried to thread my leg through the lines. But figured it out.

At this point, it's time for catches. I get lucky, because the couple has to leave early, and the ladies said they were done, so I get one more practice run while Alex puts up the catch trap (the bar the catcher swings from. Note: I save the day, with my Lululemon small towel, that they use to dry the bar).

And I get it! I don't let the weirdo lines between my lines phase me. I straddle, I reach. I fall to the net.

"Do it just like that for catches," Shain says.

Yasss, I am so awesome, I think.

Now, time for catches. After two practice runs, I get my catch. And I think it's beautiful. My toes are pointed. I catch. I sit perfectly in the mat. I look at the video and wonder I'm going to learn RETURN TO THE BAR. Look at my height. (Ha ha, I know this is months away. I also bent my arms on take-off, but this is a work in progress. I'll get there.)

My second catch is a little messier. But I didn't record it, so it doesn't count. I kicked backward when Shain said forward (brain, muscles? Hello, what are you doing) and had to muscle up to straddle, so my timing was a tad off, and then the catch was barely there—because I was searching for the catcher, while he was searching for me. I grabbed his wrist (no!) and it counts.

So for next week: Need to work on working in hands.

I know I'm not supposed to reach for the catcher! But some part of my brain wants to keep me safe and wants me to reach. (Maybe we should blindfold me? Doesn't THAT sound safe?)

And I want to work on that bullet drop. I need that explained again, to watch a few people do it.

But overall, I'm super happy with the class. I started working on my swing. (Yes!) I went two for two on catches. I'm making progress, learning new things and getting better with (most) every class.

Shain said "Good job today" (Shain's the tough one, so this is awesome.)

Rod, the white haired guy who'd never seen me fly before, told me I was amazing. Yes, I can catch my trick after two practice runs!

(I also love watching the other girls get so much better! It warms my heart to see a girl that was awesome before, be a total bad-ass in the class. Erica and Tara! This is you).

Flying trapeze made my weekend so happy. Now I have to wait another week to do it again. See you soon, trapeze!

Flying Trapeze: One Handed Take Off

I am official in the intermediate trapeze level. Tonight I learned a one-handed take-off.

A few of the staffers have been asking me for weeks if I'm a one-handed take-off yet. And as of tonight I am! Wa-hoo! I am finally getting there.

To prep, I watched videos online. It looks easy. Like when you jump off the board, your second hand comes to the bar, so you're never really hanging one handed off the trapeze. (Could I hold myself with one arm? Kaz said yes, but it would hurt.)

Kaz took me aside at the beginning of the class. We used the practice bar (the kind I caught with my single reverse) and by holding on to one of the rig poles.

You stand on the board like normal. You put your right hand on the bar, like normal. But here's the difference. When you bend your knees on the "ready" command, you're also going to dip the bar down and to the right. On hep, you snap the bar up to center and kind of jump and grab the bar with your other hand at the same time. You want to catch the bar at eye level. (My interpretation. I could be really off!!!) That jump/ arm and bar swing combo will give you more momentum. (In my mind it's sort of jump a gymnastics punch into the air.)

And I was thoroughly confused by the explanation.

It looked so easy in the videos, I said. "Is it easier to do than explain?" I asked.

Then, I climbed up to the board and practiced a few times. Only I was doing a set straddle, so my hand goes in the middle of the bar, so I just pull the bar up and down—not so much right.

The first time off the board, I felt like I stalled. I thought the staffer wasn't going to let go of my belt. So I stuttered off the board. AND then my arms got all tangled up.

Because I did a set whip instead of a set straddle.

I thought I remembered the trick last week, but I didn't. (My muscles remembered something close.)

And I confused the line worker, so I just sat down on the net and laughed.

I am the queen of epic fails.

I went over to the practice bar and practiced the set straddle. Hands together, feet outside on the bar in a frog position. Ahh, that's better.

I tried the take-off the second time. And I'm bending my arms, and pulling up on the bar. Which also isn't right. (I have been practicing my pullup, so this makes sense.) I went over to the Tivo and watched this. My arms were so bent. NOT GOOD.

So now there are lots of things to remember: KEEP MY ARMS STRAIGHT. LOCK THEM OUT.

Kaz also told me to really exaggerate the motion. To swing down a lot, and explode up/out (I don't remember which, but explode).

(We had a discussion about down/forward and which direction to go, which confused me since I am completely dyslexic with directions. Seriously, I have this alien sense of direction and don't see them like other people do.)

I had one swing where I went out, and then realized my hands were supposed to be together, so I shifted my hands mid swing, so I could save my straddle. (I think they were ready to bring me down. But I can muscle it. Maybe not safe, but ha ha).

My hands weren't together, because I WASN'T LOOKING AT THE BAR ON TAKEOFF.

Not sure what I was looking at. I was probably worrying about straight arms, so I didn't think to look at the bars (SO MUCH TO REMEMBER)

Other corrections for the night:

1) It's a set straddle not a set split. So toes down more and not out. (What's the point of having a killer middle split then?)
2) Don't kick up my feet when I let go for my catch. (I swear they told me last week to explode more and kick my feet, but apparently I remembered it wrong. Haha.)
3) Don't look for the catcher (with you hands). It makes their job harder when you're both searching for each other. Just present and let them find you. I got this correction twice. I know not to do it. But on some primal level, my brain thinks I must.

I got both my catches for the night (same as last week). I'm not piking as much on the catches (still a baby amount directly after) but it's getting better. My sits are getting better after the catch releases.

Next week: LEARNING MY SWING!!!

I will really feel like I made it when I learn my swing. Wa-hoo!

Not making the team

Summer Leap workshop students

I have been absolutely pumped to do a flying trapeze workshop. I wanted to do the one this summer, but didn't really have the money. I watched it sell out in three minutes.

This time around—I found the money. I got a small raise. I justified that if I gave up my barre membership and took free classes, and stopped eating out—I could afford the workshop.

I checked for the workshop posting religiously. And it never came.

Finally, I emailed the owner—figuring they weren't having workshops. She said they were—they were just never posted. And they misread my email and thought I wasn't available.

I almost cried. I had been so excited about it. I was really looking forward to it.

I was on the interested-in-a-trapeze-workshop list. I responded to the survey—that I might be interested. I was waiting to see when the classes were and to see how my schedule was looking. I was waiting for the posting. It never came. They offered the next workshop to the people in the last workshops. And filled the few spaces with people who (like me) didn't get a spot last time either. I was never asked about the workshop this time—just a survey. Which I figured was gauging was whether they had interest for two or three workshops.

And I feel like I didn't make the trapeze team. I wasn't cool enough or good enough. Only the kids who are already awesome made the team. And I want to work on trapeze skills—and get to that level, but it's so hard to get my foot in the door.

How do you get into a workshop if they're only offered to existing workshop students? I understand being loyal to your paying clients, but what about new clients and growing your client base?

I didn't cry. I just felt like it for the rest of the day. I can always buy a 5 or 10-class series and do that. I asked to be on the list of the next workshop, which will probably be in the spring, which seems like an awfully long way off.

Flying Trapeze: Pullover shoot

Where Sara is told to "THROW IT DOWN"

Pretty sunset at class.

Another night of Flying Trapeze. I was super excited all day, looking forward to going to my happy place. I got to trapeze insanely early. I was that excited.

Tonight class was me, a medical student, a gymnastics coach and a family of four first-timers—a young mom, her cousin and two nieces or cousins.

It was my second night of working on a pullover shoot, which I kept forgetting the name to and was calling a popover. The instructors seemed to understand what trick I was referring to, so close enough!

Last class my trick did not go well. I wouldn't let go of the bar so my goal for the night was to let go of the bar. !! I'm afraid that heavy bar would slam into my legs and bruise me. (They assured me it wouldn't.) So to prepare, I watched the video of the trick a dozen times. It looks like I can do this. Will my brain let me?

First go round, I didn't let go of the bar. I rushed my pullover—way too fast. I can slow it way down and it will actually be better for the trick to not sit on the bar waiting forever for the call.

Second time up, I almost let go of the bar. I let it go for two inches and then got scared so I regrabbed it. ! (They did tell me I have an excellent pullover. I didn't tell them I practiced on a pullup bar for an hour this week. Let them think I'm a natural ;)

My third time up, I let go of the bar. I didn't pump shoot so I totally belly flopped, nose-dived and went straight into the net. But I let go. Which is a step in the right direction. I did more of the same the next time up. I put my hands forward too fast for a catch and need to worry more about going up. I also needed to pump my arms and legs and throw the bar down more.

"Throw it down," Kaz said.  Quote of the night.

I got a good lesson in NOT locking my arms out and throwing the bar down with open hands. Kaz is such a good, positive instructor.

Then it was time for catches. The coach was working on a front somersault catch. She is amazing to watch. The medical student worked on her swing most of the time and then worked on catching a cutaway (which is very similar to a layout and gorgeous and fun to watch). I love coming to leap to watch the tricks the others do.

The four first-timers were working on knee hang. I wanted so much for them to catch the trick. It's such a great feeling to get that catch. Two of them caught it. I was happy. We all cheered for them. The other two said they had fun and need to come back to get it. Getting your feet over is hard. And I was really happy everyone at my birthday party caught their trick. I have awesome friends. :)

I didn't think I'd catch the pullover shoot. I asked Kaz if he wanted me to try catching something else. He said no. So I was going to work on the trick. At worst, two more practice attempts at pullover shoot. I could use the practice.

First time up, I totally belly flopped off the bar and touched fingers with the catcher. Progress! Second and final time up, I pushed down better (still could throw harder)  and touched a hand with the catcher. I told Kaz, the instructor, I felt like two or three more tries and I'd have the trick. The class had one fewer student than normal, so he said if the catcher had it in him, I could possibly go again. I kept my safety belt on.

Everyone finished their tricks, and the medical student got a third try at catching her cutaway. They touched hands. It was so close. But she didn't catch it. I have a video of her super-close-almost-catch and Kaz screaming "Noooooo" when she missed was the funniest thing. He wanted her to get it sooo much.

I was taking my belt off thinking I wouldn't get a bonus turn, when Kaz asked if I was going. Yes, yes I want to try it again! So I had one of the ladies help me put my belt back on and scrambled up the ladder. I didn't think I'd catch it, but if I could throw the bar down harder I could be that much closer to catching it next time.

And I caught it!!!!

I screamed with a dork. I was so excited.

It was a totally off-balance catch. Rhuben caught my hands, not my wrists and I slipped out early. But it was a catch. He held me for a few seconds before I fell onto the net. I think he almost took my pinky nail with him he was trying to hold on so hard. I was worried I hurt him. We both assured each other we were fine.

I watched the video, and you can see my legs pump shoot. So much better than last time. My pullover is more controlled. I threw the bar down some. Yes, I could clean the trick up some and it needs work. But I feel like once you get a trick, then you work to clean it up. It doesn't have to be perfect the first time.

So I was high as a kite for 90 minutes after the catch. And I do really like the trick. I like pulling over the bar.

This is why Leap is my happy place. It's a great feeling to master a new trick—that adrenaline is amazing. It's cool to watch the video and see what your'e capable of. The people are so nice, positive and encouraging.

Can I get a flying trapeze in my backyard because I'm obsessed?

I really want some glow in the dark tights for my next class. Anyone know where I can buy some?