If you’ve been bitten by the aerial bug, then you’re familiar with the symptoms: burns and bruises in your nooks and crannies, evenings spent at the gym rather than home, and a growing wishlist of aerial equipment that you stare wistfully at while shopping online. Chances are, you’ve looked around your home to figure out the best placement for your own aerial rig or home installation. As tempting as it is to have your own personal rig, it’s important to stop and ask yourself some tough questions and answer honestly before you splurge on a home rig.
Am I ready for at home aerial practice?
When you practice at the gym, you have the benefit of a trained coach who can correct your form and get you out of sticky situations. At home, you’re on your own. While you should NEVER practice aerial completely alone, odds are whoever you live with doesn’t have the same aerial knowledge and instinct that your coach has. Therefore, we can only recommend home aerial rigs for advanced level students who have developed a strong sense of aerial awareness. If you are unsure if you should consider an at home rig, talk to your coach.
What are the risks of having an aerial rig at home?
At ACA, our rigging is conducted by professional engineers. It is regularly checked for signs of wear and tear, and our staff is trained in aerial rigging. We invest a lot of time and money to keep you safe in our studio. The question is are you willing to do the same in your own home? If the answer is no, then you don’t need a home rig. Most houses are not built to hold a human dangling, dropping, and dancing from the ceiling. They were built to… well… be a house. So even if you have a beautiful vaulted ceiling, it’s likely that it won’t be able to hold a dynamic load. Did you know that an aerialist can generate ten times their body weight in force? That’s a lot of stress to put on your house. If you do still plan to have a rig from your home ceiling, call a certified structural engineer to examine your space and be clear with them about what you will be doing. If the engineer gives you approval, have a professional rigger help you with your equipment. On top of this, educate yourself thoroughly in aerial rigging so you are aware of your own equipment, and feel comfortable inspecting it frequently.
It’s also worth noting that aerial arts are considered a high risk activity. So having an aerial rig in your home may invalidate your insurance policies. Also, if someone came over to your house and was injured as a result of the aerial equipment in your home, you could be held liable.
If I can’t rig from my home, can I rig from a tree?
No! Trees are completely unpredictable. You want to know with certainty how much of a load a structure you are rigging off of can take. A tree can be completely healthy on the outside and entirely rotten on the inside. You could also damage or even kill the tree. Ask yourself, “Would I suspend a car from this?” If the answer is no, then you shouldn’t suspend yourself from it.
Could I use a free standing rig at home?
This actually would be your best option, but proceed with caution. Only buy from reputable suppliers and be ready to spend a pretty penny. There are some that are marketed as aerial yoga rigs. These are great… for aerial yoga. Anything more than slow and easy movements on these rigs can be dangerous.
Additionally, pay attention to the manufacturer's instructions for use of the free standing rig. Any compromises to these instructions could also put you at risk.
I only take a few classes a week. How do I get better without aerial equipment?
This is the part where we say something that you probably won’t like. Don’t hate us, but if you really want to progress as an aerialist, the best thing you can do is conditioning and active flexibility exercises. Is it as flashy or even as fun as aerial? No. Although,if we only ate things that were fun, we would have a very poor diet. Sometimes we have to eat vegetables. So eat your aerial broccoli! Ask your coach for some help in forming an at-home routine that is customized to your goals. These will keep you safe and looking amazing in the air!
Interested in learning more about rigging and aerial safety?
Here are some great resources to explore:
Circus and Aerial Safety Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/circusandaerialsafety/
Rigging Informational Video by professional aerialists Shannon McKenna and Constance Palmer- for a suggested donation of $5 https://www.crowdcast.io/e/safety-practices-for/register
Momentum Aerial: Rigging from Home Series
Please also reference this piece published by the Circus Arts Institute regarding rigging from home.