What are the risks of aerial arts?

Aerial arts is a potentially dangerous activity involving acrobatic work at various heights. The most common injuries are overuse injuries of shoulders and back, pulled muscles, bruises,  fabric-burns, and dizziness/nausea (from upside-down or spinning). Possible risks include but are not limited to sprains, broken bones, paralysis or death. Students agree to participate at their own risk.

Students should only take classes from professional aerial trainers. Aerial arts involve complex wraps and positions that if executed incorrectly or slightly off could have major consequences including falling out of the air. It also involves subjecting the body to large impact forces that may cause sprains, strains, overuse injuries and internal organ injuries and/or bleeding if done incorrectly. Do not try to learn from Youtube or people who are not qualified professionals. Unsafe aerial instruction can result in paralysis or death.

What safety measures do you take?

Sky Gym takes your safety very seriously. Our Master Trainers have been through the top aerial arts teacher certification programs in the country including NECCA and CAI. All of our trainers are CPR certified and go through a rigorous Sky Gym Teacher Certification program that focuses on teaching and spotting techniques. We also carry commercial liability insurance. Our aerial equipment holds a minimum of 2,500lbs, and the rigging holds at least 5,000 lbs. We have a regular inspection and maintenance schedule to keep our equipment clean and in good repair. We work above high-impact gymnastics mat that are specially designed to absorb large impact forces.

What can I do to ensure my safety?

Your safety is ultimately in your hands.  All students must adhere to the Sky Gym student safety policy, or they will be asked to leave the class.

Sky Gym Student Safety Policy

1. We insist on a mastery of basic skills before progressing to skills requiring more strength, endurance, stability, and understanding.
2. Students must be able to execute a pose or sequence with strength, control, and proper body positioning before progressing to a more difficult skill.
3. New skills must be practiced low to the ground while students’ bodies and minds adapt to the new movements. Students will only be allowed to work at greater heights when they can safely execute the skill (with control) many times low to the ground first.
4. Students are not allowed under any circumstances to teach other students or anyone else, any movement, pose, sequence, or skill. This is also known as skill-trading or skill-sharing, and is strictly prohibited.
5. Students must get instructor approval before practicing skills that were not taught to them by Sky Gym.
6. Students are not allowed to practice anything that they learned off YouTube. If a student wants to learn a skill that they saw on YouTube, they can email the link to their instructor and ask their instructor to teach it during class. The instructor will evaluate whether the skill is appropriate for the student’s abilities, and will teach it accordingly.
7. Students must respect the teacher and other students at all times
8. Students may not be under the influence of alcohol, any illegal drugs, or any prescription or over-the-counter drugs that affect their focus and concentration.
9. Unsupervised practice is strictly forbidden.
10. Students must respect their bodies. They are responsible for listening to their bodies, and not pushing them past safe working limits. Late nights, drinking, illness, stress, injury, and monthly cycles can all affect an aerialist’s strength and stamina. Be aware that your ability to safely execute sequences may vary daily.
11. Warm-up properly to avoid pulling or straining muscles.