Open Practices

Open Practice is time in the studio when students can practice moves they've learned to date in their group classes or private/semi private lessons. Sessions are supervised by an instructor for safety, but no instruction is provided. The following rules are in place, not to prevent students from advancing or enjoying their practice time, but to keep all our students and instructors safe and injury free. Thank you for understanding.

Warm-up: Warm-up before and stretch after you practice. This helps prevent injury. Need ideas on how to perform a safe and effective warm-up? Please ask your instructor and we will be happy to share some ideas with you. If you have access to the Video On Demand Library, there are also lots of great warm-up ideas in there.

Supervision vs. Instruction: There will be an instructor present in the studio to supervise you for safety, however they are not there to teach you new skills. Instructors may choose to give you tips or corrections, at their discretion, but they are not expected to instruct during practice/open gym.

Spotting: While supervising instructors are always trained in appropriate safety and first aid, they might not be familiar with what you are working on and reserve the right to decline a spotting request if they are unfamiliar with the move you’re practicing or how to properly spot it. If you can not yet execute a move safely without spotting and the supervising instructor is unable to spot you, please do not practice that move.

New moves: Please only practice moves you have already been taught by a qualified instructor. Practice is not the time to try the latest move you saw on Instagram. If you're interested in learning a specific new move, please speak to your regular instructor and they will give you guidance about when you will learn that move, or if it’s not a regular part of our curriculum, they might be able to work it into your regular classes if it is level appropriate. Please respect your instructors judgment on this as they have your safety at heart. You might be able to book private lessons for very specialized or advanced skills. An instructor may ask you not to practice a move if they observe you executing it in such a way that could result in injury. We want to keep you safe and injury free.

Mats: Mats are to be used at all times in the aerial studio unless approved by an instructor for practicing low dance or floor work skills (one part of the body connected to the floor at all times). Mats should be used in the pole studio for any moves being executed in the air above shoulder height, and any inverted skill unless your skill level for that move has been assessed by an instructor and you’ve been cleared to practice without.

Teaching each other: Please do not teach each other. It's okay to show off your mad pole or aerial skills with your friends at practice, but please do not attempt to teach them new moves. If you're working on the same things and wish to share your own experiences, for example "I found that move you're working on easier when I moved my hand a bit higher", that's okay, but 1) never provide your opinion unsolicited and 2) please understand that if you are not a trained and/or certified instructor who has been engaged by the studio to teach, you should refrain from giving advice as you are not covered by our insurance for liability should an injury result and we know you would feel awful if your friend was injured as a direct or indirect result of your teaching. Please leave it to the professionals.

Copy-catting: Similar to teaching each other, it’s okay to be inspired by your fellow students, but do not attempt to copy what they are doing if you haven’t been taught that skill by an instructor.

Music: Please share the space and the stereo. Take turns putting your own music on the studio stereo if you wish, using the provided aux cords. If you’re working on choreography, it’s a great idea to invest in wireless earbuds, if possible, so that you can play the same track over and over without driving everyone else insane. The instructor will put music on the stereo for everyone to enjoy if you request it.

Equipment: Aerial Students should request their apparatus of choice in advance of Aerial Open Practices. Their equipment will be laid out or rigged for them at their designated spot. Students might be asked to attach their apparatus to their rig point, however all raising and lowering of points and any other adjustments above the apparatus connection will be performed by the supervising instructor. Students will not be able to swap equipment during the same Open Practice unless approved and arranged in advance. Students may also apply to bring their own equipment to practice on. Please see the Outside Equipment page on our website for more information.

Photography, Videos and Social Media: Please see the Mobile Devices and Photography policy on the Studio Policies page on our website.