Cirque de Vol

I’ve only taken trapeze here, so I can’t talk about other classes.
The classes I’ve taken were easy to follow and small enough to cater to my individual needs. I had a lot of questions and was nervous the first few classes the instructor was always willing to listen and help out. The best moment for me was at the end of my first trapeze intro (6 classes) everyone was given time to perform a routine to music. I was shy about performing, thinking I hadn’t learned enough, my instructor pushed me to perform and I am so glad I did!
A few warnings:
* you will leave classes with sore hands and core — its hard, amazing work!
* you will likely be covered in gold glitter at the end of class, it comes off the floor

Ditch the gym, join the circus!
I have taken 3 classes here — Intro to Beginner Aerial Silks Workshop, Intro to Trapeze Workshop, and Aerial Bootcamp. They are all amazing!
My Aerial Bootcamp classes and Trapeze workshop were taught by Gabriella. She’s wonderful! I am now attending Aerial Bootcamp weekly in hopes that I will build enough core, grip, and arm strength to eventually be able to do tricks. The Aerial Bootcamp is reasonably priced at $ 39 for a monthly class pass (4 classes).
I love that they offer beginner workshops so that you can try something out before committing to a 6 week series. They are very fun and exciting workouts but can be challenging for a newbie.
Also, I have set a new goal for myself. I want to be able to do the splits! Inspired by my Cirque de Vol classes :)

While your hands were preparing for a feast on Super Bowl Sunday, my hands were hanging on for dear life in a Trapeze fitness class at Cirque de Vol! Ever wanted to perform an aerial act like the performers in the circus do? Try it out with an aerial, silks, trapeze, lyra or acro class at Cirque de Vol!
I took gymnastics, ballet, tap, and jazz as a girl so these poor instructors kept having to remind me to grip the bar with my thumbs underneath (which is the opposite of what gymnasts do). As an adult, I kind of like to hang upside down on swings, just as much as like I swing on them so the hanging upside down wasn’t a problem for me. I just had to grip the bar properly. I had no idea what a workout we Raleigh Chicks were in for!
First things first, stretch, of course. We did some basic stretches. Then they demonstrated form and identified parts of the trapeze. That part where the ropes come together with the bar is called the elbow, in case you were wondering. In the beginner class you just learn basic positioning and technique, but you will feel it!
Next, we learned how to climb up and hang upside down. All in one motion, point your feet up – point — and over your head between your body and the bar. This is pike position. Then slide your legs back a little and up over the bar. Easy!
Then we learned the starfish position. That was kind of my favorite, but I have to be careful because of my sensitive back. Still. I did it. Nice flexibility practice. Good for your core too!
After that, we learned to sit up and climb and sit. The next position was a sidestar, but I struggled with that one. Some other girls really got it good though. Hanging, dangling, flying, floating. We got it. We’re basically circus stars now. And our hands are way stronger too.
$ 30 for a drop-​in class. $ 150 for a series of 6 classes.
#checkitoff on Offline via
. Or just go with your friends for a private class. I did both. ;-)

While visiting Raleigh for a few days, I definitely did not want to get out of aerial shape so I found Cirque de Vol through Google search, and am so happy I did! I emailed the studio about setting up a private session for silks or lyra, and received super fast responses from the owner, Sheryl. She helped me set up a private session for silks with Robin, who was fantastic! I learned a lot in our hour together and it was great to be in such a pretty, artistic space. They have other aerial apparatuses and other circus classes, which I definitely plan on taking advantage of the next time I’m in NC.

Children’s Classes:
We can recommend Samantha’s Saturday Trapeze class.
This particular instructor is focused and controlled, partly due to the nature of only taking one child at a time on the bars.
Samantha is very gentle and affable with her students, and approachable to parents.
Tail-​end class observation does not disrupt her class as she has the kids well in hand, and she was thoughtful and wise enough to have the children give a 15 minute demonstration/​performance at the end of the series.

I took an aerial silks workshop ($ 30) with Liz at Cirque de Vol only a few short hours ago. It lasted an hour and a half. Like most of the world, I have never tried aerial silks before, but since I’ve been going to the gym regularly for a couple months and feel moderately fit, I decided to try something new. The workshops, offered occasionally, are a way to try a certain activity without having to commit to the class series quite yet, and this was perfect for me.
Cirque de Vol has a LARGE range of unique fitness classes that you won’t normally get a chance to try at a traditional gym – hooping classes, poi, aerial yoga, trapeze, to name just a few. I chose silks because I’m a huge fan of another Cirque, Cirque du Soleil. If I thought I was amazed by them before, I am now at least twice as amazed. Circus arts, including this one, take a HUGE amount of core and upper body strength.
The class was tough, and I got a little airsick on the inversions we did (although I was pleased to have the core strength to even get to the nauseating point to begin with), so I don’t think I will be signing up for this particular series, but I was really pleased with how much we learned, how it was taught (Liz was an extremely clear and understanding instructor), and what a workout I received for my money. I will definitely be back to try something else.
If you are one of those for whom the treadmill just isn’t cutting it, I’d recommend a perusal of Cirque de Vol’s course schedule!