Bumbershoot Aerial Arts Studio

Seriously awesome place!!!
The classes are fun and challenging, and it’s an incredibly supportive and happy environment that makes it easy to try out some crazy things you never thought your body could do. I get a great strength workout each week, hang out with some very cool people, and generally have a blast.
The instructors are all super friendly and knowledgeable, and it’s clear the people who work there are passionate about what they’re doing. They’re also very professional and make a big effort to ensure your safety, and that you feel comfortable with what you’re doing.
Definitely a must try!

So much fun! Nobody thinks they are strong enough to do it trust me, you are! I’ve take Aerial Fitness, a great beginner class! I’ve taken beginner Trapeze, Silks and Slings. I’ve found I like Slings best. All the classes have wonderful instructors that want you to have fun, be safe, and get stronger. At least try the free Trapeze Saturday at 4:00!

With my strange love of being upside down, it was only a matter of time before I ventured into the aerial world. I impulsively registered for their aerial sampler class (a 6-​week long intro to static trapeze and silks) while it was on sale. My first class, I spent a lot of time gaping at this girl in a silver bodysuit who was practicing a mesmerizing performance on the hoop, and I’ve been obsessed with this stuff ever since.
I have always associated aerial arts with flexibility and grace, but I was surprised to learn that a great deal of strength is required as well. Some people come to the open practice sessions just to climb up and down the silks because it requires a lot of upper body strength and gets the heart racing, a lot like rock-​climbing.
During the actual class sessions, the instructors are always incredibly nice and encouraging. They’re great at spotting — I’ve always felt safe at this studio. They give just the right amount of help if you need it, and they’re great at troubleshooting if you’re having problems nailing one of the moves.
Classes are scheduled throughout the day and cover a wide range of disciplines, including trapeze, silks, rope, chains, lyra and slings along with various general skills and fitness classes, including stretching and tumbling. Their equipment is varied and plenty, and the studio itself is beautiful, with lots of windows high up on the walls for natural light. They offer a free trapeze class on Saturdays if you’re unsure or just curious, but I promise all the intro classes are 100% newbie friendly.
It’s a little more expensive than say, taking a yoga class, but you’re also learning a new skill set, so I think it’s worth it. Plus, something about playing around on a trapeze helps you lose inhibitions and rediscover your inner child. (When and why did we stop climbing and hanging from things?)

Even when I’m visiting St. Louis for the holidays, I need to fill my weekly requirement for hanging upside down. I saw that Bumbershoot offered an open studio session for people with aerial experience for only $ 10, which is a very fair price.
I was able to get my lyra on for an hour in their beautiful studio, which is well-​heated and spacious. My only gripe is that they don’t have much in the way of mirrors, which doesn’t allow you to watch your form as you’re practicing. But they have a variety of hoops in different sizes and the instructors were happy to spot me as I worked on some beats.
I stayed for their free trapeze class, which I dragged my sister to as well. I’ve been wanting to add a second apparatus besides aerial hoop, so it was nice to try something new. Most of the other people in the class were athletic beginners, and the instructor was very patient and encouraging with everyone. I don’t love trapeze as much as I love lyra, but it was a fun workout and I’ll undoubtedly return to their studio for open sessions when I’m back in St. Louis.

Who doesn’t want to do something just a little wacky for their bachelorette party? It’s a great opportunity to do something you might not otherwise ever do. Bumbershoot Aerial Arts fit the bill exactly. We took a freaking trapeze lesson! Granted we had to wear workout clothes, do stretches, and go kinda sweaty, but it was boatloads of fun. We weren’t swinging high in the air, we were learning tricks, only about 6 feet in the air. I can do tricks on a trapeze bar now, all legit-​like. The circus might hire me.
Our instructor was great. She humored us as we clearly considered this a photo opp and not exercise, although she was able to convince us that doing trapeze, silks, and hoop would be a great workout option.
First she taught us to get up on the bar properly. I wanted to do it correctly, but it was lots easier to do it the way she told us not to. Then she taught us to lean back with one arm and FLARE out. Then we stood on the bar (requires arm strength my body does not know! but I did it anyway!) and leaned forward and backward and FLAREd out legs out. Then we did a one-​handed number with a hip stack. Oh yeah, I stacked my hips. There was one trick that involved using your feet to hold you up that everyone did, too. Very fancy.
Lest you think this requires fit, athletic people — it does not. It helps, but the instructor was extremely helpful and provided a boost here and there. I never felt uncomfortable or scared, and the girls that were scared were only scaring themselves. It was a very fun experience and if I lived in St. Louis, I would seriously consider taking one of their exercise classes. Taking the class with a bunch of girlfriends just for fun made it even better!

The space is large with high ceilings, the people are friendly, and they offer a FREE trapeze class for those who are interested.
I found out about this place because I was looking for a new exciting way to exercise. I noticed the free class on the webpage and decided to check it out.
Tom and Sunny were the instructor and assistant and extremely nice. They were very careful to spot me and help me do the things they were teaching. I went with three friends and we all had a blast.
I ended up signing up for a class and I’m really looking forward for it to start. If you want to learn aerial arts, this is the place for you!