Partner Acrobatics

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Tune in for this week's episode of "Real Talk" Circus Arts Style⠀
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Have you ever had that feeling that there's just never enough time to hit ALL THE THINGS in you training? There's always so much to work on, conditioning, skills work, flexibility, artistry, sequencing, etc... Or maybe you just don't feel like your progressing as fast as you "should be?" Or maybe all that instagram scrolling kinda makes you feel like you're not working hard enough, or just plain not good enough.
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If this has never happened to you, congratulations 🤷 But for most of us, it's very easy to fall into some version of this story. ⠀
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If you're nodding your head right now, let's talk about what we can do about it
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My go-to way to reframe these thoughts is to really take a moment to consider my very personal "why" of aerial arts. "Why" did I get into this in the first place? What aspect of this work is most essential to that "why"? For some people it is the community building and camaraderie of the studio or aerial family. For others it might be the physical challenges and the empowerment we gain from training and leveling up. For some, the "why" might be Inextricably linked to the expressive movement or performing part of the work. The list goes on. ⠀
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For me (this is Rain BTW)aerial arts has always been first and foremost a medium to express myself as a performative artist. Additionally, the desire for a deep understanding of the theory and ability to impart that understanding to others through teaching is also a super big "why."⠀
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Taking a step back to look at my "why" brings me a broader perspective. If I'm able to acknowledge that I can't do EVERYTHING and maater ALL THE THINGS (which in itself is a hard lesson to learn) then all I can do is bring the focus to the aspect of the work that bring me the most joy and fulfillment. It can help me to make more precise and informed goals and let go of expectations that might be holding me back. ⠀
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We'd love to hear from you in the comment section. let us know your "why" and what tools you may use to align with that purpose
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📸by @lookerkeeper
Pictured Aerialist Sarah Bebe Holmes - co-artistic director

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Sarah Bebe Holmes
Co-artistic director
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Tips for neck-hang
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At our retreat we have a special part of the bar apparatus workshops where we do what we call ‘train the pain’. We work on toe hangs, heel hangs, elbow hangs, armpit hangs and neck hangs. we go over tips and tricks. And what feels super painful for one person is slightly easier for another. Are you more inclined for Toe hang or heel hang? There are things that just work differently different bodies. Find the painful hang that works best for you
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I personally love neck hangs. Warming it up helps and here’s a fun partner exercise you can do. *
Extra note make sure to drag the stick into place you want the skin on the back of your neck to sort of roll up and bunch. it gives you more to hang off of.
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you can use Rosin as well however if you start to slip out of it it gives you a gnarly rash like burn. *
Today is the last day for early bird registration for a level one trapeze teacher training in Oxford, England March 2020. Email teachertraining@paperdollmilitia.com for more info, Or take a look at our website paperdollmilitia.com
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First pic taken from @partylikegatsbyevent where Sarah Bebe Holmes performed her act.
#training #paintolerance #trapeze #neck

Instagram post 2191771996231469585_199435523 $🌙Back Flexibility🌙 What's the deal with the upper back? * I heard for years that all aerialists needed to work on upper back flexibility in order to really get the most out of our backbending. While this is true, we have a VERY interesting anatomical tidbit for you all. Did you know that when we increase mobility in the upper back, what we are really doing is working to counteract the natural flexion (forward curve) to achieve more of a STRAIGHT upper back. This goes for everyone, not just ripped aerialists. • The second picture shows a contortionist in an MRI. You can tell this person in actually sitting on their head, but where is most of the curve coming from? You'll see it's mostly from their lumbar (low back) and cervical (neck) region. • • So how do we work on opening our upper back? As with all flexibility work, it's important to balance both passive and active flexibility. Here are some ways that we like to stretch and strengthen the thoracic spine * 1) Passive: Using a yogawheel. These things are awesome!! But yes, it's another thing to own, you can do a similar stretch using a kitchen chair! (swipe to the next video) • With either prop the secret is to drop your bum, this will pull you deeper into the stretch * 2) Active: Set up your foam roller on the bottom of the rib cage. Think about lifting up and off of the foam roller to engage the extensor muscles around your spine, and lift your gaze. Roll the foam roller forwards and back while keeping the chest lifted * * You can challenge or modify this action bring bringing your arms into different places on the foam roller. * * #flexibility #backflexibility Photo by @pix_fish Photo from Paper Doll Militia's WARPED with performers @samaquatik & @windubitably ------------------------------------------------------ ✨Upcoming Teacher Trainings✨ • Feb 13 - 17 {Level 1 Silks and Rope} Lexington, KY • March 7 - 10 {Level 1 Trapeze} Oxford, England • April 8 - 12 {Level 1 Silks and Rope} Glasgow, Scotland • April 13 - 17 {Level 2 Lyra} Washington D.C. area, Virginia • June 15 - 19 {Level 1 Silks} Marin, CA 🦋Link in the bio🦋$

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@reconfigure_lifedrawing is an opportunity for artists and performers to be transported with art. The evening is a two hour long event with a model, a musician and a room full artists sketching away to beautiful beats. *
Sarah Bebe Holmes modeled along with musician @BadoReti •
The focus was palpable. The sketchpads just audible over the eerie and emotional bass looping. •
It was a beautiful example of cross art-forms. Bringing visual, auditory, and physical practices together in one space. •
It was also the most sore I've been in a while. I learned that a five minute pose takes about 100 breaths. I survived by counting my breathing. •
#crossartform #multi-disciplinary #art #lifedrawing

First picture by @emilyluscombeillustration
Second picture by @mike.t.art
Third picture by @artsyschmolke

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“By replacing the fear of the unknown with curiosity we open ourselves up to an infinite stream of possibility. We can let fear rule our lives or we can become childlike with our curiosity pushing our boundaries, leaping out of our comfort zones and accepting what life puts before us“ -Alan Watts⠀
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Think that your creativity practice starts when you walk in the aerial studio? Or when you start working on that new act? Think again! Creativity is a skill that ANYONE can cultivate in their daily lives. Alan Watts speaks of our "curiosity pushing out boundaries." But what does that mean exactly?⠀
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Consider this: an openness to new experiences that disrupt the familiar. Try noticing this in your daily life. If you come across a person, an environment, an activity, or even an aerial technique that seems unfamiliar, try to notice any hesitation, fear or inclination to shut down the experience. See if instead you can flip that feeling on it's head and approach the situation with intrigue and curiosity. ⠀
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Here's your creativity homework assignment for the week. Find a way to push your own boundaries of familiarity. Take a class you've never tried before (eg. aerialists take a juggling class, contortionists go rock climbing), take a new route home from work, start a conversation with someone you might not normally speak to. Anything to shake things up a bit and disrupt your normal routine. ⠀ *⠀
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We'd love to hear how you do this in your life, or report back on what you did this week to excite your curiosity. Leave your thoughts and experiences in the comments. *
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📸 Photo by @davekenvisionlab
Aerialist Rain Anya - co-artistic director

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