Frequently Asked Questions
Do you teach kids?
All our classes are 16+ but our neighbours at Totem Gymnastics teach aerial to kids in our space - you can book directly through them at www.totemgym.co.uk
I don’t have any upper body strength, can I still do it?
YES. This is the most common question we get at Cloud, but the answer is always yes. Our aerial classes do require upper body strength but the joy of it is that you gain the strength whilst you’re doing the moves and before you know it those moves that looked impossible are a doddle! By the end of your very first term you will be able to achieve things that you thought were out of reach in your first lesson. Acrobalance doesn’t require as much strength as you would think, it’s all about balance – you can base someone almost twice your weight!
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Do you have to be super slim to do aerial arts?
NO. People of all shapes and sizes can do aerial arts and the reason this is one of the best forms of exercise is that you can tone up and gain muscle without even realising because you are enjoying what you are doing. An hour in our aerial playground will be like doing a full body workout at the gym and the difference is you won’t have to drag yourself there. We are not a weight conscious studio and you will never be made to feel like you're not the right body shape to be a part of our community.
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Is there a weight limit on your equipment?
NO. All our equipment is load tested right down to the smallest carabiner and we're not joking when we say we can hang a car off our equipment so you don't need to worry about your weight when you come to our studio.
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Do you need dance experience?
NO, not at all. You will develop grace and co-ordination at the same time as you develop your strength and ability and even if you feel you lack co-ordination you will find it doesn’t hinder you in improving your skills.
What should I wear?
For pole classes the more bare skin on the pole the better. You use your knees, thighs, calves and elbows to grip the pole so less clothing really is better. If you are feeling nervous you can wear loose fitting yoga pants or tracksuits that can be rolled up when necessary for the first few weeks. After that you will probably find that your confidence has increased and that your desire to perform the moves overtakes your self-consciousness, plus all our classes are confidence boosting and have a hugely supportive environment from both teachers and fellow students.
For all other aerial classes you want to have everything covered! Hoop, rope and silks can all cause friction burns on bare skin so layers are better. Leggings or joggers are the best as loose clothing can bunch up and hinder your movement. Leg warmers that cover ankles and knees are good for extra protection against bruising and chafing as well. Arms don’t have to be covered but it’s a good idea to wear a long sleeved top to start off with that you can remove as you get warmer. Try to avoid those super shiny leggings as sometimes they can be a bit slippery. Some classes will require bare feet but all classes have a no shoes policy.
For the other classes including stretch, gymnastics, handstands, conditioning and acrobalance, yoga pants or tracksuits or shorts and leg warmers are good, as well as a hoodie or long sleeved top as you want to be as warm as possible when working on your flexibility and you may want to remove outer layers as you get too warm in your class. For acrobalance you might want to avoid shiny leggings or tracksuit bottoms, you don’t want your partner sliding off you!
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How do I book classes?
Classes can be booked through our booking site or on the app (the app is better!) as late as last minute before class. We ask that all classes are booked in advance as they can fill up and if you just turn up on the night we may not have room for you. You must pay for your class before you attend.
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Can I try out a class before I commit to membership?
YES. You can book onto any class as a single drop in class to try it out. Simply click on the class you want to attend on the booking site and book it as a drop in session. You might want to try a few different disciplines before you pick your favourites.
What do I do if I miss a class I’ve booked?
If you know you’re going to miss a class you can untick your attendance on the booking site or the app up to twenty-four hours before class starts and the credit for the class will go back into your account so you can book another class. If you didn’t untick your attendance before the twenty-four hour window then I’m afraid we cannot grant you the credit back. This is because we need to make sure we have enough students booked on to pay our teachers and if everyone unbooked at the last minute we would still need to pay the teacher. We don’t grant credits after the class has been missed for ANY reason so please don’t ask us to break this rule.
What will I gain from attending an aerial arts class?
When you take up aerial arts as a hobby you will become leaner, stronger and fitter than you were previously and most importantly you will be learning a new skill. In pole arts you will learn spins, tricks and inverts. In hoop you will learn tricks, rolls and drops. In silks you will learn transitions, holds and drops. In acro you will learn lifts, holds and transitions. You will be able to lift your own body weight (and others!), your core strength will noticeably increase and you'll find your muscles develop, making you stronger and more toned. You'll be able to carry the shopping back in ONE TRIP! You may also find a discipline and motivation you didn’t know you had; many people who have tried gym memberships and aerobics classes without success have found they stick with aerial classes week after week because it really doesn’t feel like a workout when what you’re doing is enjoyable. You will also find that the environment at Cloud encourages a friendly and social atmosphere as you will often see the same people each week and friendships can often develop. We have many different styles, from sensual pole dance to super strong calisthenics style straps classes, so you're sure to find a style that suits you, or discover a whole new side of yourself.
Why should I choose Cloud Aerial Arts?
We love aerial arts and we really enjoy sharing these amazing skills with as many people as we can. We want to show you how much you can achieve through attending our classes including increased strength, flexibility and self-confidence as well as the actual skills themselves. We understand that everyone learns in different ways and our teachers are intuitive in discovering how best to relate their skills according to each student’s requirements so that everyone can get the most out of their class. Our class sizes are small so each student will get individual attention from the teacher and will never feel ignored. If you are progressing at a different speed to the rest of the class you will never be left behind nor will you be bored if you are excelling as we tailor each class to the individual students to make sure you all get the best out of it. Our teachers pride themselves on knowing exactly where you are up to in your aerial training so you will always feel well looked after and never ignored.
Students who have been to other aerial schools have said that Cloud is the most friendly, inspiring and fun atmosphere to be in and our students spend a lot more time at Cloud than just their hour long weekly classes. Cloud isn’t just a circus school, it’s a community of like minded people having lots of fun – just ask any Cloud student why they keep coming back! Check out some of the recommendations on our Facebook page and join the Cloud Community on Facebook and on our app.
Is there anything else I need to know?
If you have any other questions just drop us a message on social media or by email: