Owner Joni McCarran on the Corde Lisse
Think about that rush of joy as a kid, as you sprinted toward the monkey bars at recess. Remember how fun it was to climb them and hang upside down? Sometimes, we get too caught up in the day-to-day to allow ourselves the play time we need. Luckily, Fort Wayne just got its own version of an adult playground. Studio Seva now has aerial fitness classes! I spoke with Owner Joni McCarran about the studio's new toys (okay, and played on them a bit) and how Studio Seva is taking fitness to new heights.
Located on the other side of the North Anthony Corridor Mural, Studio Seva opened in 2012 and has continued to be a welcoming, yogi community. Offering Hatha, Iyengar, and rope wall yoga, Joni took particular interest in the playfulness of aerial yoga, using silk hammocks as props in class. This year, she made the decision that she really wanted to bring more aerial options to the studio and Fort Wayne. Through her research, she found the perfect apparatuses for an adult playground: Tissu (aerial silks), Corde Lisse (smooth rope), Lyra (aerial hoop) and my personal favorite, Corde Volante (static cloud swing), which is a soft rope affixed to the ceiling at each end that hangs like a swing (whee!).
While you play, you also get a great work out! Aerial fitness is an exciting alternative to typical bootcamp classes and traditional strength training. Classes are sequenced with equal parts work and play. Conditioning exercises will build your upper body, core, leg, and grip strength and increase mobility in your hips, legs, and shoulders. This prepares you for climbs, stands, sits, and eventually, inversions! Being up high, upside down, or both can be a little intimidating at first, but all of the conditioning exercises in class safely prepare you to do all kinds of cool tricks and Instagram-worthy poses.
In discussing the new aerial classes, Joni is most proud of the fact that anybody can do them. "There's so much variety in class, that it truly is all levels. We offer everything from the fundamentals and beginner strength training to trick combinations and aerial dance. That's the beauty of aerial arts. You don't have to be a Cirque du Soleil performer, just bring a good attitude and be willing to try something new. I love watching students in class over time, because you can see confidence emanating from them through their development as aerialists. We strive to have fun and work toward progress, not perfection."
If you're ready to try something fun and challenging, definitely check out the aerial classes at Studio Seva. You can peruse the schedule and class pricing packages here. Joni also hinted that you may be a bit sore in the days after class, but a little gentle yoga could fix that, and she knows a place (*winks*). For the latest at Studio Seva, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
