Mumbai is quite experimental when it comes to fitness and health, and people are more open to trying various ways to stay fit. The growing buzz around the trend of Aerial Silk, especially after the celebrity endorsement by former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, is palpable. To understand how Aerial Silk works and to get a holistic experience of this fitness regime, I tried it and my experience has been nothing less than phenomenal!
Selecting an instructor
Since this trend is relatively new and only a few years old in Mumbai, selecting an instructor with an experience and poise for it is essential. This is the reason I decided to try Aerial Silk with Aditi Deshpande, daughter of Mallakhamb legend Uday Deshpande. Aditi owns the company Fly High Aerial Art, which conducts Aerial Silk sessions across the city. The overall routine is similar to rope Mallakhamb but only more sophisticated, with added grace and finesse. The best part, according to me, is that anybody can try this irrespective of age. There are no pre-requisites to try Aerial Silk.
My experience
Although there are several benefits of Aerial Silk, the most basic are that it strengthens the upper body and tones the thighs. Aditi Deshpande adds, “It is a full body workout as one’s back, biceps, shoulders, triceps, chest, core as well as the leg muscles are engaged all the time. Add to this, it also improve neuromuscular coordination and a variety of motor skills. Along with this, it also helps develop strength, flexibility, agility and stamina. Most importantly, “It teaches one to focus, handle and learn about one’s body while being vertically suspended in the air.”
In my first session with Aditi at Sitara Studio in Lower Parel, I had mixed feelings about the routine especially when I saw seasoned aerialists suspended on the rope. I wondered whether this was my cup of tea. But the apprehensions faded away once I tried it myself. It’s all about those initial few minutes that one needs to get over—once I started climbing the silk, I ‘fell’ in love with it.
The session starts with mid-level warm-up exercises and a few rounds of running clubbed with squats and lunges. Then, for beginners like me, a simple routine was taught, which basically helped me acclimatise to the silk and learn how to balance myself on it. My antics on the silk gradually advanced as I progressed with each session. These sessions end with a cooling-down routine, which pacifies the body and calms you down.
I would certainly recommend Aerial Silk to people who wish to do something positive for the body but want to avoid intensive workouts. Add to this, it is also a super fun experience. Try it!
Try the silk!
Aditi Deshpande can be contacted at 98336 99965 for Aerial Silk sessions conducted across the city at:
- Kinspire Sports Clinic (Andheri)
- Arts in Motion studio (Khar)
- Arts in Motion studio (Sion)
- Sitara Studio (Lower Parel)
- Deep Dance studio (Dadar)
- Shree Samartha Vyayam Mandir (Dadar)
