Student of the Month - Alicia Rivera - Nov 2021

Student of the Month
Alicia Rivera
Nov 2021

When did you start at the studio? October 2018

Why did you start? My sister had bought me a gift certificate to attend an aerial yoga class at a different location.  I attended with a friend and instantly fell in love.  Sadly, that studio was too far for me to attend on a regular basis.  Fast forward, a year goes by, and a coworker was telling me how she went to an aerial yoga studio locally.  I instantly signed up and have been attending ever since.  

What made you come back and stick with it? I already knew before I visited AFF that I wanted to pursue Aerial Yoga; however, when I observed the positive, inviting, and uplifting environment in which all of this takes place, I knew this was the place for me.

What would you tell someone just starting aerial fitness? Do not get discouraged when you fail.  It is those experiences that help us evolve and improve our skills. I also encourage others not to compare yourself to others.  Everyone comes in at varying levels of fitness and different type of fitness backgrounds which puts everyone on a different pace.  I am not super competitive, so I already had the mentality that the only person I am in competition with in this space is myself, and they preach this from day one.  I'd also mention that, while it's fun to try different apparatuses, when you find one you like, stick with it, because if your goal is to advance to some of the higher-level moves/activities, consistent practice is how it's going to happen. 

What have been some of your challenges? In general, I am not a flexible person, and while I have definitely gained flexibility since starting, this is something that I think will always be a challenge for me.  The good news is more times than less there are ways for you to overcome any hurdle, and sometimes it just takes time.  

What apparatuses do you train on in the studio? I have the most practice with hammock; however, I have tried bungee, and I did entertain Lyra for a bit (surprisingly to me I loved it)!  Unfortunately, I found I didn't have the core/upper body strength to practice without developing overuse injuries to my hands so I paused and will revisit when I get stronger.

Your favorite pose(s) and why do you like it?  Seahorse was probably my first favorite pose because it is a challenging climb in which a lot of the things need to happen at the same time.  It was also the first pose that I found despite my lack of flexibility (which made it more challenging), I was still able to accomplish it. Anything acrobatic!  I LOVE to do a variety of flips and LOVE being inverted.  

One word that defines you? Determined

What path would you like aerial to take for you? If my life would ever allow it, I would definitely entertain teaching.  Often throughout my adulthood I've been told I am a good teacher and I think it would be fun to teach others in such a fun, uplifting, and rewarding environment.  In class I get so excited when classmates nail that one move that they've been trying so hard to achieve and to be a part of that process would be beyond rewarding for me.