Student of the Month - Bella Ryan March 2021

Student of the Month
Bella Ryan

March 2021

When did you start at the studio? 
I took my first class at age 9 when my Aunt Gina was a temporary instructor at the studio. I started consistently taking classes when I was 11. I am now 14, turning 15 in April!

Why did you start? 
I took gymnastics at my school from about 3rd-5th grade, but once I switched schools for middle school, I had to find a new physical activity. I had never been sporty so I thought aerial yoga/fitness would be a good option to try again!

What made you come back and stick with it? 
Aerial fitness was something I genuinely enjoyed and found fun!

What would you tell someone just starting aerial fitness? 
It may feel like your progress is slow when you first start and a lot of positions will be uncomfortable and painful, but you need to give your body time to adjust. It WILL get better as you continue doing it!

What have been some of your challenges? 
Wow, so much. I have improved a ton since I first started and I have overcome a lot. I think a big one is pinching in the fabric— I remember when I started taking level 2-3 classes with Karly, almost every move felt pinchy and painful. Since then, I have managed to just about master her whole lesson plan with much more comfortability in the fabric. When almost every move felt pinchy, now it is just an occasional feeling that usually happens when I get the fabric on the wrong place.

What apparatuses do you train on at the studio? 
Just hammock! I have tried lyra, bungee, and silks as well but have not kept up with any of them.

Your favorite pose(s), and why do you like it?
Hmm I can’t really think of a favorite pose, but I do like doing flip-flops, which is inverting into a hip hang, moving the fabric down to your calves, and bringing your legs back and forth above your head while keeping your upper body grounded. I worked on these a lot with Karly when we did virtual classes during quarantine and I made a lot of progress with them! They make me feel strong.

One word that defines you? 
I would say committed. I don’t focus on many hobbies/skills—mainly flute and aerial fitness —but I’ve been doing both for a while and I work on them a lot!

What path would you like aerial to take for you? 
I want to proceed to the highest level possible and get as strong as I can along the way!