Student of the Month
Chris Funk
July 2021
When and Why did you start?
January 2020. I've always been interested in aerial but was afraid to go outside of my comfort zone. My boyfriend got me a class card for Christmas that year to help encourage me and I've been hooked ever since!
What made you come back and stick with it?
I stuck with aerial because I left every class feeling strong and proud that I could do things I never imagined I would be able to do. It has given me a lot of confidence and has been a great way for me to exercise and build a lot of strength while having a lot of fun. I also really loved the fun and encouraging environment and how everyone roots for each other.
What would you tell someone just starting aerial fitness?
For someone just starting, I would say be patient with yourself and try not to compare your progress to other students. Those are both things I struggled a lot with, but everyone is so different and everyone has their unique strengths. It's important to focus on yourself and what you can do and go from there. It makes it that much more rewarding when you finally are able to do something you have been struggling with.
What have been some of your challenges?
As many people at the studio know, my nemesis for a long time was cat stuck in a tree because I had trouble keeping my hips up. I still struggle with keeping my hips up in some moves, but I've gotten a lot better with it. Other than that, my biggest challenge is probably remembering how to get into more complicated poses and remembering longer flows. It takes a while for me to build muscle memory so I have to be patient with myself when it comes to that.
What apparatuses do you train on at the studio?
I started with hammock and it is still my main apparatus, but I started taking Lyra classes a few months ago which has been a fun challenge.
Your favorite pose(s), and why do you like it?
I really like horse because there's a lot you can do from there. Other than that I love anything involving flips because they're so much fun. I also love sleeping bear for relaxation and heron and sloth for stretching.
One word that defines you?
Determined. I can be very stubborn when I don't get something on the first try and won't rest until I get it. That's actually something I've had to work on because sometimes you need to have patience and give yourself a break so you don't wear yourself out.
What path would you like aerial to take for you?
I always want to have aerial as a hobby, and maybe one day I would like to get certified to teach classes. I would love to have a home rig one day so I can practice more often and come up with my own flows.
Editor Note: Chris recently announced that she has accepted an amazing out of state opportunity. While she will no longer be able to be a weekly regular at the studio, she will ALWAYS be a part of our aerial family and has promised to come back at every chance she gets. Join us in wishing her well on this next adventure!
