Student of the Month - Pat Hammond - May 2021

Student of the Month
Pat Hammond

 May 2021

When did you start at the studio? 
 I started about 4-5 years ago.

Why did you start? 
My daughter was doing teacher training and needed a few “guinea
pigs” to practice on. So, she invited me and her future mother-in-law to a beginner
hammock class. I wasn’t sure it was for me at the time, but I made it through!

What made you come back and stick with it? 
 AFF offered a hammock class for people 50+, so I decided that might be a sign for me to go back and try it again. My instructor was Janice, who was very patient and encouraging, and I made some nice friends, so I actually stuck with it and started to see steady improvements.

What would you tell someone just starting aerial fitness? 
Try to stick with it, especially if you are a middle-aged person. Try not to get discouraged by younger people who pick up a move that you’ve been trying to do for months the first time they attempt it. If you don’t give up on yourself, you will eventually be doing things that you didn’t even know your body
could do and your mind will be stronger too.

What have been some of your challenges? 
I have poor body awareness and need to practice a new move multiple times to get it in my brain. Unfortunately, I don’t always have the strength and stamina to practice some of the more difficult moves as many times as I need to in order to really “learn” it. This makes my progress slow and frustrating at times, as I think I have “mastered” a move one week, but then lose it or have to go back to tagging
the next week. I also have a terrible memory for what moves are called!

What apparatuses do you train on at the studio? 
Right now, just hammock, but I have enjoyed bungee in the past also.
 
Your favorite pose(s), and why do you like it?
I like Sailboat, Around the World, Cat Stuck in a Tree- I guess I like to rotate (or those may be the only names that I can remember!)
 
One word that defines you? 
Grateful- I am so grateful that I have found a fitness routine that I look forward to doing in an environment where everyone (instructors and fellow students) is encouraging and supportive.

What path would you like aerial to take for you? 
I want to continue to get stronger, healthier, and more flexible throughout my 60’s so that I am able to sit on the floor (and get up!) and play with and chase my future grandchildren.