Sunday, June 2, 2013

Trapezing, parading, and furry creatures (oh my!)

Erin has been taking trapeze classes for a few months, and I've always gawked at the pictures from her amazing aerial stunts.  So a few weeks ago when Erin asked if anyone would be interested in going to a trapeze class with her, I jumped at the chance.  I am all about trying new things when given the opportunity!

Last Friday I joined Erin for my first-ever trapeze class from Trapeze School of New York-Chicago.  They have both an indoor and outdoor location.  Given that it is after Memorial Day I couldn't resist going to their outdoor classroom at Belmont Harbor. 

I stole this photo from Kelsey, who also attended a trapeze class with Erin

I thought that newbies such as myself would be moved through the equivalent of the bunny hill at a ski resort, but not the case!  Right away you are getting safety harnesses and belts wrapped and strapped around you, given a whirlwind of instruction, and climbing up a tall ladder to the platform.  I was feeling pretty confident until I got to the platform and looked down.  That was when the magnitude of what I was doing really hit me.

For me, the hardest part was when you are getting set to jump and you have one hand on the bar, but then have to reach out with your other hand to grab the bar.  Here's a picture of me at one of those moments.  (All of the trapeze photos are courtesy of Erin's husband, Jason.)



The bar and rope are quite taut.  Therefore, I feared I would miss grabbing the bar with my other hand and then be pulled off of the platform from my right hand and go tumbling into the net face first.  They do have someone there holding you for security, but it's still scary.

It was also scary jumping off the platform and feeling the free-falling sensation for those first few moments.  They have instructors down at ground-level shouting instructions at you the whole time, too.  The combination of trying to focus on what you were doing on the trapeze and fighting against your screaming muscles while simultaneously listening to the instructions was quite challenging!

The trapeze moves turned out to be both easier than expected, as well as harder than expected.  I learned how much the moves are about timing and momentum, rather than about physical strength (although physical strength was definitely a HUGE factor, too).  But right away we were hanging from our knees and doing flips and catches.  It was exhilarating but also very tiring!

Here are a few more pictures:







During class, my hands, arms, and back were burning from the exertion.  Even today, almost 48 hours after trapeze class, pretty much my entire upper body is sore, including my abs and my neck.  It is quite a workout!

I have so much more respect now for the trapeze artists that you see at the circus or at aerial shows like Cirque do Soleil.  They make trapeze look so easy when it so, so, SO challenging.  WOW.

All in all, I am very glad that I tried trapeze (thanks again, Erin!)  The jury is still out on whether or now I would ever do it again, though (as I slunk around the house in a state of post-apocalyptic and near-paralytic soreness.)  Clearly I would have some body-building that I would want to focus on first.



Moving on to other fun parts of the weekend!  Yesterday I joined Kim, Xaarlin, and Xaarlin's dog CB at the Chicago Veggie Pride Festival and Parade.  Kelsey came by to say hello, too.  (Admittedly I am not a vegetarian, but I very much support those that are and I like going meatless a few times a week.)  We had a great time hanging out and catching up.

A life-size cat costume may have been involved.

Top from L to R: Kelsey, Kim (incognito as a cat), me, and Xaarlin.
Bottom: Xaarlin's dog CB

Here's a great split-image photo which looks like it could have been Photoshopped, but really hasn't.

L to R: Kelsey (wearing the cat head), and Kim (wearing the cat body)

Pretty cool, eh?

OK, that's enough adventurousness to last a weekend or two.  I'm off to lay on the couch for the rest of the day.

Happy Sunday to all!

16 comments:

  1. The veggie fest looks fun! like you, not a vegetarian, but I don't focus my meals around having meat anymore and am content without meat for most of my meals.

    And those trapeze photos look like a blast! I always see the signs, but have never seen it. If your career as a runner doesn't pan out, you can always start a traveling trapeze act!

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    1. The Veggie Fast was a great time! If you have no plans next year, definitely come by and check it out. I think you would enjoy it!

      The trapeze class is definitely not for the faint of heart! What is funny, though, was that they said that most of the trapeze class staff were those that tried trapeze for the first time, got hooked (literally and figuratively), and never left! I have a lot of work to do before I get to that point, though, LOL.

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  2. One of these days I really want to try the trapeze class...but I'm not sure whether or not I'd be terrified!

    (and I'm sorry for all my typos today. I wish they let you edit comments. geesh)

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    1. Bobbi, I won't kid you. It takes some gumption to do it. But I think it's definitely worth trying at least once! And even if you don't try it yourself, you gotta see Erin doing it live - she is becoming quite the aerial pro!!!

      I wish they let us edit comments, too!!! Grrrr!

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  3. Thank you for coming out to try trapeze with me! Don't worry, I'm still a bit sore, too. That class was a workout for sure.

    And I hope Kim does a post about being the cat suit person all day! Too funny!

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    1. I was only in the costume for a little bit of time, just goofing off :)

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    2. Erin, you are such a natural when it comes to trapeze. Seriously - you are incredible! Maybe you were an acrobat artist in a former life!?!?!?

      Kim - that cat costume is CLASSIC. It makes me smile every time I see those pictures. =)

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  4. Emily, you are awesome! I would have been shaking in my boots reaching out for that trapeze bar. But in the pictures (which came out great!) you look like a pro! Even if you don't ever do it again, good on you for getting out there and taking the plunge - or should I say leap?

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    1. Thanks so much, Amy! And the nice thing about photos is that they only capture a moment in time so you can't quite tell that I WAS shaking in my boots. ;) And yes, love the word play on plunges versus leaps. =D

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  5. Are you less sore now from trapeze?! I hope so! :) It looks like you did really well in the pics! And you were even able to do a catch!!! I say... success! :)

    It is interesting how it's mostly about timing (at least, with what they let the first timers do!). I wonder how much strength comes in to play as you try harder moves.

    Thanks so much for coming to the parade! :) You should tell me more about going meatless a few times a week!

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    1. Yesterday was really tough. I literally had trouble getting out of bed! Thankfully a long and very hot shower helped a lot. I'm feeling much better today. =) And it sounds like you had quite the success when you trapezed, yourself!!! Would you do it again?!?!?

      I had such a great time at the parade on Saturday - we'll definitely plan on doing it again next year! And yes, let's talk sometime about my meatlessness a few times a week (I would do it more than that, but Adam is quite carnivorous which makes it tougher.)

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    2. Yeah! I would like to try it again when I have more time (when I am done studying and hopefully, passing that exam).

      Ha ha ha. I have heard a lot of wives say that! Yes, we'll chat more :)

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  6. Several years ago I did the trapeze lessons in Washington DC. Your post brought the fun, the thrills and the terror back to me. Thanks for the memories.

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    1. Oooh, trapeze classes in DC, eh? Would you ever take more trapeze classes? They do give you quite a rush! I am not sure if knowing what to expect would make it easier or harder to go back and do it again!?!?!?

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  7. Wow, I am amazed at the trapeze classes. Looks like fun but I would have definitely slipped. One of the things I want to do is sky dive. Not sure when I'll have the guts to do it.

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    1. Ooooh, skydiving. That is one of the items on my list of life's to-do's, too! From the ground I am excited about the idea of skydiving... but once I was up in an airplane looking down, it would be at THAT moment that I would be completely petrified!!!

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