I try to not be an angry person, I generally don’t like feeling that way. But of course, we are people and we live in a society, so there are people and things that I will encounter that will make me want to scream. Some people will take out their anger on a punching bag, and while that seems like a great outlet, I cannot throw a proper punch to save my life. That is where Aerial Dance comes in.

Aerial Dance has become my own personal outlet, one that helps me release pent-up anger in a productive and rewarding way. I have found that it is hard to hold onto my anger when I am physically exhausting myself and trying to focus on not tying myself into a knot on accident. When I am trying to figure out how to get into a new trick, focusing on what made me angry tends to just distract me, causing me to move wrong somewhere in the sequence or forget what I’m doing halfway through. The instructors are always there to assist, but staying focused on what goes where definitely helps.

I could come into class incredibly frustrated from work or family, but sometimes it feels as though as soon as I go upside down, I am unable to think of anything else other than remembering how to breathe. It forces me to be present in the moment. In those moments, my mind is no longer occupied with everything else that’s going wrong in my life. I’m not thinking about my stress at work, my strained relationships, or the little annoyances of the day. I’m solely focused on my body, my movements, and how to get from one position to the next without falling.

The beauty of Aerial Dance lies in its ability to help me release emotions I may not even realize I’m holding onto. It’s not just about learning new tricks or mastering difficult movements; it’s about letting go. By holding on to the aerial apparatus, I am letting go of all the anger and tension I brought with me into the studio. Every twist, turn, and lift releases something I’ve been holding onto, leaving me feeling lighter and more centered by the end of class.

Aerial Dance doesn’t just provide a great physical workout; it offers an emotional release that’s equally important. I’ve learned how to release negative emotions, process them in a productive way, and emerge feeling better. It’s no longer just a physical activity for me; it’s a space where I can truly reconnect with myself, let go of my anger, and find balance.