Each year, I eagerly await the first really humid day of spring: my hair in a spectacular frizzy halo around my head, the assorted smells of NYC that whack you like a sledgehammer when you step outside, and the cries of my new students when they realize how sticky-burn-y-damp-and-stinky the fabrics get in spring & summah-time. JOY! So what’s great about it, what sucks about it, and what do you DO about it? Settle in for some hot, sweaty magic.

The Effects of Humidity on Apparatus and on You

• Apparatus is slightly damp (and kinda stinky – so awesome)
• Big friction – you just don’t slide and glide like you do when it’s cooler, so watch for friction burns
• Eeeeeeeeeeverything sticks to all the parts of your body you don’t need them to stick to, but you can’t get a good bar grip because you’re too darned sweaty
• If it’s really hot, you are at risk for heat exhaustion or heat stroke

The upside? You won’t need as much sticky stuff (if any) on fabrics since they’re like flypaper, and your muscles get nice and noodly which is great for flexibility work. During the dog days of summer, we call it Bikram Silks or Sauna Silks. Cause it’s like that.

How to Safely and (Relatively) Comfortably Dangle in the Tropics

• Drink loooooooooooooots of water (easy on sugar). Heat exhaustion/stroke sneaks up on you fast. If you begin feeling sick, dizzy, or stop perspiring, get into AC fast. During your class, make sure you take frequent breaks to stand in front of a fan and get that body temp down.
• Cover up! It seems counter-intuitive, but making sure your body is properly covered will make you way more comfortable – mainly because you won’t be leaving little bits of yourself on the apparatus (eeeeeew, but that’s what happens!).
• If you’re working partnering, tape your wrists and use sticky stuff as necessary.
• Remember your deodorant – those fabrics can’t stay fresh as a daisy without your help! OK – they won’t be fresh as a daisy anyway, but there’s no reason to add to it! It’s shared equipment, people.
• Stretch carefully – noodley muscles can get hyper-flexible, encouraging you to overstretch. Watch those hamstrings while you’re working splits!

You may find that you LOVE working in heat (many aerialists do!). Always work with an eye towards safety and comfort, and you’ll be sittin’ sweaty pretty. Love and pull-ups, Laura

As always, if you like this post, share it on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, and wherever else you crazy kids are posting things these days!