Early in my performing career, before circus studios studded NYC, my aerial partner and I struck New York training gold. In exchange for the occasional performance, we were allowed to train in a night club space as often as we wanted. It was glorious. The catch? It was cold. Really, really cold. As in no heat at all during a New York City winter cold. There were days when we worked almost entirely on the ground in our puffy coats because it was just too frigid to take to the air. The result? A duo silk act that we performed around the world for years, and a great big bag-o-tricks for keeping warm when the temperature plummets.

Things That Make You Go Brrrrr, and What to Do About Them

Perhaps your training has you climbing the curtains in the great outdoors. Maybe your space has to keep the windows or doors open to encourage air flow. Maybe your space is just drafty, or you’re a Perpetually Cold Person. Whatever the reason, most of us will have to train chilly here and there. Brrrrrrrrr.

• Layer layer layer, like a delicious cake. Don’t be subtle! You can mix and match depending on your apparatus and whatcha like, and take things on and off as you go. I’m Forever Freezing, so you’ll find me in:
  • Leggings topped with sweat pants, socks, & leg warmers (if training in socks is not your jam, experiment with grippy socks or have a pair of fitted slippers to toast your tootsies between turns)
  • Cami tank or leotard, long sleeved thermal tee, and short sleeved tee. Yes, all at once.
  • Fitted sweatshirt and puffy vest (watch for zippers – snaps are preferred for silks)
• Warm up, then DON’T SIT DOWN. Ya’ll make me laugh when you do a good warm up, then collapse between turns. Get your butt up!!! The goal is to get warm and stay warm. Things you can do between turns:
  • Pay close attention to what your coach is saying to other students (chances are pretty great it applies to you as well)
  • Do your PT! If you’ve got some PT you’ve been prescribed, or a set of injury prevention exercises you ought to be doing (and – seriously – we should all be doing our injury prevention exercises), do them between turns.
  • Get a little extra cardio! Run in place, jumping jacks, squats, dance around, you do you.
• If your digits get cold, or if you find yourself dealing with post-training joint soreness, play with adding gloves & hand warmers to the mix. You can buy reusable warmers, or make ones that you can microwave if your space has a zapper. Hold them in your hands between turns, or put them in your gloves. (note: gloves are for between turns – not for use on apparatus)
• Stretch sloooooooowly. I’m a big fan of changing training with the seasons. In summer, I work on increasing flexibility. Spring & fall are for cardio & stamina. Winter is for intense strength training. Know what cold muscles hate? Surprise stretches. Don’t you DARE drop into that split cold (you did do a vigorous warm up, right?). Go slowly and easily, and pay close attention to where your muscles are today.
• Rosin & cotton! Cooler, drier weather means slick-as-snot fabrics. Moistening your hands before applying powdered rosin can help if you feel like you’re trying to climb glass. Save your 1000% lycra leggings for summer – a nice grippy cotton can go a long way towards reducing the slip n’ slide effect.
• Drink heavily! Not that kind. Warm drinks! A lovely tea or something similar in a thermos can warm hands and insides.

In a perfect world, we’d all be training in spaces that maintained an ideal temperature; alas – our world ain’t perfect! Circus people are tough. We train when it’s hot, we train when it’s cold – we adjust our training! Layer up, stuff your pockets with hand warmers, and keep your butt moving. Go forth and stay toasty. Love and pull-ups, Laura