Aerial | Brass Vixens - Class Pass Free Trial
I signed up for a Class Pass Free Trial and got to try five different fitness classes for free! Learn more about Class Pass here.
One of the fitness classes I wanted to try on my Class Pass Trial was Aerial. Seeing videos of people hanging from ribbons upside down was intriguing for me. One of the studios that offered Aerial classes was Brass Vixens, located at 721 Queen St W #202, Toronto, ON M6J 1E6. This studio is probably more known for their pole dancing classes, but they offer quite a few different fitness classes.
Aerial 1 is their beginner course and is taught in their basement unit. Despite being in an older downtown building, their studio is very clean and spacious. I really enjoyed the calming music and lighting that this class had.
To start the class, everyone grabbed a hammock and straps and brought them in front of the mirror. The hammocks were made from recycled parachute, meaning there is no stretch in them. When bunched up they added pressure on you, but I felt the lack of stretch helped you feel more stable.
Sharmeen was our instructor. She did a good job explaining the moves and made sure to watch us through the class to correct us and help us into the different moves. She is also very watchful to make sure you don’t fall. Along the ceiling were 8 sets of “daisy chains” which have loops of different heights that you hang your hammock and straps on. The class holds up to 8 students but we only had 6 in our class.
This class was practically a yoga class but with a different apparatus to allow you to obtain different stretches. The overall vibe of the class was very calming and there was a lot of time to sit into moves and really get a stretch. The beginning half of the class was spent doing moves at a lower height where your feet or arms touched the ground. Later in the class you would change the height of your hammock and start doing stretches that involved you hanging upside down from your waist or your legs.
The class overall was a good for unwinding and relaxing. The upside-down moves really help you decompress your spine and the class was ended with Shavasana (corpse pose) in a cocoon made by your hammock. This was like a little nap session where you got to focus on breathing and being in the moment.
If you are afraid of heights or can’t trust letting yourself “fall”, this class probably will be difficult for you. There is no judgement and you’re free to opt out of moves, but to make the most out of it, you have to go in with a little bravery. Once you get over the little hump and let your self fall into the moves it was a satisfying feeling to be able to just hang in the air with your hands free.
Ratings:
Enjoyment - 8/10
I enjoyed the vibes. I definitely needed the stretch and unwind and I really enjoyed just hanging around and learning some new tricks. I dowish I got to learn more complex moves. The class size was also very comfortable for a beginner class so you can ask for help if needed.
Difficulty/Intensity - 3/10
The hardest part of the class was just getting over the hump of letting go of your hammock, leaning back and trusting you wont fall. You may have some difficulty with arm and leg placements if you’re not flexible, but the class was easy to follow. and beginner friendly. If you’re looking for something high intensity, this is not it. If you’re looking for relaxing, then you’ll enjoy it.
Facilities - 9/10
The studio is clean and all the staff were welcoming. They have a no shoes policy to keep their floors nice and clean. Our instructor was also good and made the class enjoyable. You do have to go upstairs to check in and sign a waiver then walk outside the studio to their basement studio which is a strange set up.
Location - 7/10
It is located in by Trinity Bellwoods which is a popular downtown area. If you’re commuting by TTC, there should be plenty of routes to get you here. It may require a streetcar and a walk. If you’re traveling by car, finding available parking may be difficult, it will also be paid parking. Street parking on Queen is only available after 7pm on evenings, so you will need to find a lot depending on your class time. (We got a ticket for parking here 8 minutes before 7pm. Beware!)
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