Born to Fly Aerial Teacher Programs & Support

It's not often that I get out to lead teacher trainings, so I'm extra excited about the one coming up at the end of next month in Arizona. Still open slots for anyone interested in joining me for an Aerial Silks Teacher Training. Link here for info: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=929904&stype=-102&sView=day&sLoc=0&date=03/31/22

Great job and congratulations to Chrissy Raymond for recently completing her Level 1 Sling Certificate. Her words: "I am so excited about today! Disclaimer this is a long post and the celebration part is at the end of it, but I do hope you read.
Since the start of my Aerial journey in 2018 [aerial] has consumed my life. I hardly believe all the positivity it has brought to my life and the wonderful people I have met along the way. I have been able to incorporate performance back into my life that pushes my creativity. It has transformed my negative thoughts I’ve had towards my body where instead of constantly referring back to the scale and my clothing size as my worth, I now listen to how my body feels and appreciating the small accomplishments. Like not having to strain or focus as much when trying to invert with straight legs. The one thing I have found to enjoy the most was showing my friends the new things that I figured out or learned since our last visit. I started learning about “Why” wrapping a certain way achieved different results and really dove head first into trying to explain that to others. I started realizing that I am really good at it and people wanted to hear what I had to say. It was the first thing in my life that I wasn’t some dumb kid who couldn’t be taken seriously as a professional. I started teaching more of my friends and honing that skill while I quietly worked to get certified as an instructor. Back in December I went to Castle Rock to meet Rebekah Leach and take her teacher training program to further my certification growth. I was so timid and felt so out of place because everyone around me was 5 plus years my senior and seemed so knowledgeable already. Once we got to the day where we were learning about how to invoke exploration within students my soul erupted and I knew this was the way I wanted to teach and what I am supposed to do with my life. After working late nights and most weekends on top of keeping up my performance at my day job I have finally completed my Sling Level 1 certification! I have big “to me” plan coming this year and I cannot wait to update you all as the month progresses.
I want to thank all my friends, my husband, and my students for believing in me, pushing me, and helping me get to this point."

A few weeks ago, I received this email from a teacher-in-training:
"I taught two classes Saturday, a L1 and L2 sling, I have to say that what I have learned from you has completely transformed my classes. It has transformed how it feels to teach (extremely satisfying) and also my students' experience of the class. There was an incredible feeling, especially in the L2 class where students know each other, of coming together, learning from each other, being inspired, and I kind of faded into the background (after my job was done!) Truly inspiring :)"

This amazing feedback came from the person you see pictured here: Jayne Dean. Congratulations Jayne for being the first and only person to complete 100 hours of the Born to Fly Sling Teacher Training Program. (Most people stop at 50, but she went for it!). I am so proud of the work she has completed.

Jayne is owner of CT Aerial Yoga, and if you are noticing how this background is similar to Jessa's from our last teacher-shout-out, you are right in your observation! The two actually met through our program in a crazy serendipitous meeting. Jessa was in the process of moving into Jayne's area and the two were able to connect. How awesome is that?!

Find more information about our teacher training program at www.borntoflyteachers.com

Important topic for teachers to be aware of. Please read this email from AYCO/ACE that was sent out this week:

Dear Community,

Circus should be a safe place for all people: a place of trust, learning, and connection. This means that circus educators, organizations, and schools must hold responsibility for assessing and mitigating many different kinds of risks in order to prevent harm to students and all community members. The American Youth Circus Organization/American Circus Educators Association is committed to supporting our members and the wider circus community in securing physical and emotional safety for all.

As our latest step, we are proud to release a new resource from our Health and Wellness Committee, the AYCO/ACE Ethical Principles of Sexual Abuse and Harassment Prevention https://www.americancircuseducators.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AYCO_ACE-Ethical-Principles-of-Sexual-Harrassment-and-Abuse-Prevention.pdf. This document outlines clearly and specifically what we believe are core truths for reference in developing policy and best practices to prevent sexual abuse and harassment. We hope that this document will be instrumental in helping educators, organizations, and schools to engage seriously and openly in creating a culture of safety, accountability, and best practice in their circus spaces.

The Health & Wellness Committee has been doing vital work for over two years, collecting, creating, and disseminating resources for the community on a variety of topics such as sexual abuse and harassment, disordered eating, concussions, and su***de. Please check out their full resource list of crucial information and links on our website. Our Circus Arts Safety Guidelines and Circus Arts Safety Program are also excellent resources for organizations looking to follow industry best practices.

We all know that this work is ongoing and important, especially evident as incidents involving individuals in the circus community such as Barry Lubin, William Allen, Marcello Marquis, and (just today) Steven Santos continue to be brought to light. We must work together to speak up, take action, and prevent future harm. Thank you to our member organizations, educators, and youth in supporting this work and joining us in the commitment to make every circus space free from abuse and harassment.

With great care,

Tara Jacob
Executive Director

We recognize that sexual abuse and harassment is a difficult topic. If you are feeling in need of immediate support, please call RAINN’s free, confidential 24hr hotline at 800 656 4673 or visit their website at www.rainn.org.

www.americancircuseducators.org

I had the great and wonderful honor of seeing another teacher make it to end of our grueling Born To Fly Teacher Training Program. Yes, I just said grueling because we go through everything to make sure our teachers know what they are doing out there with students. It starts with a teacher training, continues on with teaching under guidance, then culminates in live teaching while receiving feedback on your classes. Congratulations Jessa Audet for making it through our program on not one but Two apparatuses—lyra and sling. I’m so proud of all your hard work.

Catch her teaching now at .aerial (Connecticut).

Jessa reflects: “After years of training at my own, more advanced level, it was refreshing to get back to basics. Learning more about anatomy, progressions and remembering what it is like to be a beginner have made me a more confident coach, and also reestablished my own dedication to foundations in my personal training. Rebekah offers a comprehensive teacher training program and I am thankful I chose Born to Fly. She is a patient and supportive mentor. I learned so much, and had fun doing it!”

Such a great video on a piece of teaching that I love discussing in our teacher trainings. It's such a hard topic for some, but so needed in our culture. https://www.ted.com/talks/adie_delaney_an_aerialist_on_listening_to_your_body_s_signals?fbclid=IwAR14WWoVHFKw6y6n0cK-rEeo5mGEANbkoM_rPZZWfWHGdiWs3nVPvfesCFA -381176

An aerialist on listening to your body's signals In the circus, flying confidently through the air requires consistent communication with your fellow performers. Check out how aerialist and educator Adie Delaney teaches her students about trust and safety on the trapeze -- and provides helpful lessons for navigating everyday life on the ground.