The hardest part of my aerial education has been getting over my fear of heights. Strength hasn't been much of a problem, not that I don't need to get stronger, but it's easy to build muscle. If there's a move I'm working on but not strong enough, I just keep working and exercising until it happens. My fear of heights surprisingly didn't bother me that much when I began to learn the silks a year ago. It wasn't until I started learning drops that my pesky survival instincts - you know, the ones that tell you it's a bad idea to willingly let yourself plummet head first toward the ground from 15 ft - started to be an issue. It sometimes takes me weeks of going up into the drop and just sitting there and slowly backing myself down before I can let go. Once I finally do it, I have no trouble doing it again - it's just that first time. No matter how much I want to, and know I can - my body will not listen to my mind and allow my hands to loosen.
In any case, I've been working on the High Angel/Low Angel drop (aka crucifix drop) for about 2 months. Going up into the balance at the top every time I'm in the studio, but unable to let go. I finally let myself plummet head first to the ground and trust that the silks would catch me. In honor of this moment, I drew this comic.
This is a video of me doing an admitedly sloppy High Angel/Low Angel during a workout session.
This is a video of me doing an admitedly sloppy High Angel/Low Angel during a workout session.
