Patience - If aerial wants to teach us anything, it’s patience. If I had a dollar for every time I have had to remind a student that sometimes we don’t master a skill the first day that we try it, I would retire and open a small animal petting zoo. Patience is like confidence’s chill older sister.
If we're being honest with each other, patience isn't the flashiest skill. It's not as exciting as nailing your first big drop or mastering roll-ups but here's the thing, it's the unsung hero of every aerialist's journey and it's the glue that holds your progress together. Without it things can unravel fast, and not in a cute wheel down kind of way.
Why Patience Is So Important
1. Progress Takes Time (Like, A LOT of Time)
Aerial Arts is basically a never-ending process of leveling up. You don’t wake up one morning suddenly able to pull off flawless hip circles or hold a split balance with ease. Nope. It’s all about those tiny, incremental wins—the stuff you don’t notice until one day you’re like, “Wait, I couldn’t do that six months ago!” Patience keeps you showing up, even when progress feels slower than molasses in January.
2. Your Body Has Its Own Timeline
Here’s the deal: your muscles, joints, (cardio) and flexibility don’t care about your calendar. They’ll improve when they’re good and ready—not when you demand it. Pushing too hard, too fast is basically an engraved invitation for injuries. Patience lets you honor your body’s natural rhythm and avoid those sidelining setbacks.
3. The Mental Game Matters
Being patient isn’t just about your body; it’s a major mental flex, too. When you’re kind to yourself and give yourself space to grow, you’re building resilience. And resilience? That’s what keeps you in the game when choreography gets tricky or competitions don’t go your way.
What Happens When You’re Impatient with Yourself
1. Burnout City, Population: You
Impatience can make you push way too hard, way too fast. And guess what? That’s a one-way ticket to burnout. When you’re constantly chasing perfection and beating yourself up for not getting there fast enough, aerial stops being fun. It’s supposed to be fun—don’t let impatience ruin it for you!
2. Injuries Lurking Around the Corner
If you’re always trying to force progress, your body’s going to push back—and not in a good way. Overtraining, ignoring limits, or skipping proper warm-ups because you’re in a rush can lead to strains, sprains, and other painful detours. Patience is what keeps you healthy and in the studio, not stuck on the couch with an ice pack.
3. Impatience is a Dirty Liar
When you’re impatient, every class becomes a test and every mistake feels like a failure. That pesky voice in your heart will inevitably show up and start telling you all sorts of defeatist bs up to and including "maybe you should go back to ballet" or whatever other wretched activity aerial saved you from in the first place. It'll tell you not to try, that there's no point, that waiting 3 months to get your cross back straddle isn't worth it. LIES! The truth is, we can do hard things, and we can be on a path longer than 60 minutes before we give up, but impatience would never admit that.
How to Cultivate Patience (Without Losing Your Mind)
1. Set Realistic Goals
Sure, dreaming big is awesome, but break it down into manageable steps. Celebrate every small milestone—even the ones that feel tiny—because they’re all part of the bigger picture.
2. Embrace the Ugly Duckling Stage
Every aerialist has skills that start out looking… well, awkward (or crotchy or just ugly Aerial Fun). That’s just part of the deal. Laugh at yourself, keep practicing, and trust that it’ll get better. (Because it will!)
3. Find Your Support Squad
Surround yourself with teachers, friends, and fellow aerialists who lift you up. They’ll remind you (in words or by example) that progress isn’t a race and that everyone’s timeline is different.
4. Focus on the Fun
Remember why you started aerial in the first place. Was it to feel alive? Express yourself? Have a blast? Keep that spark alive by focusing on what makes aerial arts joyful for you. End every class or free time with something that makes you feel pretty or strong or accomplished.
Patience might not be the most glamorous part of aerial arts, but it’s definitely one of the most important. It’s what keeps you steady through the ups and downs, protects your body, and makes sure you actually enjoy the process. So next time you’re frustrated about not landing that perfect drop or mastering a tricky combo, take a deep breath and give yourself some grace. After all, every great performer knows that progress isn’t a sprint—it’s a beautifully messy, totally worth-it marathon. Keep going, and don’t forget to have fun along the way!
Comentários