Aerial hoop and pike mounts

[elpaso]

Just wondering if any of you lovely lot have any experience with aerial hoop that could offer any advice? Despite being fairly strong and flexible I'm really, really struggling with my pike mounts. I can hold myself in the pike position with no problems once I've been hoisted up, it's just actually getting up there in the first place. Everyone else in my class seems to be able to do it with ease! Any tips/exercises I could do?

Hi elpaso! Another hooper here!

I too struggle with pike mounts and seem to be the only one in my class, same with silks which I have been doing longer. I seem to struggle to invert and get the trunk of my body upside down. Teacher and other students keep telling me this is more mental as I am more than likely strong enough.

Google "Fliers of the Circus" it is an aerials forum on Reddit, there is loads of helpful advice on there.

I have been doing lots of conditioning under the hoop and on my pull up bar at home. Tucking knees into my chest, trying to pull up with legs straight out as these movements use the really low abdominal muscles you need for the movement. I am getting close but not there yet.

Also check out Unique Aeralists on YouTube she has a good few vids for conditioning for pikes and straddles. Robyn is good at explaining things and shows the movement from different angles and also gives progression movements too.

I think it is just a case of keep trying and you will get there in the end, also I know it is hard but dont compare yourself to others. You are on your own journey and they are on theirs. The main thing is that you have fun :)

Thankyou so much for the words of encouragement and for the tips. Have just checked out the Reddit forum - lots of good advice there too.
I am thinking of going to a silks class too - it it harder/eaiser? Or just different?

No problem, I think as newbies we get fixated on not being able to do one thing instead of enjoying all the things we CAN do. I realised this after 7 months of silks and still not being able to do the crossback strtaddle. It'll come, in the meantime I just enjoy learning the different ways to get into it :)

With regards to silks it is hard, rewarding and if you already have some of your aerial muscles from hoop you may find it a bit easier than I did. I went into if with no upper body strength at all and really struggled. BUT my teacher is fab and always gives easier options if you prefer. It just takes time. Some people have the strength and flexability straight away, others like me seem to remember the wraps easily enough it's just the strength in doing them that is the issue but it all comes with time (and watching lots of you tube for tips).

I started hoop this year because it looked fun and I wanted to supplement my silks training with another form of aerial so chose hoop. I love both BUT I think silks is my first love :)

I look forward to my classes each week so I know this is the right form of exercise for me :)

Yes I think that's half the battle isn't it? Actually enjoying yourself - my class is on a Saturday morning and I find myself leaping enthusiastically out of bed in anticipation!

I've just booked myself into a beginners silks class for next Thursday - I shall report back here! Would love to try the trapeze too...

I'm the same. Love my classes so much. I'm stuck at home with the flu at the moment so can't move much let alone trying to haul my own butt over my head
Hope you enjoy silks. I really love it the moves are so pretty when you get them right.

I started hoop since January and really struggle with the straddle to get on the hoop. One thing I noticed watching other people is making sure you lean back and look back to help the momentum of tipping your hips up. Can you get on fine with the one leg hook into a delilah? I would certainly say from doing the straddle it's not so much upper body strength but more core. Our instructor makes us go into a straddle and slowly lower our feet back onto the floor to really work our core!

Hi, yes can do the one leg hook into a delilah. It's just so frustrating when people swan in and can do it first time! Also struggle with the straddle. Have been doing lots of conditioning under my pull up bar but still can't seem to get the momentum right

I agree! I have no dance or gymnastic background which I think really helps with hoop! I still love doing it, just need to keep at it and build up the strength! Mind you I see some girls who are so thin and yet are able to pull themselves up in straddles and wonder where they get their strength from as I'm flailing to get up! 😂

I can do the one leg Delilah entry but can't do like or straddle. I have a feeling I'm not getting my head back - think I'm trying to look at my feet going past the hoop without really meaning to. Going to focus on not doing that in my next class.

24juniper I assume the thin ones are lighter so have a better power to weight ratio.

I have too much weight and not enough power

I had two hoop lessons this week and a different teacher for one.

She told me to go from Delilah to hocks, put your hands in the middle and try and do a bent leg straddle from there. So legs bent until they are over your head then extend.

I was sooo close!

I think another few goes this way then I will be able to do it and know what it feels like then maybe start to be able to do it from the floor.

I have piked on the silks but only by driving upwards, hooking my foot on and going up into a needle then down into a pike.

I will get there one day, in the meantime I will keep trying :)

It's so difficult isn't it? I think one of the problems is that I was never actually shown the mechanics of piking into the hoop. At the moment I'm just catching my feet at the bottom of the then flipping my hoop then flipping myself over if that makes sense. Not very dignified or pretty!

Erm...just read back over my last post...allow me to clatify!

At the moment I am just catching my feet at the bottom of the hoop, then flipping myself over into a pike...hope that makes a bit more sense!

That is also how I got into pike. When my instructor showed me she is able to tuck her legs under the hoop into pike! Clearly I need to work on my conditioning! 🙈

Me and you both!

Aerial hoop looks so easy, but it really isn't :(

Just had to share - managed my very first straddle on the hoop!