You know that moment when you see someone doing something beautiful — spinning in a hoop, suspended in the air, completely free — and your first thought is: I could never do that? I had that exact same thought. At 33, with years away from any serious movement, and honestly zero aerial experience. And here I am, writing this from Da Nang, where I train aerial hoop every single day. So let me tell you something: you are not too late. You are not too old. You are not too stiff. You just haven’t started yet.
What Even Is Aerial Hoop?
Aerial hoop — also called lyra — is a steel ring suspended from the ceiling that you climb into, hang from, spin on, and create shapes with. It’s part circus art, part dance, part strength training, and entirely its own world. If you’re weighing it against a similar discipline, I wrote a comparison on aerial hoop vs pole dance.
A typical beginner class starts with a warm-up focused on shoulders, core, and grip. Then you learn how to mount the hoop — getting in and out safely. From there, you practice basic poses: sitting in the hoop, a simple knee hang, maybe a tuck. The hoops are hung low for beginners, so you’re never far from the ground.
What surprised me most was that it’s not about being the strongest or the most flexible person in the room. It’s about learning to trust your body — and that’s something completely different. If you’re curious about what training with me looks like, you can check out my movement programme where I guide women through exactly these fundamentals.
Why I Started at 33 (And Why That’s Not Late)
I started ballet when I was three or four. It was my whole world for a long time — and then life happened, and I stepped away from movement for years. When I found my way back through hoop dance at 24, and then aerial hoop at 33, it felt like coming home to something I didn’t know I’d been missing.
By that point, everyone had opinions: “Isn’t that for younger people?” “You’re starting circus arts now?” But here’s the thing — I did my first full split at 30. My side split at 33. Things my body supposedly couldn’t do anymore.
There are pole dancers in their 70s winning competitions. Those are the role models of our time, not the 16-year-old prodigies. The myth that you need to start young is just not true. Your body is more adaptable than you think. You can read more about my journey from ballet to aerial hoop — it’s been anything but a straight line.
What Your First Class Actually Feels Like
I’m not going to pretend it’s all graceful from day one. Your hands will hurt. You’ll get bruises in places you didn’t know could bruise. The inside of your knees will have a personal vendetta against you for about two weeks.
But then there’s this moment — you sit in the hoop for the first time, you let go of the death grip, and something shifts. Your body holds you. You’re up there, and it feels like the world gets quiet for a second.
That’s the moment most of people I coach talk about afterward. Not the tricks, not the flexibility — just that feeling of “wait, my body can do this?” A bit later in the journey, there’s another moment everyone remembers — I wrote about it in your first time upside down at aerial hoop. On my Instagram I share what training actually looks like — the real sessions, the wobbly bits, the small wins, the behind the scenes that don’t make it into a polished video.
If you want to see the visual side of what I do, have a look at my portfolio — it captures the movement and the emotion behind it.
How to Get Started
The beautiful thing about aerial hoop is that you need exactly zero experience to begin. No strength requirements, no flexibility goals to hit first. You show up, you try, you build from there.
Wear fitted leggings and a top that covers your midsection — bare skin on metal is not fun in the beginning, trust me. Remove all jewellery. And definitely go barefoot. For the full wardrobe breakdown, have a look at what to wear to your first aerial hoop class.
I train at M.Pole Aerial here in Da Nang, and if you’re around, you’re welcome to join. But wherever you are in the world, find a studio near you and just book that first class. The hardest part isn’t the hoop — it’s walking through the door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I too old to start aerial hoop?
No. I started at 33 with no aerial background. There are people starting in their 40s, 50s, and beyond. Age is not the barrier — the story you tell yourself about age is.
Do I need to be strong or flexible to start?
Not at all. You build strength and flexibility as you train. Your first class is designed for complete beginners — the hoop does a lot of the work in the beginning. Your job is to show up. If you want to start building flexibility outside of class, I share my daily deep stretching routine — it’s what I do every morning.
Is aerial hoop dangerous for beginners?
Beginner classes use low-hung hoops and focus on safe techniques. You’ll learn proper grip and how to mount and dismount before anything else. Expect some bruises and grip calluses, but serious injuries are rare when you train with a qualified instructor.
What should I wear to my first aerial hoop class?
Fitted leggings, a top that covers your midsection, and bare feet. Avoid loose clothing that can catch on the hoop, and leave all jewellery at home.
Your Body Is Waiting
Look — I know the hesitation. I had it too. The “what if I’m not good enough,” the “what if everyone’s better than me,” the “what if I look ridiculous.” I still have those thoughts sometimes, honestly. But my biggest fear was never embarrassment — it was not doing the things I wanted to do. Just talking about it instead of actually trying.
If something in you is curious about aerial hoop, trust that feeling. You don’t need to rationalise it. Reach out and let’s figure out where you can start — whether that’s here in Da Nang with me, or wherever you are in the world.
