Running away to the circus

An inelegant mermaid

Last year, I tried a few new things:

1. Floatation tank
2. Stand up paddle boarding
3. Meeting an astronaut

and I thought I'd continue doing that in 2018.  My local arts and innovation centre advertised a circus workshop from Syrcus Cimera so I decided to give it a go and booked it a few weeks before Christmas.

Unfortunately, I've had a cold all week - but figured I might as well go into Bangor for it as it was beginning to clear.

Apart from the instructors, I was roughly double the age and a different gender to the rest of the class - who all seemed to have had some prior experience.  But they were a welcoming bunch.

One interesting feature. There was a higher than average number of left handers and ambidextrous attendees.

The session started a warm up session featuring yoga like stretches, and other activities

My personal favourite from the warm ups was a Simon Says like activity - only you had to do the reverse. So if the instructor said,"jump", you had to touch your toes, and vice versa. 

We were then divided into 3 groups and took it in turns to try out:

• Various types of floor based skills such as juggling and plate spinning. 
• The hoop. Taking in turns to perform various poses on a metal hoop suspended from the ceiling. 
• The trapeze. Mounting and more poses. See picture above. 

Lastly, it finished with a warm down. All of the teachers were confidence inspiring and encouraging.

Reflections

Circus skills although initially intimidating, are a great meta-learning tool. This point wasn't drawn out, but no-one can be naturally good at everything circus skills are often counter intuitive. For example, plate spinning involves turning only your wrist in a circle faster and faster and then stopping.

It is fantastic for improving coordination, gives you physical workout and confidence.  You will come away having made some demonstrable progress in whatever you try.   Lastly, it is a great social activity - you can't help but get to know and support others.

Taking it further

• Syrcus Cimera
• Pagan's Pole