Sunshine Coast aerial silks studios explain reason for sport boom

Dancing on a sheet of fabric about 10m above the ground might sound scary, but hundreds of people on the Sunshine Coast can’t get enough of it. Find out why.

A unique new workout craze has caught on in the Sunshine Coast as punters take to the skies to get their muscles pumping.

Aerial silks is the newest fitness fad gaining traction in the region as people look for alternatives to traditional gym workouts.

Several Sunshine Coast studios have revealed there are hundreds of children and adults taking up the challenge which involves using your body strength to perform aerial acrobatics up to 10m above the ground while clinging to a fabric sheet suspended from a rig.

Absolute Aerials has been a premium dance, circus, and aerial acrobatic studio in Coolum Beach since 2015, running classes using aerial apparatuses such as silks, hoops and cubes.

Absolute Aerials founder and aerialist Kayleigh Matias, 29, said the sport was rapidly rising in the area, reflected by her annual revenue climbing 15 per cent each year, and students increasing from 30 to 200 since opening.

Absolute Aerials founder and aerialist Kayleigh Matias. Picture: Artistry Photography.

“We’re nearly at capacity for the studio we’re at,” she said.

Mrs Matias said a big factor fuelling the emerging sport was because it was a creative and skilled way to stay fit compared to traditional gyms.

“They’re not just going in and pumping out weights and reps … they’re learning an actual skill that they enjoy,” she said.

Mrs Matias said it was popular among teens and adults as a good hobby for after work or school.

AerialCatz founder Ashleigh O’Brien, 31. Picture: supplied.

AerialCatz along Old Gympie Road, Yandina started in a small shed with two rigs in 2018, but has six rigs today as their student numbers increased.

AerialCatz founder Ashleigh O’Brien, 31, said the sport was booming as it was more enjoyable form of exercise compared to gyms and she said it was empowering and allowed people to constantly learn new moves.

“You don’t feel like you’re working out because it’s so much fun,” she said.

Just Acrobatics director and owner Darren Smith. Picture: supplied.

Sunshine Coast aerial company Just Acrobatics started in 2009 with about three students, but has 700 kids today.

Just Acrobatics director and owner Darren Smith, who also owned aerial company CircStudios, said he agreed the sport was a better option than a gym, but also a way to bond and gain a sense of achievement.

“It’s a very big, growing market,” he said.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast aerial silks studios explain reason for sport boom