Trapeze School Builds Flexibility, Strength

"How is everyone feeling?"

Anxious students in Manhattan gear up for what could be the most thrilling workout of their lives. Most have run, lifted weights or done aerobics before but this is definitely over their heads.

"Kick forward, backward, forward, let go."

Welcome to trapeze school New York, where adventurous exercisers improve their health and fitness levels by learning to fly on a giant outdoor trapeze.

"Climbing the ladder, great for your body, swinging on a bar, great for your body, learning the coordination, fantastic."

Micheline Beaudry gave the class to her husband, Paul, as a present for his 35th birthday.

"I'm pretty fearless so I'm looking forward to doing it."

"Try to keep your arms straight the whole time."

Students find warming up on the low bar pretty tough.

"It's harder than it looks, really, getting your legs up."

"I had a little trouble getting my legs up over the bar so I'm a little concerned about that."

The workout begins with a 23 foot climb up to the platform. Then students experience the physical challenge and sheer excitement of flying through the air.

Nerves get the best of Micheline.

"I want to get down, I want to get down."

"You do a lot of hanging from the bar, it helps with your flexibility, it makes you get a lot more limber."

"It's more of gymnastics of the balance, so it's more like, I would compare it to taking a dance class."

"Knee hang, ready, up."

It takes coordination to complete the final task. A midair catch.

"I have to catch?"

In all a couple of misses, but many successes.

"While you're doing it I think the excitement far takes over from the doldrums of running and weightlifting."

Excitement he says has people of all ages coming back for more.

"Exhilarating fun, I feel more alive."

"I'm sure I'll wake up tomorrow feeling better than I did today."

This entry last modified on: January 11, 2012 11:29 AM