Aerial Acrobatics Finds Footing in the Fitness World

By Lauren McShane

“Lots of people want to run away and join the circus, but we’ve brought the circus to them,” says Phil Servita, owner and instructor of The Flying Squirrel Consortium in Littleton. Servita’s right, many people ~ myself included ~ dreamt about joining the circus, and for those of us not quite ready to give up on that dream, Servita’s studio may be just the place for us. I’m not quite sure what I’m getting myself into. I know it’s exercise, and I know it’s high up. With that knowledge I register for an absolute-beginner-level-whatever-happens-don’t-let-me-fall class.

FSC is the only certified studio in Central MA (Phil went through the teacher training program at New England Center for Circus Arts in Vermont) to offer aerial acrobatics classes for adults, an exciting and artful way to shape up. Aerial acrobatics is exactly what it sounds like ~ performing acrobatic feats in the air ~ and it certainly looks like a workout. So after years of the same old gym regimen, I’m ready for something new.

“It’s definitely the fastest way to build upper body and abdominal strength,” Servita says as my classmates enter and begin warming up. Students learn to climb pieces of fabric that hang between 14 and 17 feet from apparatuses built by Servita. From there, they twist, turn, drop, and keep climbing, building incredible strength as well as flexibility.

The FSC opened in 2008 and resides in The Littleton Mill, just off of 495. The studio features four sets of fabrics as well as two trapeze, all built by Servita, who studied mathematics and engineering in college. In 2004, Servita began taking aerial workshops whenever he could and now performs with his wife in their company, Aerialchemy.

And students are thrilled with Servita’s program, which seems to have drawn every size and shape of person. “You don’t have to be super flexible or that strong at first, we’ll get there,” Servita assures me. Victoria Hoey, who is only on her eighth session, nods in agreement as she begins to climb the fabric to demonstrate a Candy Cane Wrap. Ten-or-so feet up, she carefully divides the fabric and begins weaving her body through it, until one leg is indeed, wrapped up like a candy cane behind her and she balances with Peter Pan-like grace.

Her leg whips over her head at a dizzying speed and seconds later she is back on the ground, reaching a toned arm for her water bottle. “Phil is an amazing teacher,” she says, stretching out as I step up for my turn.

It doesn’t take me long to agree. Over the next hour, Servita talks me through climb techniques, foot wraps, and even the Candy Cane Wrap; I’m dripping sweat, slightly shaky, and at times almost spastic; At one point, finding myself completely tangled I screech, “Now how the hell do I get down?!”

Calmly and methodically, Servita assists and when I’m safely on land, gives me an enthusiastic smile and promises that it will get easier. The final few minutes of class are devoted to abdominal exercises and by the end, we’re all exhausted.

Servita explains that every week we will feel a little stronger. As he says this, his sinewy arms are pulling him to the top of the fabric where he tangles himself, flips upside down, and hangs there…by his feet.

“See you next week?” he asks, still upside down. “Absolutely,” I reply, unable to lift my arm to wave goodbye, but eager to live out my fantasy of having run away with the circus, and get killer abs at the same time.

The Flying Squirrel Consortium
410 Great Road, Littleton, MA
(617)-529-0584, flyingsquirrelconsortium.com