Flying Through The Air

So quite the unusual circumstances fell into my lap. I live near Manhattan and along the Hudson River is The Trapeze School. A friend of mine and her mother signed up for a class and I thought "what the hell". Now, before you go "big deal" let me just share that I'm deathly afraid of heights. Up until a few years ago I couldn't walk next to the balcony on the second floor of the mall without getting sweaty palms ans serious anxiety - that kind of fear of heights.

I always felt like this fear was extremely debilitating to my life. There were so many things that I would like to do but if it involved heights in any way shape or form I say hell no. So I figure what better way to get over this fear then to climb up twenty feet and swing from a tiny ass bar. Okay, maybe there are better ways but if you're going to climb the mountain, climb the mountain is what I say.

So I was a member of our 8pm class and got there early to watch the prior class. What I noticed was that each person climbed the ladder confidently then when they got on the platform they hesitated their first time after that everyone seemed to be all in. So I figured it can't be that bad if everyone is so gung ho after their first go. So, I patiently waited for my class to begin and watched each and every person go up and try their best to swing, throw their knees over the bar, let go and swing in the air. I thought, it can't be that hard.

At the start of class they explain to us the stance to take on the platform (hips forward, shoulders forward, butt tucked under) then they take us to a practice bar to teach us how to tuck our legs over the bar and how to hang and arch our backs. That part was hard by the way - we are all reassured that the momentum when we were flying would make it much easier. At this point I was getting quite nervous and basically decided I would go second so I could get my first run over. Climbing the ladder I just kept telling myself not to look down and to grip each rung as tightly as possible. When I got to the top I got hooked into a harnass and was told to turn put my toes at the edge of the platform and I got my first look over. How I was the only one to exclain "HOLY CRAP" I don't know. Regardless, you are then to hang out into nothingness with this person on the platform holding onto your harnass while you attempt to get your hands on the trapeze bar. This was terrifying because it feels like you are just going to fall to your death. Reaching out to grab the bar my legs were shaking so badly I thought they would just collapse. I finally got a hold of the bar and let go and put both hands on the bar (also scary). The platform guy then directs you to jump by saying "hep" - folks that poor kid said "hep" about 10 times. Finally I jumped. And wow. You're free. You're safe. And its amazing. I did my little trick and landed softly in the net. I felt like I sat there for 5 minutes I couldn't stop shaking and I couldn't believe I had just done that.

Well I went a few more times and by my third time up I had my heart beating strong in my chest and sweaty palms but it was all very light on fear. So I've decided to go a few more times to get over my fear of heights.

This particular session that I attended was sponsored by an Interfaith group and I felt so much comarderie with all of these people and the Reverand running it shared with me that he had been terrified of heights and after doing the trapeze school a few times he got over it. He also gave to each one of us at the end of the class a little saying that read:

When you have come to the edge of all the light you know
and you are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown
FAITH
is knowing that one of two things will happen
There will be a net to catch you or you will be taught to fly

This class renewed and energized my faith. They also have Trapeze Schools in Baltimore & Boston - if anyone lives near one of these schools I strongly recommend you drop in for a lesson. Its 2 hours that are truly life altering.