Peter Gold will lead Flying Trapeze: An Adventure in Self-Discovery at The Crossings from April 7–11. He also leads two-hour trapeze experiences through May. Don't miss out!
Staring at the crowd on the ground below me, a familiar feeling began to crawl up my spine. Why on earth am I this high up about to jump down, swing on a bar to do a flip, and get caught in mid-air? Butterflies churned my stomach. The wind whistled as I gripped the bar tightly. In the split-second before I jumped, I remembered the first time I stood this way and how incredible of an experience it was, then and now.
All my life, heights have terrified me. Working at The Crossings, I heard about trapeze classes and easily dismissed them as a fun activity for others. A year later, I met the instructor team and decided to take a leap of faith. I will never forget the sensation crawling in my stomach as I climbed the ladder for the first time. Nervous, excited, unsure, confident—everything rolled together indescribably.
Mentally I trusted the team and knew I was safe, yet I was being stretched beyond my boundaries like I had never expected. Scaling the ladder and jumping off the platform continues to be one of the most challenging things I have ever attempted.
I felt like I was on top of the world, in more ways than one, after that first class. This feeling has continued to grow over the past year as I have flown regularly and has given me confidence that translates daily into other areas of my life.
A class consists of a short talk to introduce the step-by-step progression of the session and the team that will be helping you. Next is an exercise on a low bar to practice getting into the position you will do on the actual trapeze with someone spotting you. Afterwards, the real fun begins as each person gets several turns on the trapeze to practice getting into a basic trick position. At the end, if the timing is done correctly, you get a chance to be caught in mid-air by one of the team's catchers. There is nothing in the world like that experience!
How can something so simple be so empowering? I would love to give you this feeling, but it can only be experienced individually. Whether you are looking for a fun adventure, a way to bond with friends, or want to challenge your horizons, flying trapeze has something to offer everyone. While you are finding your own reason to fly, I'll be doing what I love: flying high and facing fears in my own adventure!