Not so routine

It's a Monday evening at True Balance Studio in Baltimore's Mount Vernon neighborhood, and a handful of students are hanging out in the loft-style exercise facility. Literally.

As in hanging upside down, suspended midair, doing splits and other daring feats. And all while their arms, feet and assorted body parts are intertwined with two long swaths of black, silky fabric, rigged up from the 12- to 15-foot ceiling. A few thin mats are situated underneath.

"Pull your abs in, tuck your pelvis," said instructor Mark Harding, encouraging beginning student Lauren Butkiewicz, who's hoisted herself into an aerial seated position, with legs extended and toes pointed. To more advanced student Guido DiSalvo, Harding compliments the graceful lines of his 5-foot-11 frame as he sways midair.

"Beautiful," he said.

Imagine Cirque du Soleil minus the costumes and choreography and in a gym setting instead of a theater, and you have some idea of the look and feel of aerial conditioning. This form of exercise, popular in Europe and gaining more fans in the U.S., borrows the artistry and athleticism of circus acrobats to build the body's strength, control and flexibility.

It's one of several hip fitness trends that have cropped up in recent years nationwide and in and around Baltimore, and is aimed at giving those who work out new and unique exercise options. Studies have shown that nearly half of the people who start an exercise program quit within six months, and many experts say monotony can be a factor.

"People are constantly changing their regimen; otherwise you lose interest," said Ali True, 33, who worked locally for Merritt athletic clubs and as a celebrity trainer in Los Angeles before launching the studio a year and a half ago.

Its offerings range from yoga to hip-hop dance and martial arts classes, all taught by credentialed instructors. True, who holds a degree in exercise physiology from Temple University and multiple certifications, believes her studio is among the first in the city to offer aerial conditioning.

"There's nothing wrong with going to the gym and getting on the treadmill, but this is something different," said Butkiewicz, 25, a Cockeysville resident who works at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. "I enjoy it."

"You're up there in the air, using silks, so it's definitely interesting," adds DiSalvo, 30. "It's great conditioning for the back muscles and triceps," said the federal computer programmer. "I plan to make this a regular thing."

Harding, a lifelong gymnast and professional acrobat who trained at what's now the New England Center for Circus Arts in Vermont, is eager to convert more aerial conditioning enthusiasts.

"You can do 50 sit-ups in a row, or you can do something to freshen up your routine and still get a full body workout," he said, noting that classes include a warm-up, floor stretching, strength training and individualized instruction.

"It's a surprising workout, because you are completely suspended in the air and have to use your arms, feet and core to support yourself. There's definitely no cheating 'cause there's nowhere to go but down," he said. "I've seen people who are afraid of heights challenge their fears and try. ... You have to use your mental capacity to get through it."

Nationally recognized fitness guru Patricia Moreno, who teaches at the prestigious Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York City and has partnerships with Nike and Reebok, also believes the mind-body balance is key to long-term health and wellness.

About seven years ago, the elite instructor created intenSati (pronounced inten-Sah-tee), a word derived from the Buddhist term associated with "mindfulness." The high-energy, cardio workout blends yoga, sculpting exercises and martial arts, with positive spoken affirmations.

"I've been teaching classes for years and began to feel like I needed a better, more inspiring way to motivate my students," said Moreno. "They weren't connecting on a deeper level with what they were doing, so the results weren't always sustainable."

Drawing on her own journey as a 212-pound teenager, Moreno chose a fitness path that evolved into teaching yoga and becoming a life coach. Eventually, she merged the two disciplines with group fitness, which laid the groundwork for intenSati.

Designed to inspire physical, mental and spiritual transformation, it's timely in an era where best-selling books like The Secret promote metaphysical practices as a way to achieve certain goals, Moreno said.

"The moves, like lunges, aren't complicated or overly technical. Anyone can do them," she said.

For every action, there is an accompanying affirmation: For instance, while doing arm circles, students may whisper, "I am so grateful."

Related topic galleries: Clubs and Associations, People, Yoga, Dancing, Teen-agers, Dance, Nike Incorporated

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