FAQ
1. Are there prerequisites to taking an aerial class? How about age or weight limits?
There are no prerequisites to taking an aerial class, and we do not have weight, fitness, or age limits for adults (ages 16+)! Kids who have successfully completed kindergarten and up are welcome in our Youth and Teen classes, and we offer Private Lessons for children under 6.
2. How do I get started?
We recommend trying our Intro to Aerials Drop-In Class to get a taste of different aerial apparatuses. After you get a feel for which apparatus (or apparatuses) interest you most, sign up for one of our Level 1 classes. These five week Series Classes teach foundational aerial skills and give you a good idea of what working with a particular apparatus is like. Expect to take each Level of Series Class multiple times to become proficient in the curriculum.
3. What should I wear and bring to class?
For your first class, we recommend wearing close-fitting workout clothes that cover the armpits and backs of the knees. Yoga pants/leggings and a T-shirt would be an appropriate outfit. We are currently requiring all vaccinated and unverified people inside our studio space to wear a well-fitting face mask.
Do not wear jeans, or any other clothing with metal or sharp elements. Do not bring any glass into the studio. We generally work in bare feet, so be prepared to take off your shoes!
Make sure to come hydrated, and it’s a great idea to bring a water bottle. Due to current COVID-19 precautions we are taking around the studio, the fewer items you can bring into the studio, the better.
Class-Specific Clothing Recommendations
Aerial Classes: We recommend wearing close-fitting workout clothes that cover the underarms and backs of the knees. Yoga pants or leggings and a T-shirt would be an appropriate outfit.
Pole Classes: We recommend wearing short shorts, a sports bra or tank top, and bringing socks or leg warmers. Skin contact with the pole is important for many moves, so keep that in mind.
Harness/Bungee Classes: We recommend wearing leggings or close-fitting pants/shorts (biking shorts are great) and full-bottomed underwear that will stay in place and keep you aligned. Some people prefer wearing two layers for extra cushioning (such as biking shorts with pants over or under).
Burlesque Classes: Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable, but avoid jeans or clothing with metal or sharp elements.
Dance Classes: Wear comfortable clothing, avoiding jeans or clothing with metal or sharp elements. Many dance styles benefit from being able to see the line of your body. Some dance classes have specific shoe recommendations, so check the description a/o ask Front Desk if you’re unsure.
4. Can I arrive early for my scheduled class?
We ask that you try not to arrive more than 15 minutes before your scheduled class, unless you are attending a workshop that has requested you arrive early for your own warmup. Please allow time to locate parking on site, which can take extra time at peak hours. If you arrive 10 minutes or more after the start of your class, you will not be allowed to join the class, for your safety and the safety of the other students, but you may sit and watch.
5. What are the class sizes and lengths?
Our Series Classes run 75 minutes and have as few as three or as many as six students. Most of our Drop-In Classes run one hour, except Intro to Aerials which goes for 75 minutes. Our Drop-In Classes may have anywhere from two to eight students.
6. How much time in advance do I need to sign up for a class?
It is best to register as far in advance as possible, to ensure that you have the spot you want. Some of our classes get booked up weeks in advance. E-mail frontdesk@skycandyaustin.com if you’re having trouble registering!
7. How do I register and pay for a class?
You can use our website! Check on either our New Students or Returning Students pages for Adult classes and our Youth & Teen Program page for Youth & Teen classes.
8. Can I bring a guest?
We allow non-participating guests (such as the parents of youth students or people providing rides to our students) to wait in our Student Lounge area while our students take classes or private lessons, use point rentals, or practice during Open Studios. We do however encourage these guests to take advantage of the other services in Springdale General while they wait–such as Zhi Tea, Caffé Medici, Julie Myrtille Bakery, Uroko, and The Front Page–in order to save space in the studio during busy times and help keep students focused on their work.
9. What is your refund policy?
In cases where students have given us sufficient notice (see here for more details), we can offer an account credit for the amount paid that can be applied to future classes.
If you have a COVID-related absence, either because of symptoms, a positive test, or close exposure, please get in touch with our Front Desk team to inquire about refund options.
If we need to cancel a class, due to underenrollment or teacher unavailability, we will either refund the amount in the original form of payment or convert the amount into account credit, at the purchaser’s preference. Please see below for more details about our refund policies.
10. What if a class is full?
Drop-In Classes should have a button to add yourself to the waitlist for that class. For Series Classes and Workshops, please contact Front Desk to have you added to the waitlist for that class or workshop. Joining the waitlist not only potentially lets you join the class or workshop in case of a cancellation, but it also lets us know if a class or workshop is popular enough to warrant additional scheduling.
11. If I miss a Series class, can I make up the class later, or attend another class instead?
We do not offer make-up classes for missed Series Classes, except in the event that the class was cancelled by the teacher or by Sky Candy. Students must attend the Series Class(es) for which they registered. Students who wish to make up missed material can book a 30-minute Catch-up Private Lesson with their instructor.
12. Do you sell gift cards?
Yes! You can get your Sky Candy gift cards here. They expire 5 years from date of purchase, and may be used to purchase goods and services (except for other gift cards) and may not be redeemed for cash.
13. Can I bring my dog?
Unfortunately, no. As much as we love having furry friends around, their presence just doesn’t make sense in a busy, workout setting, particularly one with the safety considerations that our studio has. At this time, only Sky Candy staff may bring their dogs to the studio.
Sky Candy Policies
Class Basics
Arrive on time. Late arrivals may not be allowed to participate.
Please make sure that you arrive at Sky Candy on time for your class and please allow time to locate parking on site. If you are more than 10 minutes late to any class, you will not be allowed to participate, as it is dangerous to engage in any circus-related activities without a proper warm-up.
Empty classes may be cancelled.
If there are fewer than two students signed up for a Drop-In Class by 5pm the day prior (for classes that occur before 5pm) or six hours prior to the class start time (for classes that occur after 5pm) or fewer than three students signed up for a Series Class or Workshop two days prior to the class start time, the class may be cancelled. If you want to ensure that we keep a class on the schedule, be sure to schedule your place in advance for it on our website.
Late canceling a class costs.
Not able to make a Drop-In Class you signed up for? Happens all the time. If you can cancel before our late cancel window (see above paragraph), no problem. However, if you cancel within that window, you will not be refunded for your class. If you have a 5- or 10-Class Pass, the class will be removed from your remaining class count. We understand that last minute illnesses, injuries, car troubles, and other extenuating circumstances come up, but we still incur teacher and staff costs for classes that are late cancelled.
If you have a COVID-related absence, either because of symptoms, a positive test, or close exposure, please get in touch with our Front Desk team to inquire about refund options.
Adult classes are for students ages 16+.
We only allow students 16 and up into our regularly scheduled Drop-In and Series Classes. On occasion, a teacher may make exceptions for particularly mature students.
Students who have successfully completed kindergarten through currently enrolled in 12th grade are welcome in our Youth & Teen classes. Students who have not yet successfully completed kindergarten may be eligible to take Private Lessons. Please contact us at frontdesk@skycandyaustin.com for more details.
All services must be paid for in advance.
To guarantee a spot in a Series Classes, Drop-In Classes, Private Lessons, Parties, or Workshops, students must pay in advance.
Check expiration dates on purchases.
Please note that for all individual Drop-In Class, Open Studio, and Series purchases: Credit for these purchases expires one year from the purchase date. We do not offer refunds or extensions on purchases that have expired. Please check on the individual expiration dates for other classes and passes, including multi-class passes, unlimited passes, and special deals or discounts.
No refunds.
Except in very rare circumstances, we cannot offer refunds for any of our services. In cases where students have given us sufficient notice (6+ hours for Drop-In Classes, 24+ hours for Private Lessons and Open Studios, 48 hours prior to the first class for Series enrollments), we can offer an account credit for the amount paid that can be applied to future classes.
We do make exceptions for serious injuries or illnesses for which the student can provide us a note from a medical professional, within a reasonable time frame. If you have a COVID-related absence, either because of symptoms, a positive test, or close exposure, please get in touch with our Front Desk team at frontdesk@skycandyaustin.com to inquire about refund options. For information on complete refund policies, or to cancel a class, e-mail our Front Desk at frontdesk@skycandyaustin.com.
No makeup classes in a Series.
Unless you have specific permission from a teacher to make other arrangements, we do not offer free make-up classes for missed classes during a Series. We strongly recommend scheduling a 30 minute Private Lesson with your teacher to catch up on missed material.
Safety
Everyone must sign a waiver.
Everyone must sign a waiver before attending class, training, or engaging in any activity at Sky Candy. To sign our waiver, click here or the waiver link in the header at the top of this page.
Dress appropriately.
Dress appropriately for your apparatus. NO METAL OR SHARP OBJECTS PLEASE.
For most aerial apparatuses, proper attire means close-fitting workout clothes that cover the legs and underarms. Do not wear jewelry, unsecured eyeglasses, grommets, or any other objects that can snag or damage the equipment, yourself, your fellow students, and/or teacher! Look above for more detailed info.
All unvaccinated and unverified students must wear a well-fitting facial mask covering their mouth and nose for the entirety of their time in our studio at the current time.
Train healthy.
Absolutely no training under the influence of drugs or alcohol is permitted. If your teacher suspects that you may be compromised in this or some other way (i.e. injury, illness, or severe sleep deprivation) you may be asked to sit out and observe your class. If your teacher or a Front Desk member suspects that you may be ill, you may be asked to leave the studio, due to COVID-19 precautions.
Get warm and stay hydrated.
Please arrive to class on time and ready for warm-up. If you are attending Open Studio, be sure to warm up on your own in the studio before beginning aerial work. Come hydrated and stay hydrated!
Exercise good hygiene.
In a shared training space, it is important that all students practice good hygiene. Additionally, we request that everyone avoid heavy fragrances and lotions as they can irritate other students and staff and can make the equipment difficult to use.
Respect your environment.
Be respectful to the teachers, employees, your fellow students, and the studio. No photography or video recording is allowed without the express permission of the person or people being photographed or filmed. No shoes on the mats or apparatuses. Please wear appropriate footwear when walking around outside of the Sky Candy studio. Please be considerate with cell phone use.
No glass, ceramic, or open containers of any kind.
With hard floors and bare feet, it’s not worth the danger. Please bring water in other kinds of containers. Only water is permitted in the mat-covered areas of the studio.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Do not walk under apparatuses while they are in use. The people in the air have the right of way. Always be aware of your surroundings.
Do not rig equipment.
Do not attempt to rig any equipment. Please ask a trained member of the Sky Candy staff if you need equipment adjusted for any reason.
Do not take unnecessary risks.
Ask for assistance if you are unsure about a move or trick. Never train alone and always use a crash mat. If you are injured during class or Open Studio, inform your teacher or host immediately.
Open Studio is for practice.
Open Studio is intended to be a forum in which to practice what you learn in class; do not attempt to execute new moves or to teach other students. The safest way to learn any aerial or circus skill is with a qualified instructor. We do not recommend ANY other method of learning aerial or circus skills.
Are Aerial silks the same as yoga hammocks? Do you offer a restorative yoga class which uses the silks?
Yoga hammocks can refer to a wide variety of apparatuses and implementations. Aerial silks are rigged with separate tails reaching toward the ground, while aerial hammocks, or slings, often utilizing the same type of fabric, are rigged with the fabric creating a loop near the ground. We currently offer aerial yoga classes that utilize aerial slings, but while often considered restorative in a broader sense, none of our yoga classes would be considered restorative in the traditional sense associated with yoga.