Aerial silks involves climbing and wrapping yourself up in long stretches of material dangling from the ceiling, getting into all sorts of fancy-looking positions that would gain a spider’s admiration. After a warm-up of stretches, sit-ups, push-ups and planks, I am embarrassed to say I was exhausted already.

However, my super-friendly instructor, Hannah, took it relatively easy on me and I was impressed by how much I learned in just one class: two climbs, one inversion (an upside-down pike), and three positions (such as the one pictured below). I even made up a move of my own, which we named ‘The Caroline Roll’, although I am unsure it will catch on.

Granted, I only managed to get about half-an-inch off the floor when you’re supposed to be about halfway up the silks, but, hey, it felt high enough. It was good fun, got the brain working (you have to think carefully about what you need to do with the silks), and, judging by the way I was aching the next day, it was a great all-over body workout, too. £20 per class, with packages available.

Mondays 7.40pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays 6.30pm and 7.40pm. 

The Wilditch Centre, Culvert Road 
Battersea, SW11 5BB 
Station | Battersea Park  
flyingfantastic.co.uk

Photo: TNT