Applied Anatomy of Aerial Arts: An Illustrated Guide to Strength, Flexibility, Training, and Injury Prevention

by Emily Scherb

An illustrated guide to anatomy and biomechanics for aerialists who want to optimize their performance and train safelySpecifically designed for aerialists—including those who do trapeze, silks, and other aerial arts— Applied Anatomy of Aerial Arts is an invaluable resource for those who want to optimize their performance and train safely.   Using a biomechanical and movement-based approach, Emily Scherb—a physical therapist who specializes in the care, treatment, and education of circus performers—explains the anatomical rationale for progressions of learning and demonstrates simple movements to achieve the coordination, muscular control, strength, and fitness to hang with correct form, how to progress from hanging into a pull up, an inversion, and beyond with a strong center, precise muscle sequencing, and ease of movement.   Aerialists will learn how bones, joints, muscles, and soft tissues allow for specific movements and gain an appreciation for concepts of proximal stability.     This full-color illustrated guide lays a solid foundation for beginners and advanced students with a wealth of insights into their own performance as well as refreshers on fundamentals in warm ups and conditioning. It explains how to structure a training session, how to care for injuries, and best practices for basic self first aid.

Genres: Fitness, Nonfiction, Health, Reference

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2018

Reviews

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been looking for a book like this to help prevent injuries while learning this. As someone who is a personal trainer the book was similar to reading books by Human Kinetics - these assume you have a knowledge of anatomical terms and physiology.

So for me, this was very useful. There are some tips, and cuing for setting the shoulders and scapular for the various devices that are incredibly helpful. The general exercises at the end of the book could use some rep and weight range, since the exercises move from smaller muscle groups to bigger.

Overall, there isn’t a lot of books out there on this so it is certainly needed, and I’m glad someone who does this and is a DPT has taken the time to discuss what she has seen.

[Austin Dobrik · Rating 3 out of 5]

This contains some nice information, but seems like a bit of a difficult book to use as a reference. Some of the illustrations are quite nice, but some others are unclear, and I find it a little difficult to see the errors in some of the movements shown. This kind of content is obviously difficult to put in a print book, but reading many of the sections left me wishing there was some kind of video reference rather than static pictures and the explanations.

I read the E-book version and I found the formatting a little strange and hard to use. I read the PDF on iBooks and often the diagrams and explanations are spread on different pages.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely amazing book for aerialists and anatomy nerds.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was exactly what I was looking for, I wanted to learn the anatomy, plus exercises to do when not in aerials classes, I wish there were just a few more exercises...or maybe a sequel

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear and useful discussion of anatomy as it pertains to aerial arts. I find technical jargon often intimidating, but Emily did a great job breaking it down in the introductory chapters in the book. The exercises section at the end was very useful, as was the breakdown of common pitfalls in different basic skills.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! It's a quick read, has fantastic illustrations, and clear descriptions. The exercises in the back were a fun bonus (or at least I wasn't expecting them). Ideal for aerialists who want to know more about anatomy and which muscles are working when (or at least should be), or for PTs who work with aerialists and want to know more about what we are doing in the air.

[Shir · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book that has helped me more fully understand how my body should ideally be functioning in aerials. Reading this book, especially the sections on ‘Common Errors’ has been invaluable to my aerial education! I’ll be carrying this with me for reference as I train from now on!

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. It defines all the terminology you would need and explains the ways in which the muscles, bones, and tendons interact clearly with examples of what to do and not to do. Definitely something to keep on the re-reading list.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only thing I didn't like about this book was that there aren't always images for the correct way to do something to balance out the images for common errors. Other than that, it's great!

[Rene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book!!!

[Neus]

S'aprenen coses. Ràpid i senzill

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great exercises!

[Madeleine Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! And so nice to have so many female anatomy pictures. Really helpful for technique and great tips for building strength

[Katja Ambord]

A solid guide including anatomy. A must read for every interested aerial yoga practitioner.