Edel Wigan started Flying Fantastic with husband Chris after trying classes in Argentina
When my husband, Chris, and I moved to Buenos Aires in 2009 we found that it was very common to do circus classes as an alternative to the gym – there were about 50 schools in the city,” says Edel Wigan, co-founder of London flying school, Flying Fantastic. “It sounded difficult, but fun, so we gave a silks class a go and quickly became addicted. After six weeks of only doing aerial, Chris had a six pack and I had dropped a dress size. Then we started to realise there was something in it!”
When the duo moved back to London for work a year later, they wanted to continue their newfound hobby, but couldn’t find anywhere offering drop-in classes, so they decided to bring this South American pastime to the city themselves.
“We started out offering one night a week at a community centre in Battersea, which quickly grew to four nights,” says Wigan. “Then we branched out to Wimbledon, Old Street and our flagship studio in Waterloo.”
New tricks There were a few challenges along the way, the biggest being the difficulty of finding locations with open beamed ceilings high enough to be able to rig, but low enough to be accessible with a ladder. Plus, there needed to be enough storage space for all the crash mats.
Thanks to the existence of a degree course for circus professionals and performers in London, it wasn’t difficult to find instructors, but selling it to the public was initially not so straightforward.
“It was difficult to know what wording to use,” says Wigan. “If you mentioned circus, people thought of juggling, and no one knew what aerial meant.
Fortunately, it’s changed in the last two years, helped by social media – the classes are very cool and visual, so people post a lot of photos. The Greatest Showman has also really helped, and we’ve had to put on more kids classes to cope with demand. I like to call it circus for ordinary people as anyone can give it a go!”
Flying high Flying Fantastic now welcomes 600 people a week across the four sites. Although it appeals mainly to women aged between 18 and 45, a 74-year-old recently had her birthday party there. “You don’t have to be flexible or strong to do it, you achieve that with practice,” says Wigan. “It’s tough initially, but people get addicted because of the results they see and because it makes you completely switch off. You’re so busy working out your left from your right when you’re upside down that you really don’t have time to think about anything else!”
Going forward, Wigan and Chris want to take the concept far and wide. They’re currently formalising a teacher training programme, because although there’s a pool of people with the right skills in London, this isn’t the case outside the capital and creates a barrier to expansion.
Children also represent a growing market and so they’re working on growing the kids programme. “We just want to keep doing what we’re doing and doing it better,” says Wigan. “We’re always offering new concepts and the latest one is bungee fitness. An amazing full-body, cardio workout that strengthens and tones as you defy gravity, take flight and experience a workout that’s so fun, it doesn’t seem like exercise!
Embracing aerial What is it? Described as circus skills for ordinary people, think upside-down yoga, static trapeze, hoops, silks and ropes.
Is it safe? Yes, crash mats are used and new skills are taught at a low height.
Where? Flying Fantastic has four locations in London: Waterloo, Battersea, Wimbledon and Old Street.
How much? Memberships are available for £17 a week, or classes can be bought on a single or bulk-buy basis.
The standard price is £25 per class or £190 for 10 classes. The most popular option is five for £95. Off-peak sessions are available at a cheaper price and practice time costs £15 an hour.
Private tuition starts at £65 an hour.
How many people are in a class? Between six and 18 depending on the class. There are six students per teacher.
Are there other offers? Flying Fantastic offers kids parties, hen parties and a summer school for children
Will this become a thing? More places are now offering aerial yoga and Flying Fantastic is taking the concept out to festivals and outdoor events with their mobile rig. Going forward, Flying Fantastic is also looking to sell franchises.
Embracing aerial
Flying Fantastic is looking to franchise its concept, which requires ceilings high enough to accommodate rigs, but low enough to be accessible by ladder
Flying Fantastic is looking to franchise its concept, which requires ceilings high enough to accommodate rigs, but low enough to be accessible by ladder
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Edel Wigan started Flying Fantastic with husband Chris after trying classes in Argentina
When my husband, Chris, and I moved to Buenos Aires in 2009 we found that it was very common to do circus classes as an alternative to the gym – there were about 50 schools in the city,” says Edel Wigan, co-founder of London flying school, Flying Fantastic. “It sounded difficult, but fun, so we gave a silks class a go and quickly became addicted. After six weeks of only doing aerial, Chris had a six pack and I had dropped a dress size. Then we started to realise there was something in it!”
When the duo moved back to London for work a year later, they wanted to continue their newfound hobby, but couldn’t find anywhere offering drop-in classes, so they decided to bring this South American pastime to the city themselves.
“We started out offering one night a week at a community centre in Battersea, which quickly grew to four nights,” says Wigan. “Then we branched out to Wimbledon, Old Street and our flagship studio in Waterloo.”
New tricks There were a few challenges along the way, the biggest being the difficulty of finding locations with open beamed ceilings high enough to be able to rig, but low enough to be accessible with a ladder. Plus, there needed to be enough storage space for all the crash mats.
Thanks to the existence of a degree course for circus professionals and performers in London, it wasn’t difficult to find instructors, but selling it to the public was initially not so straightforward.
“It was difficult to know what wording to use,” says Wigan. “If you mentioned circus, people thought of juggling, and no one knew what aerial meant.
Fortunately, it’s changed in the last two years, helped by social media – the classes are very cool and visual, so people post a lot of photos. The Greatest Showman has also really helped, and we’ve had to put on more kids classes to cope with demand. I like to call it circus for ordinary people as anyone can give it a go!”
Flying high Flying Fantastic now welcomes 600 people a week across the four sites. Although it appeals mainly to women aged between 18 and 45, a 74-year-old recently had her birthday party there. “You don’t have to be flexible or strong to do it, you achieve that with practice,” says Wigan. “It’s tough initially, but people get addicted because of the results they see and because it makes you completely switch off. You’re so busy working out your left from your right when you’re upside down that you really don’t have time to think about anything else!”
Going forward, Wigan and Chris want to take the concept far and wide. They’re currently formalising a teacher training programme, because although there’s a pool of people with the right skills in London, this isn’t the case outside the capital and creates a barrier to expansion.
Children also represent a growing market and so they’re working on growing the kids programme. “We just want to keep doing what we’re doing and doing it better,” says Wigan. “We’re always offering new concepts and the latest one is bungee fitness. An amazing full-body, cardio workout that strengthens and tones as you defy gravity, take flight and experience a workout that’s so fun, it doesn’t seem like exercise!
Embracing aerial What is it? Described as circus skills for ordinary people, think upside-down yoga, static trapeze, hoops, silks and ropes.
Is it safe? Yes, crash mats are used and new skills are taught at a low height.
Where? Flying Fantastic has four locations in London: Waterloo, Battersea, Wimbledon and Old Street.
How much? Memberships are available for £17 a week, or classes can be bought on a single or bulk-buy basis.
The standard price is £25 per class or £190 for 10 classes. The most popular option is five for £95. Off-peak sessions are available at a cheaper price and practice time costs £15 an hour.
Private tuition starts at £65 an hour.
How many people are in a class? Between six and 18 depending on the class. There are six students per teacher.
Are there other offers? Flying Fantastic offers kids parties, hen parties and a summer school for children
Will this become a thing? More places are now offering aerial yoga and Flying Fantastic is taking the concept out to festivals and outdoor events with their mobile rig. Going forward, Flying Fantastic is also looking to sell franchises.
Embracing aerial
Flying Fantastic is looking to franchise its concept, which requires ceilings high enough to accommodate rigs, but low enough to be accessible by ladder
Flying Fantastic is looking to franchise its concept, which requires ceilings high enough to accommodate rigs, but low enough to be accessible by ladder
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its focus on reducing health inequalities and improving healthy life expectancy. [more...]
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