Adult Gymnastics & Aerial Silks in Santa Cruz
Evening and weekend classes for grown-ups who want to hang upside down, finally nail a handstand, or just move differently.
A Gym Built For Grown-Ups
Fairlight opened in a converted mill building in Seabright in 2018, for adults who missed gymnastics, never got to try it, or wanted something more playful than a treadmill. Classes are small and unhurried. You'll warm up properly, work on skills at your own pace and leave with a little more strength and a lot more confidence in the air.
- Adultsonly, every class
- Progressionsfor every body
- Riggingchecked before class
Six Ways In
Every class has a beginner level. Prices are per drop-in class; packs and memberships cost less.
Adult Gymnastics$28 drop-in
Rolls, cartwheels, round-offs and handstands on the spring floor, plus low beam and bars. For complete beginners and returning gymnasts.
Aerial Silks$32 drop-in
Climbs, foot locks and first inversions on the fabric, low to the ground over thick mats until you're ready to go higher.
Aerial Hoop$32 drop-in
Mounts, poses and spins on the hoop, with the hoop set low for beginners and raised as you progress.
Handstands & Acro$26 drop-in
Wall drills, shoulder strength and balance, then partner acro basics in pairs.
Flexibility$22 drop-in
Splits, backbends and shoulder mobility at a slow, careful pace. Good on its own or alongside aerial.
Private Lessons$85 per hour
One-on-one time on any apparatus, for a specific skill, a performance piece or a gentler start.
From First Class To First Inversion
1Ground Work
Grip, core and shoulder strength on the floor and the low apparatus.
2Climbs And Poses
Your first climbs, locks and hoop poses, a few feet off the mat.
3Inversions
Going upside down, taught step by step once your strength is there.
What To Expect
Book An Intro
A $20 intro class in gymnastics, silks or hoop. No experience needed.
Wear Fitted Clothes
Leggings that cover the backs of your knees and a fitted top. No jewelry, no lotion.
Warm Up Together
Twenty minutes of mobility and strength before anyone touches the apparatus.
Learn Your First Skills
A few low, safe skills you'll leave able to do, and a plan for the next class.
Silks, Hoop And Acro
From Our Adult Classes
I hadn't done a cartwheel since I was nine. Six months into adult gymnastics I have a solid handstand, and I'm stronger at 41 than I was at 25. Nobody here cares how old you are.
The intro silks class was the most fun I've had at a gym in years. Small class, clear progressions, and the instructor checked every wrap before anyone left the floor.
I came for flexibility after a running injury and stayed for hoop. Evening classes fit around work, and the studio feels calm, not intimidating.
Adult Gymnastics & Aerial FAQ
Do I need to be strong or flexible to start?
No. Every class starts at the ground with a long warm-up, and beginners work on low apparatus until the strength comes. Most people are surprised how quickly it does.
Am I too old to start?
Our students range from 18 to their sixties. Classes are paced for adults, and instructors give options for different bodies and injuries.
Is aerial safe?
Beginners stay low over thick crash mats, and new skills are taught in steps with an instructor spotting. Our rigging points were professionally installed and are inspected on a regular schedule. Ask us about our inspection records and each instructor's training.
What should I wear?
Leggings that cover the backs of your knees and a fitted top with no zippers. Remove jewelry, and skip lotion on the day of an aerial class so you can grip the fabric.
How much does it cost?
Your first intro class is $20. Drop-ins are $22 to $32, and class packs and monthly memberships bring the price down.
Do you teach kids?
No. Fairlight is adults only, 18 and up.
One Instructor, Your Pace
Nervous about a group class, working toward a performance, or coming back from an injury? Book a private hour on any apparatus. We'll plan the session around what you want to learn.
- ✓Any apparatus
- ✓Performance coaching
- ✓A gentler first step