What’s your level? How to pick the right circus class for you!

8/31/2025 |

Category: circus, thrive movement studio, performance, lifestyle, movement, health, fitness, wellness

When you sign up for circus class, there are a lot of options. Which apparatus to learn? What type of skills catch your eye? Who is the coach? This is the fun part-but then it gets tricky. Secondary questions can be confusing, but are essential.  How does level 200 at my local studio compare to a level 4 at another studio? Do my years of ground circus training or yoga or rock climbing, provide the necessary transferable skills to take this class? Even more complicated, is this workshop worth it? No one wants to pay $80 just to discover they already know the material or find themselves so far out of their depth that the workshop isn’t accessible. So how do you find out?

Ask questions! Start with the prerequisites. Are there any? Are they specific? Do you meet some or all of the qualifications? Ask for more information. Write to the coach or studio and let them know you can do 7 pull-ups (but not 8) or suffer from a trick elbow, will it get in the way? Professional coaches and studios will help guide you to the proper class placement. 

Be honest! Giving the coach your accurate training history will help them assess the correct level at their studio. It’s okay to be specific about your needs. Maybe you aren’t feeling challenged in your current class. Perhaps you feel more successful in a class that moves at a slower pace with more room for repetition. Being honest about your learning style will provide your coach with more information on which level you belong.

Be open to coach recommendations. Sometimes we don’t land in the class we were hoping for. A great coach will happily have a conversation about your class placement and will help guide you on the path toward your circus goals.

In the end, excellent studios and coaches want to foster safe spaces for students to learn, explore and grow their skills. Be open, honest and ask questions. Lean towards studios and coaches that show you a pathway to growth and success and don’t shy away from conversations on how to achieve your goals.

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