We are so excited to welcome Neumy to the Body & Pole team! We took some time to sit down and learn more about what inspires him in practice and as an instructor.
Thanks for taking the time to talk! Can you tell us a little bit about your journey into flexibility and aerial arts?
Ever since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to be a performer. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a career option for me due to my traditional upbringing. It got to a point in my life where I had to make some changes so that I could explore my interests and seek after my dreams. I didn’t immediately know what I wanted to do or how to obtain it because I was pretty much living in a bubble. I tried opera singing, acting, and modeling, but it wasn’t until I walked into Body & Pole that I realized that I wanted to become an aerialist/contortionist.
I’m not a naturally flexible person. I’ve never stretched a day in my life until I turned 31. Training for flexibility and aerial arts was and still is a big challenge. I have suffered through injuries, had moments of weakness, and my body is always sore. Luckily, I am a very goal oriented person. The vision of the person that I want to be is solidly engraved in my head. I know I have the potential to do great things despite starting at an older age. My journey so far has taught me how to take care of my body, respect my limits, and become more sensitive with myself and my surroundings.
What classes do you teach?
I currently teach Intro to Silks, Flexibility Level 1, and Aerial Contortion.
What made you want to teach others these skills?
I want to share what I have learned and my experiences with others. I have the understanding on how to train flexibility as an absolute adult beginner. I’ve also discovered that I have a bizarre ability to inspire others. I should put all my talent and skills to good use.
What are some of your class strengths, your focuses as a teacher?
I model my classes closely after elevatED, which focuses on form and progressions to safely stretch and warm-up students. Injury prevention is priority.
I also encourage students to challenge themselves, but I would never force any expectations on them. My focus is to provide a fun, positive, and interactive learning environment for those who take my classes.
Do you have any flexibility goals you are working on?
I am currently focusing on developing nice lines and active splits. My foot arches, hamstrings, glutes, and hips are particularly tight. These areas need extra attention, so you’ll be seeing me in pigeon a lot.
Any advice for someone who wants to try flex or an aerial class for the first time?
Often times, we (including myself) want immediate results. We might end up rushing through things and push ourselves past our limits. I’ve pulled both of my hamstrings, and it wasn’t a pleasant experience. I still have issues with them every now and then, and it’s been over a year since it happened. It definitely interrupted my training and progress. My advice would be to listen to your bodies and practice with patience.
Awesome advice! Thanks so much again for sharing with us! You can follow Neumy on Instagram @neumilo.
