Lauren Kehl Aerial Fitness

Understanding the WHY of aerial

Lauren Kehl is a Seattle-based aerial coach, Pilates instructor, and GYROTONIC® trainer known for her technical expertise and innovative approach to coaching. She began her aerial training in 2008 and has been coaching for over 15 years, dedicating her career to refining technique and advancing coaching methodologies. As a curriculum developer and co-leader of the teacher training program at Versatile Arts, Lauren specializes in mentoring other coaches, helping them build a strong foundation in biomechanics, progressions, and student-centered teaching strategies. She has developed Movement First Aerial, her own methodology that focuses on understanding foundational movement patterns to create strength, efficiency, and artistry in the air. Lauren works with students of every level, tailoring her teaching to meet individual needs while fostering growth and confidence. Her approach blends aerial arts with Pilates and The GYROTONIC® Method, creating a holistic foundation for strength, flexibility, and injury prevention. Her work is a trusted resource for aerial instructors and students alike, providing tools to deepen technical understanding and refine their practice. Learn more about Lauren and her resources at laurenkehl.com.

Happy Holidays!

Hey Reader, Seasons greetings from cold and wet Seattle! Last night, the sun set here at 4:21pm, 2 whole minutes later than it had the previous night. It's always a small relief to me to know that we will be slowly moving into longer days going forward. Sadly, they won't be any drier for quite a few months! The last few years, I've offered a free Holiday Recovery class the day after Christmas. Sadly, as much as I would love to offer one this year, my schedule just can't accommodate it. But I...

7 days ago • 1 min read

Compression Isn’t Helping You Stay Upside-Down—Here’s Why

Hey Reader, Compression is not helping you stay in your inversion I don’t know if this is obvious or not, but I had a conversation about it the other day, so I figured I should talk about it. The conversation I had was with a student who was struggling to hold a straddle up. They had been frustrated by this for a while and the advice they’d been receiving so far wasn’t really helping them. I had them show me what they were doing and we talked about it for a bit. At a certain point I said: “It...

18 days ago • 2 min read

Let's go upside down!

Hey Reader, Getting upside down is hard. And if you’ve ever felt like your inversion works one day, disappears the next, or only shows up when the moon is in the correct phase… you are absolutely not alone. That’s why I’m so excited to announce my brand new masterclass: Get Your Butt Over Your Head Inverting isn’t just about strength—it’s about understanding what’s actually happening in your body. The mechanics, the timing, the pathways, the “why does this feel impossible today?” moments. And...

20 days ago • 1 min read

Wrap theory, unlocked

Hey Reader, I’ve been talking a lot about wrap theory recently. In my last email, I talked about the idea of Wrap Families, and how there are two basic foundational wraps that all the other wraps connect to. I call them Diaper family and Infinity family. Yes, I know, many people hate using the word Diaper. You are allowed to call it whatever you want! That’s just what I call it. ANYWAY! To go along with this idea of wrap families, I also teach that there are four ways to hook a knee. And...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read

A diaper by any other name

HeyReader, Yesterday, I made a post on Instagram and asked what people call this wrap: I, personally, call it diaper. And that was definitely one of the most common responses. But I also heard: Goddess, circus sit, harness, teddy bear, parachute, chair, catchers, double crochet sit, Jolly Jumper, trapeze sit, nappy wrap, climber seat, swing seat, straddle seat, super baby diaper, aviator seat, bikini, salto sit… And the answers are still rolling in! But while it is both interesting, and...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read

A better bent arm hang

Hey Reader, The bent arm hang, or lock off, is an important position for aerial. It’s the second strongest and most efficient hanging position we have (the first is a straight arm hang), it’s the top of a pull up, and it’s the position you should start a bent arm inversion from. In this position, the elbows are bent with the upper arm next to the body, at the seam of your t-shirt. There are three main muscle groups that are working in this position: the lats, the pecs, and the biceps. The...

3 months ago • 1 min read

Two things...

Hey Reader, I have two things that I wanted to share with you today. The first is that I was on a podcast! Two students from the studio I teach at have started a podcast to both talk about their experiences as students, and talk to various professionals that they know. I was honored to be invited on, and we had a great chat about my personal experiences coming up as an aerialist and coach, how I arrived at my approach to teaching, and other assorted topics. It definitely gets a little...

3 months ago • 1 min read

Let's get nerdy: Pathways edition

Hey Reader, I often talk about how pathways in aerial show up over and over. But maybe I don’t always explain what I mean. So let's talk about a pathway I call “rolling over/keying over”. To introduce this pathway, I use a floor exercise adapted from Bartenieff fundamentals. It is important to note that we’re going to do this with the LEAST amount of effort possible. Aerialists, I’ve met you. I know you’re going to try to turn this into an ab exercise or some sort of drill. DON’T DO THAT. Lie...

3 months ago • 2 min read

The cognitive dissonance is too much for me.

Hey Reader, I’m not going to lie, I’m really struggling right now. Running an online business means that I have to spend time online, and currently that’s a pretty challenging place to be. And not only that, I’m actively trying to sell stuff right now. FML. So, in-between my doom scrolling, shock and horror over the latest terrifying thing said by a politician who thinks me and my loved ones should be rounded up and shot, despair over a continued genocide, and a heartwarming video about a...

3 months ago • 2 min read

The Big Picture

Hey Reader, You might have noticed me talking about the new masterclass I’m offering soon, Framework for Flight. It’s a class outlining movement analysis for aerial movement, and I’ll be sharing how I use it to help me organize information mentally, and to understand the movement I see or do, to be a more effective coach. I think it is truly one of the most powerful tools I have as a coach, and one of the most important skills you can develop if you want to be a great coach. But it's also...

4 months ago • 2 min read

Lauren Kehl is a Seattle-based aerial coach, Pilates instructor, and GYROTONIC® trainer known for her technical expertise and innovative approach to coaching. She began her aerial training in 2008 and has been coaching for over 15 years, dedicating her career to refining technique and advancing coaching methodologies. As a curriculum developer and co-leader of the teacher training program at Versatile Arts, Lauren specializes in mentoring other coaches, helping them build a strong foundation in biomechanics, progressions, and student-centered teaching strategies. She has developed Movement First Aerial, her own methodology that focuses on understanding foundational movement patterns to create strength, efficiency, and artistry in the air. Lauren works with students of every level, tailoring her teaching to meet individual needs while fostering growth and confidence. Her approach blends aerial arts with Pilates and The GYROTONIC® Method, creating a holistic foundation for strength, flexibility, and injury prevention. Her work is a trusted resource for aerial instructors and students alike, providing tools to deepen technical understanding and refine their practice. Learn more about Lauren and her resources at laurenkehl.com.