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.

I'm trying something new

Hey Reader, I have long avoided doing any sort of subscription or membership, because if you commit to doing something on a schedule like that, you actually have to do it. And that felt like a little too much commitment to me! But I was thinking about it, and came up with an idea I think I could follow through with: Sharing a sequence once a month where I breakdown all the wrap theory and pathway theory in the sequence. Not a whole lesson per-say, but an explanation of what's happening and...

3 days ago • 1 min read

Weird exercise, anyone?

Hey Reader, Something that I love, and that I am (dare I say?) infamous for, is a weird exercise. I've come up with a lot of them over the years, the weirder the better. To be fair, they're not just weird for the sake of being weird, they're usually teaching a movement or concept that is tricky to convey. Sometimes, you just need something weird to make it click! But that's all just a really long way of saying that I have a new, weird exercise to share! This is my favorite way to teach...

4 days ago • 1 min read

A new free thing

Hey Reader, I'm doing a bit of cyber spring cleaning, so to speak. I'm paying an actual professional to redo my website (it's going to look soooo great, I can't wait!), and I'm switching to a new platform for my online courses. I even redid my email template to match my new website! With all these other changes, I thought now would be a good time to come up with a New Free Thing for my online friends. If you've been following me for 5 minutes, you probably realized that I get really excited...

11 days ago • 1 min read

Check out this new study!

Hey Reader, This new exercise science study came out recently, and I think it is both interesting and relevant! So, I'm going to tell you about it. In the study, they took a group of people with non-specific low back back pain and split them into two groups. One group got a Pilates exercise regimen that included the cue to engage the core while doing the exercises. The other group got the same regimen, but they got the cue to keep the abdominals relaxed while doing the exercises. After the...

about 1 month ago • 3 min read

Breath, Core, and Pelvic Floor

Hey Reader, So I was at this event last weekend, Trapeze over Colorado, and I taught a private lesson to someone who wanted to work on core activation and breath work. At some point during the lesson she said "I really wish you had an online class on this stuff so I could just replay the recording over and over again!" and I said "huh, that's a really good idea." So, Anna, this one's for you! My next online class Breath, Core, and Pelvic Floor, I'll take you through the foundational exercises...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read

You might want to stop saying this...

Hey Reader, As a person with strong opinions about how to teach movement, certain cues can make me a little crazy. “Squeeze your butt” is one of those cues. You’ve almost certainly heard this cue. Chances are high you’ve given this cue! I have also given this cue! And then I learned more and stopped. What’s the problem? Well, there’s a few: Intentionally squeezing your butt on the regular can lead to dysfunctional movement patterns. When the glutes get squeezed, it pushes the pelvis forward,...

about 2 months ago • 2 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...

3 months ago • 1 min read

Are knitting and aerial basically the same thing?

Hey Reader, Something you may or may not know about me is that I'm a knitter. I sometimes struggle to pay attention to one thing, so having something to do with my hands while I watch TV, or listen to an audiobook, is really helpful. Also, if I'm knitting, I can't doom scroll! Cause that's no good for anyone... One of the reason why I love knitting so much is because of the patterns. I love patterns! And understanding patterns, and pattern variation, is something I have an innate proclivity...

3 months ago • 2 min read

That's a Wrap! Part 2

Hey Reader, At the end of 2025, I offered a series of aerial theory masterclasses. One of them, That's a Wrap!, was on wrap theory! In this class, I laid down the foundations of how I teach wrap theory: I talked about what I call "wrap families", the 4 types of knee hooks, basic ways to put on a take off wraps, and what I consider "fundamental" wraps. And while this class was presented on sling, the theory and ideas discussed are the same across all apparatus that you can wrap on! Well, it...

3 months ago • 1 min read

Elevate Aerial Teacher Training

Hey Reader, I have been absolutely DYING to announce this, and we're finally ready!!! I am so excited to share that I will leading an aerial teacher training with Emily Scherb, the Circus Doc!! Join us June 11-14 in Ashland, OR for the Elevate Aerial Teacher Training!! This training is an advanced, in-person training designed for aerial instructors who are ready to move beyond the basics and deepen how they see, analyze, and teach movement. Our goal with this training is to help you bridge...

4 months ago • 1 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.