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.

Flare with flair!

Hey Reader, I’ve been spending a lot of time recently thinking about and working on flares. And you know how when something is on your mind, you start seeing it everywhere you look? Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of people talking about flares, too. And most people who are talking about them, and asking for help, are asking “what are my legs supposed to be doing?” Because when you look at a flare, the legs are really big and obvious. But your legs aren’t making the flare work, and the reason why you...

about 2 months ago • 1 min read

Flare with Flair part 3

Hey Reader, We made it to part 3 of Flare with Flair! This is where we get to use the flare to actually go upside down, which is the super cool and badass thing that we’re all working towards. Before we get to that, lets go over the bullet points from parts 1 and 2: In Part 1, we talked about the Big Circle: In Part 2, we talked about turning the pelvis in the Big Circle And how that relates to the leg pathway of the flare. And now we get to talk about the Slingshot. Yay! What's the...

about 1 month ago • 3 min read

Flare with Flair Part 2

Hey Reader, Here's Part 2 of Flare with Flair, where I’m breaking down the mechanics of taking your flare from this: To this: In part 1, we established the Big Circle (If you missed it, catch up here!) Now, it’s time to start turning the pelvis. Taking the four basic positions: front, side, back, side, we’re going to add a layer. Every time the pelvis is on the side, it’s also going to be turned in, so the hip bones are facing towards the center of the circle. What’s a little tricky here is...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read

Mexico, anyone?

Hey Reader, You might not realize this about me, but I'm not a particularly outgoing person. Can I command a room while teaching? Yes, absolutely. Put me on a stage in front of a room full of strangers? No problem! But invite me to a party where I don't know anyone? I'm the person sitting in the corner petting your cat. So I have to admit that it was pretty out of character for me to reach out to Luna Finn when I saw she was visiting Seattle a few months ago. (If you don't follow her, go do...

about 2 months ago • 1 min read

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 months 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...

3 months 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...

3 months 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...

4 months 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...

4 months 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,...

5 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.