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.
Why I love theory
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Hey Reader, One of my favorite aerial pastimes is to play with sequencing. Stringing things together, looking for connections, finding interesting transitions, it’s definitely a happy place for me! And my exploration of sequencing has definitely been a large piece of changing the way I conceptualize moving on an aerial apparatus. I asked a question on Instagram recently, wondering what people struggled with when it came to sequencing. And the most common answer was feeling stuck when it came to transitions. One person said “I feel like I know a lot of skills, but I struggle with figuring out how to transition from one to the other.” Which is definitely a sentiment that I’ve heard from lots of people over the years! But it also made me realize that the entire way that I think about aerial movement has fundamentally shifted. I don’t think about one skill, and the next skill, and the next. I think about a series of transitions that allows us to find a bunch of “stops” along the way. The stops are skills, if that wasn’t obvious. The important part of thinking about aerial this way is understanding what is happening in any given position or skill: what’s holding you up, where is the apparatus. Knowing that it’s going across your back and under your knee, and you have to push out hard and arch your back, or whatever it is. And when you understand that, you can start thinking about how else you might get there. If you’re doing a skill that has your apparatus under your foot, behind your back, and around your arm, what are all the ways you can get there? Can you go back, foot, arm? Or arm, back, foot? And is there more than one way to get it behind your back? Can you get it under your foot and around your arm at the same time? And this is where having a solid understanding of theory comes in! (Did you guess that’s where I was going with this? I bet you did!) When you understand both the wrap theory and the pathway theory, you’re going to be able to start seeing more of the options that are available. This is what my next Aerial for Nerds course is going to be about! I’m not ready to announce it yet, but if you’re interested in an online course about sequencing with a heavy dose of theory, you’re going to want to watch this space. In the meantime, I have a free thing for you! I created Choose Your Own Wrap Adventure as a presentation for the Revival Aerial Training Summit, but my first version was too long and I had to edit some stuff out. But I still have the full length version and I’m giving it away! This is a 45 minute class that takes you through the basics of how I use wrap theory for creative sequencing. In the class, I share a basic sequence on sling, and show how you can use wrap theory to give you multiple options on how to move through it. You get the video class, and you’ll get access to the slides and video clips that I use in the class! You can sign up and get it here. And if you really wanted to go deep into the theory hole with me, I’m offering a whole theory focused retreat with Luna Finn in March 2027 at Sweet Retreats in Oaxaca, Mexico. The Slingstravaganza Retreat is going to go hard exploring fundamentals on sling, breaking down the theory, and helping you build your own creative voice. I’m already so excited to work with everyone who’s signed up for far, and I’d really love for you to join us! You can find all the details here. If you’ve got questions about any of this, or just wanted to chat, email me back! Let’s talk! Love, Lauren |
Lauren Kehl Aerial Fitness
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.