Bring your own apparatus

Shine Fitness Studio students and visitors may bring their own aerial apparatuses to use in the studio upon completing our approval process. Individuals who wish to bring their own equipment to the studio for training (classes, open studios, private lessons, showcases, etc.) must receive prior approval from Shine Fitness Studio and agree to abide by the studio’s Personal Equipment Policies and Guidelines.

Storage
The user of the personal equipment agrees to be responsible for transporting their equipment to and from the studio for each class or use and understands that they will not be able to store their equipment at Shine Fitness Studio.

Studio Usage
Personal equipment may be used during the following:

  • Classes
  • Open studio sessions
  • Studio rentals
  • Private lessons
  • Showcases

Discretion of Instructor and Studio: The rigging and use of personal equipment are subject to the discretion of the instructor and the studio. There is no obligation for the instructor or studio to rig personal equipment.

Arrival Time for Rigging: Users of personal equipment must arrive 15 minutes before the service starts to allow ample time for rigging.

Late Arrival: Personal equipment users who fail to arrive at least 15 minutes before the service start time will not be allowed to rig their equipment.

Capacity Restrictions: If all rigging points are being utilized by students or if a class is at maximum capacity, personal equipment cannot be used.

This policy ensures a smooth operation of services while accommodating the use of personal equipment under specified conditions.

Liability
The user of the personal equipment releases Shine Fitness Studio and its employees from any and all responsibilities or liability for personal injury, death, damage to property, or loss of any kind resulting from the use of personal equipment not owned by Shine Fitness Studio. Shine Fitness Studio will continue to be responsible for maintaining the safety of the rigging system and the equipment above the rigging point and creating a safe environment for training and learning.

Proof of Qualified Manufacturer
The studio requires proof that the apparatus and rigging equipment was sourced from reputable manufacturers. Reputable manufacturers will test for minimum breaking strength (MBS) and/or working load limit (WLL) and have the proper safety designations.

Inspection
The studio has the right to inspect personal equipment anytime, for any reason. If there is a reasonable safety concern upon inspection, the concern will be communicated to the equipment owner, and remedies or options will be discussed. Equipment that does not pass the studio’s inspection criteria will not be allowed to be used in the studio.

Duration
Apparatus approval will remain active for 6 months unless otherwise specified. Your approval may be revoked at any time within that period, but you will be given notice. To reapply for approval, contact Front Desk to schedule another inspection for your equipment. If you let your approval lapse, you will be unable to use your apparatus in-studio in the interim period.

Owner Maintenance
The user of the personal equipment agrees to continue to maintain their equipment in line with the manufacturers’ specifications and Shine Fitness Studio’s recommended maintenance routine. They also agree to report any change in its condition due to accidental damage or wear that may compromise its safety.
.

Personal Equipment Policies & Guidelines

Apply to Bring Your Apparatus

Owning aerial equipment is a serious responsibility. It is up to you to ensure that you properly care for your equipment and keep it in good working condition. After purchasing your equipment, read the manufacturer’s recommendations for care and any maintenance or inspection criteria provided. 

When in doubt, refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations. If the manufacturer does not have a clear inspection and care recommendations, we strongly discourage you from choosing that manufacturer. 

Some general guidelines that can be followed for caring for aerial equipment are detailed below.

We offer private lessons with our Rigging team on maintaining and setting up your apparatus. Contact the Front Desk for more information on Rigging and Equipment privates.

Maintaining & Inspecting Your Aerial Equipment

Aerial Fabrics (Silks and Hammocks)

  • Aerial fabrics are sensitive to heat, UV rays (sunlight), isopropyl alcohol, bleach, and many other chemicals. All of these can degrade the integrity of the fabric and therefore compromise safety. Do not allow it to be exposed to these conditions.
  • Do not leave your fabric in your car for extended periods of time. Do not leave fabric outside or in the path of sunlight through a window.
  • We recommend storing your apparatus in a secure bag to avoid exposure to the elements.
  • Wash fabric sparingly, with cool water and gentle detergent, and hang dry or tumble on the lowest heat setting possible.
  • Inspect fabric regularly for wear and tear.
  • Do not use fabric that has holes, runs, or melting.
  • Shift fabric periodically so you are not always using the same area of fabric at the anchor.
  • Aerial fabrics have a specified lifetime. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation, and retire the fabric after that time expires.
  • Be careful not to drop your aerial rigging hardware; treat your hardware with care.

Aerial Hoops

  • Regularly inspect the weld points for signs of degradation and the metal for signs of damage, pitting, or rust and treat accordingly.
  • If taping, change your tape regularly.
  • Routinely inspect your spansets or ropes for signs of wear and tear and replace them when appropriate.
  • Inspect shackles or carabiners and ensure that the metal does not deteriorate where the spanset, rope, or hoop sits.
  • Ensure that your hoop remains circular and has not started to deform.

Trapezes

  • Inspect your trapeze bar regularly for signs of damage, pitting, or rust, and treat accordingly.
  • If taping, change your tape regularly on an as-needed basis.
  • Frequently inspect your ropes for signs of wear and tear, including but not limited to, bunching, splitting, embedded foreign matter, and pulled strands, and replace when appropriate.
  • Ensure that the trapeze bar remains straight and does not start to deform.
  • We recommend periodically opening your trapeze's elbows to inspect the connection between the ropes and the bar.

Hardware

  • Inspect your hardware regularly for signs of wear and tear.
  • Follow manufacturer guidelines for care and upkeep of hardware.

If you do not own personal equipment and are interested in purchasing your own equipment, please take a moment to review our recommendations and considerations. If you have any questions or need additional guidance, please contact the Front Desk.

Purchasing Aerial Equipment

Aerial Fabrics (Silks and Hammocks)

Fabric and Stretch: Shine Fitness Studio uses low stretch 40 denier nylon tricot for our aerial silk and hammock fabric. For recreational use, we recommend the low-stretch 40 denier nylon tricot. As you advance your skills, you may find that high-stretch fabrics will better suit your needs for more advanced drops and skills.

Manufacturer and Quality: We only allow equipment purchased from reputable manufacturers to be used in the studio. We strongly discourage students from purchasing equipment from Amazon, eBay, Etsy, or other sites where the original manufacturer may not be known or guaranteed. Our trusted vendors have a long history of manufacturing high-quality products.

Length: 
  • We recommend 16-20 yards of fabric for rigging at our studio for silks. This allows for our 21-27′ ceiling height and 6-foot tail.
  • We recommend at least 10 yards of fabric for hammocks.
  • Longer fabrics can be tied to fit your needs. This allows you to purchase a single fabric for use as a silk or hammock.

Anchor: In addition to purchasing fabric, you will need hardware to attach your apparatus to the studio’s rigging system.
  • We recommend using a rescue 8 as your anchor for silks.
  • We recommend using o-rings with a spreader as your anchor for hammocks.
  • You will be responsible for attaching your fabric to your hardware.
  • Rigging your Silks with a Rescue 8
  • How to Tie a Hammock to O-Rings
  • For further assistance and questions, schedule a Rigging and Equipment private lesson.
  • Special Note on “Yoga Hammocks”:There is a separate market for “yoga hammocks,” which look like aerial slings but are not rated for aerial use. To the untrained buyer, it can be hard to tell these products apart. It is important to purchase equipment from a trusted circus or aerial supplier. We do not endorse rigging directly to a carabiner or a spanset as recommended by yoga hammock or aerial yoga apparatus sellers.

Aerial Hoop

Type: Hoops are suspended using special ropes, leads, or spansets. The attachment points are usually called tabs. For maximum versatility, we recommend purchasing a tabless hoop and spansets as they will offer the most versatility in the rigging.

Size: Hoops are generally measured by their inside diameter and you want your hoop to be properly sized for your body. Most people's ideal hoop size will be 2-3 inches taller than their seated height. If you are still growing, keep that in mind when making a hoop purchase. Next time you are in the studio for a hoop class, you can ask your instructor what size hoop you are using and what size they recommend.

Material and Composition: Hoops are typically manufactured from solid or tube (hollow) steel or aluminum. We recommend avoiding aluminum tube hoops as those can more easily deform over time. Solid steel hoops can be very heavy for their size, which can be great for spinning but can hurt if you get hit with the hoop and don’t have experience with heavy hoops.

Coating/Finish: Some hoop manufacturers may offer a protective clear coat or a powder coat applied to your apparatus. If you do not plan on taping your hoop, you should consider having your hoop powder coated, as this can add a protective, more grip-friendly layer. A powder coating also helps protect and maintain the condition of the hoop from elements that can cause rust.

Spansets: Your hoop needs spanset(s) to connect to the rigging point. Depending on your hoop setup, you may need carabiners, shackles, delta links, or a spreader to connect your spanset(s) to your hoop and rigging point.

Manufacturer and Quality:  A hoop is a circular piece of metal that has been intentionally formed and welded together. The quality of the weld point is key to the safety and integrity of the hoop. A certified welder with experience manufacturing equipment specifically for aerials is required to manufacture a safe hoop. We only allow equipment purchased from reputable manufacturers to be used in the studio. We strongly discourage students from purchasing equipment from Amazon, eBay, Etsy, or other sites where the original manufacturer may not be known or guaranteed. Our trusted vendors have a long history of manufacturing high-quality products. Where applicable, products are batch tested for safety and come with ratings that indicate either the minimum breaking strength (MBS) or safe Working Load Limit (WLL).

Trapeze

Type: There are many types of trapezes available on the market. You will want to purchase a static trapeze for use at Shine Fitness Studio. Static trapezes can be designed for solo or duo work and may come with or without pegs (bars extending past the ropes). Many manufacturers allow trapezes to be customized in various ways, including bar size, rope length, elbow color, and material.

Bar Size: For most of our students, we have found that the ideal bar length for a solo trapeze is the width of your hips plus your two hands.
  • To measure, sit in a chair with your fists at your sides. Measure from one pinky finger to the other pinky finger. This offers a fair approximation of the minimum length you need to comfortably sit on your trapeze bar and get a full grip with both hands at your sides).
  • For duo work, you will want to consult with your partner about an appropriate length for the work you will do together. Pegs are strongly recommended for duo work as they allow for more real estate on the apparatus for two people to navigate while not bringing the ropes too far apart. You and your partner should consider the following:
  • Do you need to be able to comfortably do catcher’s for lots of basing?
  • Do you do lots of mirroring side by side?

Bar Material and Composition: We recommend solid or tube (hollow) steel 1” for your bar.

Rope Length: Many manufacturers will allow you to custom order ropes in any length you’d like. If you plan on doing standing work on your trapeze, we would recommend at least 8’ ropes. If you plan on having the versatility of rigging your trapeze, 10’ or more will offer you more headspace.

Rope Material: We recommend 1” cotton ropes with an Amsteel/Dyneema core for the best mix of comfort and safety. Depending on your grip preference, you may opt for a slightly thinner or thicker rope diameter. Cotton ropes can also come with steel cores, though these will require more care as the steel cable can get easily twisted. Do not get cotton ropes without any internal support – these can be very bouncy, causing excess strain on the shoulders, and can more easily fray and break.

Manufacturer and Quality: We only allow equipment purchased from reputable manufacturers to be used in the studio. We strongly discourage students from purchasing equipment from Amazon, eBay, Etsy, or other sites where the original manufacturer may not be known or guaranteed. Our trusted vendors have a long history of manufacturing high-quality products. Where applicable, products are batch tested for safety and come with ratings that indicate either the minimum breaking strength (MBS) or safe Working Load Limit (WLL).

Hardware

Manufacturer and Quality: We only allow equipment purchased from reputable manufacturers to be used in the studio. We strongly discourage students from purchasing equipment from Amazon, eBay, Etsy, or other sites where the original manufacturer may not be known or guaranteed. Our trusted vendors have a long history of manufacturing high-quality products. Where applicable, products are batch tested for safety and come with ratings that indicate either the minimum breaking strength (MBS) or safe Working Load Limit (WLL).