FAQs
We offer a variety of classes including pole and aerial fitness, dance and stretch. Our classes are designed for EVERY BODY, and don’t require any prerequisites. Have a peek at our live schedule to see what’s on and when.
For your first pole class, it’s totally cool to wear any gym/fitness/yoga/dance wear like leggings and a t-shirt or other top you feel comfy in and can move freely in. As you progress with your pole training, skin grip will become more important and shorts should be worn from a few sessions in. Please don’t moisturise before pole class and remove all jewellery, especially rings, bracelets and watches so both your valuables and our poles don’t get scratched.
For aerial classes, please wear tight fitting clothing that you can move freely in to prevent your clothes from getting caught on the fabric or hoop. No zips or long sharp nails in fabric class please as these can cause tears to the silks. Please remove all jewellery, especially rings, bracelets and watches so both your valuables and our equipment don’t get scratched or torn. Please also head to our blog to read all about how to prep for your first ever pole or aerial class.
Clothing-wise, we encourage freedom of expression! We love seeing you wear whatever makes you feel confident, empowered, sexy, free and ready to move and comfortable! Our sole requirement is that you please wear fitted and appropriate clothing and do ensure nipples and genitals are well covered and contained at all times, regardless of your gender. Please ensure what you are wearing is suitable for the sport you are participating in.
https://support.goteamup.com/for-members-athletes-and-customers#getting-started
You can manage your cancellations via the GoTeamUp app or by logging into your GoTeamUp user account on your browser. Unfortunately we cannot give you a catch up credit if you do not untick your place 24 hours before class starts. The reason for this is that often our classes are often full so if you untick your attendance this gives another person the opportunity to take your place. However, if you only untick your attendance ten minutes before class it’s unlikely we’ll be able to fill that place which is why we’ve capped it at 24 hours. Please don’t ask us to break this rule no matter what the reason is, we can’t be fair to everyone if we bend the rules on some occasions and not others.
If you cancel a class with more than 24 hours notice from the lesson start time, your credit is refunded into your membership/lesson pack allowance, or a refund into your bank account is automatically issued if you booked the session PAYG. Depending on your bank, please allow up to 5 working days for the refund to process and show in your statement.
No refunds of lesson credits or PAYG payments are available if you cancel with less than the standard 24 hours notice.
Private lessons are also bound by a 24 hour cancellation period. Some one-off workshops, events and photoshoots will incur individual cancellation policies, which are issued by the individual facilitator and clearly stated at the time of booking on our booking system.
There are no prerequisites for any of our beginner classes and we welcome complete newbies! You will build strength, stamina and improved flexibility as you go along, week by week, at your own pace and under the guidance of your instructor. The beauty of aerial and pole training is the appreciation of us all being unique, therefore our training and progress will never be the same and we can train in a supportive environment where we can explore our individual strengths and weaknesses without judgement.
In busier beginners classes, we have teaching assistants who are always on hand to help.
We pride ourselves on being an inclusive studio, where we welcome everyone and anyone. We appreciate bodies for what they can do, not what they look like. You do NOT have to be a certain size to start pole fitness, aerial training or any of our other classes!
We make sure that everyone receives a friendly and warm welcome at the studio to put you at ease. We’ve all been for a first class once and know how scary it can feel to make that first step.
We always have a little chat with every newbie to make sure you’re happy and fit to take part in our classes. We then have a little health and safety brief before warming up as a group and getting the class underway. Head to our blog post to read all about your first lesson x
There is no age limit for classes and we have students in their 60s climbing to the top of our 5 metre poles! As long as you’re feeling good and have no health conditions that prevent you from safely taking part and giving a different type of workout a good go, then you’re all set!
Our heels pole, heels choreography, spinning heels, flow and freestyle, fierce flow, and heels technique classes require a minimum age of 18 to take part.
Please be aware that participation in all our pole fit, aerial hoop, silks, sling, pilates and flexibility classes requires a minimum age of 16 years. Those aged 16 and 17 years old will have to produce parental consent before taking part in their first class. This is super straight forward via our booking system with the option of signing up a class participant as a parent or guardian.
Prior to your first class with us, please seek clearance from your medical professional if you may have any condition that could prevent you from safely taking part. In the case of injuries, again please speak to your doctor or other healthcare professional when it is safe for you to start a new exercise regimen.
All our venues have bathrooms that double up as a changing rooms. There is plenty of space in the studios to keep your valuables close by.
Our studios open 15 minutes before class times.
Momentum Pole & Aerial does not accept any liability in the case of loss or damage to your property while stored on any of our studio premises.
We try to make our classes as accessible as possible so the fab news is that all our classes can be booked on a drop in basis. You can get started and book in for your first class whenever you’re ready and on a day and time that is most suitable for you and your schedule. It means that you can easily attend across venues, choose different classes, days and times each week. Super helpful if you work shifts for example, and it means you can register for a class any time before it starts. You keep this flexibility even with memberships and lesson packs. Booking your spot before class starts is vital as we do not take walk ins or cash payments. Please see our new starters info page here!
In January and September, we run our bespoke Momentum Method 12-week programs! A great way to start with a big group of fellow first timers 🙂 Check out our upcoming programs on our Momentum Method page!
Absolutely! Pole and aerial classes have so many wonderful benefits for every body and should be enjoyed by all!
We’d ask you to let us know as soon as possible so that we can advise which class is best for you going forward, for us to have a chat about training during pregnancy generally – after all pole and aerial are higher risk than other forms of exercise, and for us to touch base with our pregnancy PARQ.
After bébé is here, we advise a chat with your doctor or nurse for clearance to exercise before returning to, or starting up, pole and aerial training. If you are postnatal, please chat to us before signing up to classes, and similar to training during pregnancy, we can then advise you which class is best to attend to ease back in or start up.
All poles are from UK manufacturer X-Pole which are tested to withstand lateral forces of 360kgs plus.
Our trusses, rigging, strops, ropes, hardware, swivels, carabiners, quick links, figure 8s we use all have a safety factor of 10:1 and minimum breaking strengths of up to 40kN aka 4 tons.
All fabrics and hoops are from leading UK aerial acrobatics manufacturers such as Firetoys and Prodigy who have the highest safety ratings on the market.
Working Load Limits (WLL) range from 140-190kgs depending on the type of hoop used, and 170kgs for fabric as per manufacturer issued paperwork with a Factor Of Safety (FOS) of 7:1 to 5:1.
We are always happy to chat more and get nerdy about physics and dynamics and disclose certificates, structural engineer sign offs, manufacturer guidelines, rigging installs and technical specs.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do email us on hello@momentumpoleaerial.com as we are always keen to chat and offer help.
Drop in pole and aerial group classes are priced at £16 including VAT at 20%.
You can snap up your first taster sesh for a tenner, either by attending a drop in class with our taster code, or coming to one of our monthly trials.
Find relevant info here:
Our 12 week beginner courses are priced at £150 with payment plans available. For more info, please click here The Momentum Method.
We offer a range of flexible monthly recurring memberships and bulk buy lesson packs which you can check out on our Memberships and Prices page.
ACCESSIBILITY
We are proud of our diverse teaching team here at Momentum Pole & Aerial LTD and we all want to ensure your experience with us is as enjoyable as possible. We consistently receive good feedback from our students, including those with specific needs.
However, we know there are always opportunities for us to improve, so please feel free to discuss any of your needs, worries or concerns with us before, or during your time training with us. Our absolute priorities as a studio are your safety and your enjoyment!
While pole and aerial are challenging physical activities to undertake, we are always open to discussing how we can make pole and aerial disciplines as accessible as we reasonably can. If you are concerned that your accessibility needs may prevent you from taking up pole or aerial, please get in touch with us to have a chat. We would love to work with you to see if there is any way we can make pole or aerial arts classes a safe option for you.
Specific accessibility notes for each studio can be found below and on the individual contact pages for each venue:
GLOS HQ
The pole and aerial studio at Gloucester HQ is located on the first floor in Morelands Trading Estate which is a Victorian warehouse and factory building. The constraints of the building mean that there is no person lift available, despite the site featuring a goods lift, and the only access to the studio is via a metal staircase.
Toilet facilities
A gender-neutral toilet is located in our first-floor studio itself, with further toilets in the hallway that are shared between all first-floor businesses. None of the toilets are accessible toilets.
Assistive Hearing Loop
The building does not have a hearing loop. If you have any hearing difficulties, please ensure the instructor knows at the beginning of the class/get in touch with us before your first sessions so we can discuss with you how to ensure the lesson is both accessible and safe for you.
Wellbeing and quiet areas
Please be aware that classes can be noisy and there is usually music playing in both of our studio spaces at Glos HQ. GlosHQ has a reception area with sofas in the smaller pole studio space (second door), a shared waiting area in the hallway, and a small kitchen with access to water and hot drinks. All areas of the studio are open to all clients at all times. If you need a quiet moment, please feel free to let your instructor know and you are welcome to head anywhere that works best for you. For fire safety purposes, please ensure your instructor or TA know where you are planning to go.
Parking and travel
There are several free car parks in Morelands Trading Estate with accessible parking spaces. The site is often busy which may impact availability of parking spaces.
Glos HQ is situated in the heart of Gloucester along Bristol Road and close to Gloucester Quays. The site is serviced by a range of bus routes, stopping either on Bristol Road or nearby in the city centre. The train station is a 20-minute walk, or short bus, taxi or cycle ride away.
If you cycle to the studio, you are welcome to lock your bike inside, just as you come in the downstairs door, or send your bike upstairs using the goods lift.
For video studio tours and detailed directions, please click here.
CHELTENHAM RODNEY ROAD POLE STUDIO
The pole studio on Rodney Road in Cheltenham is located on the first floor inside the café on 24 Rodney Road. Access is via a curved stone staircase and the constraints of the building mean it does not have a lift.
Assistive Hearing Loop
The building does not have a hearing loop. If you have any hearing difficulties, please ensure the instructor knows at the beginning of the class/get in touch with us before your first sessions so we can discuss with you how to ensure the lesson is both accessible and safe for you.
Toilet facilities
Gender-neutral bathrooms are located on the ground floor in the café and shared between both businesses. Unfortunately neither of the toilets are accessible.
Wellbeing and quiet areas
Please be aware that classes can be noisy and there is usually music playing in the studio space at Cheltenham Rodney Road. The venue has a small changing cubicle and a small kitchen/reception area where you can help yourself to water. All areas of the studio are open to all clients at all times. If you need a quiet moment, please feel free to let your instructor know and you are welcome to head anywhere that works best for you. For fire safety purposes, please ensure your instructor or TA know where you are planning to go.
Parking and travel
Accessible parking spaces are available along Rodney Road and in the nearby Rodney Road car park and Regent Arcade multi storey.
Cheltenham Rodney Road Pole Studio is located in the heart of Cheltenham town. The site is serviced by a range of bus routes, stopping in the town centre within 5-10 minute walking distance. The train station is a 30-minute walk, or short bus, taxi or cycle ride away.
If you cycle to the studio, you are welcome to lock your bike inside if the café is closed, just as you come in the downstairs door. Alternatively, you can use nearby town centre cycle parking.
For video studio tours and detailed directions, please click here.
CHELTENHAM BOURNSIDE AERIAL STUDIO
Our aerial arts classes are located in the drama studio suite at Cheltenham Bournside Sports Centre. The venue is on the ground floor with level access.
Toilet facilities
Bournside Sports Centre has accessible bathrooms.
Assistive Hearing Loop
The building does not have a hearing loop. If you have any hearing difficulties, please ensure the instructor knows at the beginning of the class/get in touch with us before your first sessions so we can discuss with you how to ensure the lesson is both accessible and safe for you.
Wellbeing and quiet areas
Please be aware that classes can be noisy and there is usually music playing in the studio space at Bournside Sports Centre. There is a water cooler on site, as well as quiet areas, which can be found in the atrium, changing rooms and outside grounds. The drama studio suite itself has seating and feels spacious enough for a quiet moment. All public areas at Cheltenham Bournside Sports centre are open to all site users. If you need a quiet moment, please feel free to let your instructor know and you are welcome to head anywhere that works best for you. For fire safety purposes, please ensure your instructor or TA know where you are planning to go.
Parking and travel
Accessible parking spaces are available at Cheltenham Bournside Sports Centre car park. This car park can get very busy, with overflow parking including accessible spaces available at the Bettridge School opposite.
Bournside Sports Centre is located in the Warden Hill area of Cheltenham. A range of bus routes run nearby to the site, stopping within 5-10 minutes walking distance. The train station is a 30-minute walk, or short bus, taxi or cycle ride away.
If you cycle to Bournside Sports Centre, you will see cycle parking outside the venue as you head towards reception.
For a video on how to locate the studio in the sports centre and detailed directions, please click here.
