{"id":133,"date":"2013-11-03T00:14:50","date_gmt":"2013-11-03T00:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aerialdancing.com\/blog\/?p=133"},"modified":"2013-11-03T01:53:00","modified_gmt":"2013-11-03T01:53:00","slug":"in-our-circles-in-our-circles-how-to-spin-without-losing-your-lunch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.aerialdancing.com\/blog\/in-our-circles-in-our-circles-how-to-spin-without-losing-your-lunch\/","title":{"rendered":"In Our Circles, In Our Circles: How to Spin Without Losing Your Lunch"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following article is from one of the awesome aerial instructors in our teacher directory, Heather Hammond. Heather is Chief Entertainment Officer \u00a0and Head Instructor at Heliummm Aerial Dance & Entertainment in New York City. She recently coached and added new aerial choreography to Lincoln Center’s Monkey: Journey to the West. www.heliummm.com<\/a> for more info.
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\"spinning\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A concerned lyra student asks: \u00a0Mama Silk, how can I not toss my cookies when I start spinning? I almost threw up on the subway platform after lyra class last week. Help!<\/p>\n

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Good question, concerned student! \u00a0The short answer regardless of apparatus is: build up slowly, and practice till you get your sea legs (I mean your air legs). But let\u2019s investigate the spin phenomenon a little closer:<\/p>\n

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WHY DOES SPINNING MAKE YOU SICK? \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your brain gets information on its position in space from visual (eyes), kinesthetic (touch) and vestibular (inner ear) sources. When conflict arises from what you see, what you feel and what your brain perceives, you end up feeling crappy.<\/p>\n

With respect to your ears, there are \u00a0three of semi-circular \u00a0canals in each ear, one for each plane of movement (up\/down, left\/right, front\/back).\u00a0 These fluid-filled canals in your head\u00a0tell you which way is up and which way is left and right so you know if you\u2019re standing up or lying down.<\/p>\n

\"Semi-Circular<\/p>\n

When you spin, the fluid in these canals will spin around.\u00a0 If you stop suddenly, your body stops, but the fluid in your ears is still going. \u00a0 You think you\u2019re still spinning, but your eyes are telling you that you\u2019re not spinning. Your brain gets very confused and you feel sick. And, the \u2019tilt and rotate\u2019 combination frequently used in aerial choreography is extremely challenging for the brain\u2019s processing systems. \u00a0The scientists call it \u2018aberrant \u00a0vestibular inputs\u2019. Tourists call it \u201cStop slamming on the brake, cabbie!\u201d Aerialists call it \u2018Oh, my God! I\u2019m so barfy!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"south<\/a><\/p>\n

Scientists think some of these phenomena may harken back to our caveman days.\u00a0\u00a0The same inner ear balance mechanism that is responsible for seasickness also handles the body\u2019s ability to detect ingested poison; the signals sent to the brain when a person is spinning or seasick are the same as those sent when a person has eaten something dangerous, and the body\u2019s protective response to poison is vomiting. Therefore, when you\u2019re seasick, you vomit. Same goes for smells. I always feel worse at shows with lots of sensory overload: flashing lights, loud music, food odors (or worse, somebody else\u2019s body odor), diesel fumes from generators, etc, are likely to make me feel more barfy.<\/p>\n

PREVENTION<\/strong><\/p>\n