Advertisement

Trapeze To Beat Depression: Can 'Walking On Air' Beat Mental Illness?

Can swinging around upside down really do wonders for our mental health? One employment charity seems to think so. Our writer gets vertical to see what all the fuss is about

“Flies through the air with the greatest of ease," sings Springsteen, sending my trapeze dreams to new heights.

Perched - at last (AON)
Perched - at last (AON)

But I fear the reality will be somewhat less graceful.

I'm in south London, at My Arial Home, a circus school specialising in rope climbing, hoop skills, acrobalance and contortion, to give trapeze a go.

The lessons are successfully helping people with depression and anxiety, and I'm curious to discover exactly how swinging on a beam can improve mental health.

Because a trapeze bar, let me tell you, makes a spin bike saddle feel like a cosy armchair spun from the finest cashmere.

And for those of you who have never attempted the aerial apparatus and are sceptical about the level of fitness involved – it’s basically a glorified swing, right? – think again.

The trapeze demands serious physical and mental agility, and a committed approach, to see real progress.

My Ariel Home
My Ariel Home

 

Mental Health Benefits

Many of the attendees to the Monday night sessions are referred here through charitable employment agency Status Employment, which services people with mental health needs, or via Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

According to research carried out by the charity, learning how to master the trapeze can significantly improve mood, boost confidence and alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

“Traditionally, employment projects focus on getting people into the classroom to train them for work, but if you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, then this clearly isn’t the right approach,” explains Robert Elston, Status Employment’s chief executive.

Funded by a trust set up by Charlton Athletic, the charity launched a programme six years ago, offering football training to those suffering from social and mental health issues. The aim was to gradually encourage them back into the workplace, and over a three-year period, it proved incredibly successful.

“Nearly everyone moved into social inclusion, lost weight and felt better about themselves, and we found jobs for most of them,” explains Robert.

“The problem was, not many women were taking up football. We had a consultant, Jo Rixom, who did the trapeze and felt it could work equally as well. So we got funding from South London and Maudsley Trust, and put on two pilot projects.

"We measured depression scores at the start of each programme and, after eight weeks, nearly all the scores had halved.”

“Politicians are always telling people out of work that they need to get a job, but for people suffering from depression or anxiety, they have to feel better about themselves first. For many, the idea of getting on to a trapeze is impossible, so it’s about trying to build that confidence up.”

One day... (My Aerial Home)
One day... (My Aerial Home)

Amanda Miles, who set up My Aerial Home six years ago, agrees.

“There’s a great camaraderie that comes with learning these skills, and yet everything you do is about helping yourself.

"It’s really quite hard – the trapeze is an art form and you have to be dedicated – but you can see improvements relatively quickly. When people feel physically strong, they tend to feel mentally strong, too.”

Emily, a 29-year-old student nurse, who came to My Aerial Home via her CBT therapist, is a poster girl for the transformative power of the trapeze.

“I was in a really dark space a few months ago and mentioned to my therapist that physical activity improves my mood, so she recommended My Aerial Home.

"I was doubtful it would make an improvement to my state of mind, but being with a group of people and conquering fears like doing a handstand has really helped. I feel like I can overcome anything now.”

After all the chatting it was time for me to give it a shot.

I’d always secretly imagined soaring through the air in a spangly leotard, some sculpted, brooding artiste waiting to catch me on the other side. The reality was more sore than soring, as it took me a good 10 ten minutes to get on to the bloody thing, strike an ungainly showgirl pose then dismount.

All with a great deal of assistance. In fact, I made the ignominious fireman’s pole scene in Bridget Jones look like a solid Cirque du Soleil performance.

I'm totally sold on the idea of trapezing as a sort of therapy - I've met the success sorties. But for the time being, I think clown college is a safer bet for me.

[Forget the incense - this is modern meditation]
[Fake a full night's sleep in five minutes]