New workout involves aerial dancing in dangling hoops

CHELSEA (WABC) -- There's a new sport that involves aerial dancing through hoops dangling on ceilings.

"I am pretty fearless," says Avaleen Blake, a newcomer to the workout. "I'll try anything."

That's the right attitude for an aerial hoop class.

Avaleen Blake has started classes at Body and Pole in Chelsea, where instructors ease you into the world of aerial performance.

Here, instructors like Jen James teach you how to hold your weight on these hoops, but even with small moves, you quickly realize this is a workout.

"It's mainly upper body and core," says James. "But ultimately, you're working everything--keeping it engaged, strong and lifted, and working through flexibility stuff as well."

In the introductory class you learn how to hang from the hoop.

The experience is kind of like hanging from monkey bars, but the hoops move, which makes it much more challenging.

And hanging is only one part of performing with a hoop. The idea is to eventually get into the hoop.

"I feel strong," says James while dancing in the air. "I feel beautiful. I feel like I won, like there was a challenge in my day, and I just did it."

Again, this workout doesn't come easily for most.

With some practice, you can get to James' level. And while there are some potentially dangerous moves, there are no wrong moves.

Alicia Low has come so far in just several months.

"When I first started, I could not physically lift myself into the hoop at all," Low says. Instructors had to help lift her into the hoop.

Now, you might say she's hooked on hoops.

"I actually do have a hoop for my house to practice," says Low.