CircSci
A podcast on the science of circus training and performing. Each episode hones in on different areas of practically applied research to use in your own circus training. If you're curious about a subject or question related to circus training, email your questions to koz.circ@gmail.com. Check out aaronkoz.com/thoughts for long-form posts looking at the research and how it applies to circus and aerial training.
Episodes
Master Your Meathook with Garrett Schniewind
CircSci is back with another episode...this one all about meathooks. Did you think people couldn't talk about meathooks for an hour? You thought wrong! Garrett (@garrettmovement) and I cover risk factors that come up with entering, exiting, and holding meathooks, how to program meathooks over the long run, what meathooks SHOULD look like and more.Did you ever wonder how much to train meathook
Are There Strength & Performance Changes During Your Hormonal Cycle? Featuring Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, Ph.D., CSCS
Have you ever wondered if you might benefit from structuring your training based on your hormonal/menstrual cycle?
In this episode, we answer that questions with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple. We discuss what she found in her Ph.D research (and the broader literature) when it comes to hormonal cycle changes, performance and strength metrics, and injury rates.
We also touch on how the hormonal cycle
Prenatal Weight & Aerial Training - Considerations, Contraindications & Pelvic Floor Health ft. Kerry Wee (of The Expecting Aerialist podcast)
Who doesn’t need a circus podcast crossover?!
Kerry is the host of The Expecting Aerialist, LA-based aerial silks coach, and more. We nerd out on weight training for pregnant people and about pelvic floor health for every human.
There's a lot of good stuff in here with some references to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, recent research, and my experience as an aeria
Pain Science and Management for Circus Artists w/Beth Shum, HCPC, MCSP , Circus Physio, and NHS Pain Science Specialist
Beth HCPC, MCSP, (in the US this would be kind of akin to DPT) and I discussed pain science and how it comes into play for professional and recreational circus artists and aerialists answering these questions below:
Pain perception - how do you describe and define pain?
What is the bare minimum you think a circus artist, coach, and physio should know about pain (and how to assess it) as it rela
Creativity and Variability in Circus Training and Pedagogy ft. Adam Woolley
You'll just have to listen to this one for the full description but below are some key take-aways!
Takeaways:
Incorporating variability and creativity in circus training and teaching is essential for skill development AND personal expression.
Pedagogical approaches should be rooted in beliefs about learning and should align with the values of the coach and the student.
Creativity can be fos
Rehab Yourself as a Circus Artist & Movement Optimist, featuring Greg Lehman, BKin, MSc, DC, MScPT
This conversation explores the concept of movement optimism and its application in circus and aerial training. The discussion covers topics such as biomechanics and performance in circus, the task-based approach to training, managing pain and injury, and addressing beliefs about joint misalignment. The importance of individual differences in training capacity and the role of minimal effective dose
The Utility of Movement Screens In Aerial/Circus ft. Dr. Monica Warren (Epidemiologist & Physical Therapist) and Dr. Monica Lininger (Athletic Trainer and Ph.D in Measurement and Evaluation).
In this episode, I had two amazing researchers, Dr. Meghan Warren (epidemiologist/physical therapist from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and research specialist/athletic trainer, Dr. Monica Lininger from NAU, who extensively researched the Functional Movement Screen and movement screens in general. Movement screens can be incredibly useful clinical tools, especially depending on
Motor Learning and Skill Acquisition, Unilateral vs. Bilateral Exercises, and More is not More ft. Henri Hanninen
New season of CircSci is dropping y'all! Sorry for the delay between 'sodes (I've been slammed with programs and more online coaching resource development! If you want to help support the time that goes into interviewing and editing these episodes, definitely consider contributing via Patreon.com/circkoz (where you'll also get video tutorials and more!). Anyway, Henri and I get up to some pr
Pelvic Floor Health For Aerialists: How to Tell if an Exercise is too Hard, You're Breathing Properly, and More! Ft. Mariah Frank, DPT, Pelvic Floor Specialist
I had the pleasure of interviewing Mariah before the holidays - they are an awesome physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor health for queer, trans, and other under-served populations, though works with all sorts of athletes. They work at Bethany Physical Therapy, but offer monthly pelvic floor focused physio classes online. We covered some commons signs and symptoms of pelvic floor dys
Tendon training and adaptation (in circus and hyper mobility) for performance and recovery ft. Dr. Keith Baar, Molecular Biologist
Y'all are going to love this one. Keith Baar joined myself and special guest co-host Max March-Steinman on this episode all about the molecular properties of tendons, their adaptive responses, and how to appropriately modify your training techniques depending on if you're interested in power, strength, range of motion (and maybe some things not to do), or stability (in the case of hypermobility).
Ep 8 - Coaching Styles and Outcomes, Weight Training for Circus, and Fear-based RPE ft. Dave Tilley.
Today on the podcast, we've got an interview with Dr. Dave Tilley, who runs his own podcast (@SHIFTMovementScience), we cover a variety of topics related to gymnastics and circus training as well as coaching, culture and scandals. We discuss how we can move the sport in a better direction, what are the mistakes that people are making still, and how we balance keeping someone safe, moving towards h
Pole Sport Injury Reduction, How to Structure a Pole Class , and Self-Determination Theory ft. Dr. Joanna Nicholas and Dr. Emily Scherb - CircSci Ep.7
It was so wonderful hearing from Dr. Joanna Nicholas (with guest host Emily Scherb aka The Circus Doc) - this episode covers a range of topics from Dr. Nicholas who ran a broad study that looked at pole sport (physical and psychological factors) all over Australia!
We talk about common injuries in the pole world, how much head position matters, how to structure classes to build competency in fund
Ep. 6 - Chris Gatti on Handstand Training, Coaching Perspectives, and Analysis of the 1-arm
Alright, y'all, it has been a MINUTE! This episode was recorded a while back, but there are some gems in here! We talk about Chris' recommended general handstand training session outline, coaching perspectives, and Chris' biomechanical modeling analysis of a 1-arm handstand.
Chris Gatti's (@bearded_mann) background includes time in both academic and acrobatic domains. He holds degrees in mechanic
Embracing Adaptation through Pain Science, When to use RPE, Self-efficacy in Coaching, and How to Craft an Effective Warm-up ft. Tait Brown, Clinical Exercise Physiologist
In this episode of CircSci, we cover aspects of pain science (and how tissue damage may not be as bad as we think), RPE scale usage (for strength versus skills), self-efficacy in coaching and rehab, and more (like some potential aspects of a good warm-up). Tait Brown is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, and is incredibly knowledgable in the field of Allied Health and is about as hilarious
Intermittent Fasting, Mice Research, Keto, and Dieting for Circus Artists and Aerialists ft. Dr. Ethan Weiss and Max March-Steinman
Have you ever wondered about the interaction of dieting in relation to circus or aerial training? In this episode of CircSci, we look at intermittent fasting and keto diets and whether they make sense for circus athletes with Dr. Ethan Weiss.
Dr. Weiss is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and a Principle Investigator in the Cardiovascular Research
Language Use, Perfectionism, and Nervous System Regulation - How They Impact Our Training/Performing ft. Janelle of CirquePsych
Alright, y’all, we’ve got a new episode up with @janelledinosaurs AKA @cirque_psych (LSW). In this episode, we covered how the language we use can impact our physiological response in training, the benefits and detriments of perfectionism as it applies to training, and how to regulate our nervous system to support our goals (and just generally had a great time!).
Janelle is a contortionist, aerial
Autoregulation, Minimum Effective Dose, and Oral Contraceptive Use on Maximal Strength Output (ft. Dr. Eric Helms)
Ever been curious about how to assess when to stop training a dynamic aerial skill versus a strength skill? In this episode of CircSci, we explore the way you can use autoregulation and repetitions left in reserve to pick sets/reps and load for differing types of exercise and skills.
Throughout my coaching and academic careers, I’ve always looked up to experts who: were constantly learning, humbl
Hormonal Cycle Periodization - The Pun Wasn't Made
Interview with Jess Allen - @awyrol - who is an aerial instructor/performer in Wales, has completed two PhD's, and has spent the pandemic looking into periodization into relation to hormonal changes because she's a bit mental (in the best way!).
We cover the effects of hormonal cycles/changes as reported in meta-analyses, anecdotal experience, and ways to periodize or autoregulate your training
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