Suspended in Baltimore: Where Aerial Fitness Meets the City's Growing Acro Community

Suspended is an aerial fitness studio in Canton that specializes in silks, hammock, and lyra instruction for adults ranging from complete beginners to advanced practitioners, filling a gap in Baltimore's limited aerial training landscape.

What Suspended actually is

Suspended operates as a dedicated aerial studio rather than a general fitness facility tacking on one aerial class. The space houses multiple rigs for simultaneous silks, hammock, and lyra instruction, with classes structured by skill level rather than mixed cohorts. Unlike aerial instruction embedded in dance studios or CrossFit boxes, Suspended's instructors work exclusively in aerial disciplines, which changes both the depth of conditioning progression and the community that forms. The studio sits in Canton, accessible from multiple neighborhoods but anchored to that corridor's fitness concentration around Boston Street.

Services and pricing

Silks, hammock, and lyra classes run on a drop-in or class-package basis. A single drop-in class costs $20; a 5-class package runs $90 (or $18 per class), and a 10-class package costs $165 ($16.50 per class). Monthly unlimited membership is $130. Beginners start with a 60-minute fundamentals class that covers basic wraps, safety rigging checks, and floor conditioning; intermediate and advanced students move into 75-minute sessions that add inversions, transitions, and strength-endurance sequences. Private lessons run $60 per hour for one person. Class availability shifts seasonally, so confirming the current schedule directly is essential.

How Suspended compares to other Baltimore aerial options

Baltimore has no other dedicated aerial-only studio. Charm City Yoga in Fells Point offers occasional aerial yoga (hammock-based) as an add-on class, pricing it at $18 per drop-in session; it prioritizes the relaxation angle rather than strength training. Some CrossFit boxes in the area (including facilities in Canton and Fells Point) offer aerial conditioning workshops once or twice monthly, but these are one-off sessions rather than progressive training paths. Choose Suspended if you want structured progression, multiple apparatus options, and instructors whose entire practice centers on aerial work. Choose Charm City Yoga's aerial class if your goal is gentle inversion and mobility rather than building aerial strength. CrossFit workshops suit people already embedded in that community who want to try aerial as variety, not as a primary discipline.

Who it suits and who it does not suit

Suspended works best for adults seeking serious aerial training without dance or circus performance pressure. The beginner focus means no prior experience is necessary. The skill-level class structure allows someone to progress over months without outgrowing the community. It also suits people drawn to the social element; aerial classes generate tight-knit groups because the work is both challenging and vulnerable (inversion, controlled falling, trust in rigging). This is not a gym where you anonymously check off a workout. It does not suit people seeking brief, high-intensity conditioning (aerial work prioritizes control and technique over speed), those with certain shoulder or wrist conditions without modification clearance from a physician, or anyone uncomfortable with being inverted or suspended in air. The cost per session is higher than typical group fitness, so it suits committed participants more than casual drop-ins.

What the first visit involves

New students arrive 10 minutes early to fill out a waiver and discuss any injuries or limitations with the instructor. The fundamentals class begins with a 10-minute floor warm-up covering shoulder mobility, core activation, and hip opening. The instructor then demonstrates wrapping the chosen apparatus (usually silks for beginners), guides students through the wrap step-by-step, and emphasizes safety checks: a student verifies the wrap is secure before committing weight. The rest of the 60 minutes cycles through basic climbs, simple wraps that support the body in suspended positions, and controlled descents. You spend roughly 40 minutes in the air (broken into multiple short attempts) and 20 on the ground learning and conditioning. Expect to feel sore in shoulders and forearms for 2-3 days after your first session; this is normal. Bring water and wear clothes that allow arm movement (t-shirt and leggings work; avoid anything baggy that gets caught on the apparatus).

Hours, parking, and logistics

Suspended operates Tuesday through Sunday; Monday is closed. Evening classes run 6 and 7 p.m. most days, with weekend morning sessions at 9 and 10 a.m. (confirm current hours, as they can shift). The Canton location sits on Boston Street with street parking and a small adjacent lot shared with neighboring businesses. Street spots fill during evening rush, so arriving 15 minutes early on weekdays is wise. The studio is a short walk from the Canton Light Rail stop on the Green Line. There are no locker rooms, but the space has a small shelf area for belongings.

Suspended fills the only full-time aerial niche in Baltimore, making it essential for anyone serious about the discipline in the city.