Adi Firefly
As a lifelong lover of gymnastics, movement, and music, I have always made time for introspection and expression through art. Trained as an environmental scientist, I spent most of my life with my nose in books (or in scientific e-journals). In graduate school, my safe haven for self-expression was Acro (or AcroYoga). I explored the practice of play with my circus and movement communities as they offer much of what society today lacks: physical exercise, intimate yet non-sexual touch, social connection, freedom of expression…
As my practice developed, I joined the acro and circus community, teaching and performing with Melanie Ladybase, and AcroYoga Vancity founders Slava Goloubov and Devon French at Circus West. I trained standing acrobatics with SANCA instructor Orville Zharoff, receiving instruction from ex-Cirque performers, cheerleading coaches, Stefan Furst (past Austrian National sports acrobatics team coach), and Underground Circus. I would often take the first bus in the morning off of Burnaby Mountain, where I lived and worked as a community advisor (SFU Residence Life), teaching assistant, and graduate student, to meet at a gym or studio and train handstands, kickboxing, capoeira, and conditioning with my movement family. I took modern dance and ballet lessons, instilling a sense of exploration in my acro performance style and embarking on multiple journeys as I stepped into movement classes with no previous training in those schools of discipline.
In 2015, I sustained a TBI (traumatic brain injury) when I fell a short distance in a hands-free jump into shoulderstand and lived through the experience of Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) for a full year. The incident changed my life as I knew it, providing the impetus to create educational and community-building resources to others that may otherwise sustain similar injuries. As a movement enthusiast trained in the art of science, I have an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based approach to teaching and am excited about supporting others on their personal journey of healing and self-development.
I believe that my personal experiences and beginner's explorative mentality (challenge yourself personally and professionally) contribute to longevity in life and physical practice. I take small steps every day on my journey of developing my capacity to promote safety, mutual respect, and communication within the global acroyoga/arts community (I co-created Safety in Acro and Concussion Talk for Acro folks, and I have initiated several community projects as part of my personal healing journey through the psychological and physical trauma resulting from adrenal fatigue and post-concussion issues). My aim is to create a safe learning environment for others where they can challenge and overcome their personal barriers to growth.
I am excited about sharing my enthusiasm for acrobatics, art, and science, and I invite you to join me on this journey of self-discovery through movement.
As my practice developed, I joined the acro and circus community, teaching and performing with Melanie Ladybase, and AcroYoga Vancity founders Slava Goloubov and Devon French at Circus West. I trained standing acrobatics with SANCA instructor Orville Zharoff, receiving instruction from ex-Cirque performers, cheerleading coaches, Stefan Furst (past Austrian National sports acrobatics team coach), and Underground Circus. I would often take the first bus in the morning off of Burnaby Mountain, where I lived and worked as a community advisor (SFU Residence Life), teaching assistant, and graduate student, to meet at a gym or studio and train handstands, kickboxing, capoeira, and conditioning with my movement family. I took modern dance and ballet lessons, instilling a sense of exploration in my acro performance style and embarking on multiple journeys as I stepped into movement classes with no previous training in those schools of discipline.
In 2015, I sustained a TBI (traumatic brain injury) when I fell a short distance in a hands-free jump into shoulderstand and lived through the experience of Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) for a full year. The incident changed my life as I knew it, providing the impetus to create educational and community-building resources to others that may otherwise sustain similar injuries. As a movement enthusiast trained in the art of science, I have an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based approach to teaching and am excited about supporting others on their personal journey of healing and self-development.
I believe that my personal experiences and beginner's explorative mentality (challenge yourself personally and professionally) contribute to longevity in life and physical practice. I take small steps every day on my journey of developing my capacity to promote safety, mutual respect, and communication within the global acroyoga/arts community (I co-created Safety in Acro and Concussion Talk for Acro folks, and I have initiated several community projects as part of my personal healing journey through the psychological and physical trauma resulting from adrenal fatigue and post-concussion issues). My aim is to create a safe learning environment for others where they can challenge and overcome their personal barriers to growth.
I am excited about sharing my enthusiasm for acrobatics, art, and science, and I invite you to join me on this journey of self-discovery through movement.
Title Photo Credit: P. Chevreau
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