Cover Story

Balancing Act

Heller's students navigate the Spanish web.

By Ann Marie Quill; photography by Marcy J. Levinson

With the faint smell of incense and the glow of soft lighting, the moment you enter Carrie Heller's studio near Little 5 Points, you might think you've walked into a yoga or massage studio —it's that soothing.

Carrie Heller demonstrates the trapeze.

Heller's students navigate the Spanish web.

But with students hanging from the trapeze, inching up the Spanish web and walking across the tightrope, something's different about this space. It's the Circus Arts Institute, and it's not about learning to perform under the Big Top; it's about getting into shape in a fun and supportive environment.

As a child Heller attended a summer camp at Florida State University that offered circus training, and she was hooked. But she didn't run away with the circus. Instead, Heller became a licensed clinical social worker while teaching circus arts during the summer.

She founded Atlanta's first circus school in 1988 and the Atlanta Circus Camp in 1993.

Heller's two disciplines began to merge as the therapeutic benefits of circus training became obvious to her.

In addition to her fitness program, Heller provides circus arts therapy to children with attention disorders and behavioral, emotional and physical issues, such as low self-esteem, anxiety and obesity. She also offers corporate team building and family programs and performs at corporate functions. Heller has performed workshops at Davis Academy and the Epstein School.

She opened her fitness studio just a few weeks ago after traveling across the country teaching circus training safety and therapy benefits to teachers.

"People come in and have one of the most intense workouts they can have but don't realize it," Heller says. "I keep it slow in terms of pacing myself and students. Some people get gung ho when starting a new exercise program, but here they are able to start one with guidance. I teach you how to listen to your own body. As I was training all these years, I just started realizing a great workout."

She says there is also a mental component to her training. Heller teaches the students brain-balancing exercises that "sharpen the mind and help with mental focus."

Heller says the physical components of her training include proper body position for everyday living, aerobics, strength training, injury prevention and nutrition. She encourages students not just to pay attention to their physical fitness during class, but also to undergo a lifestyle change that includes better nutrition and aerobic exercise at home.

"My goal is to help people have a healthy lifestyle," Heller says.

For more information, visit www.circusartsinstitute.com.