Ever since I started coming to circus class, teachers have been talking about building up core strength. That means having strong muscles in the center part of your body — not just in your arms and legs.

But Teresa Tipping’s circus acrobatic classes are bringing the idea of a serious core workout to a whole new level. Besides back bends, push-ups, stretching, and the other warm-up exercises we do in other circus classes — which can be pretty hard work by themselves — she’s added pull-ups, pikes, and a kind of weight-lifting where we lift a partner or support a partner’s weight while we’re on the trapeze.

I figured out why all the older boys I see in circus have those muscles: I think by the time I am in high school I will, too.  Here are a few pictures from last night’s class.