How Aerial Arts Rewires the Adult Brain: Neuroscience-Backed Benefits of Pole & Aerial Fitness for Adults 25+

By engaging in aerial and pole training — which combine new movement, balance-challenge, error-rich practice, and incremental learning — adults over 25 can unlock neuroplasticity in their brains, boosting adaptability, learning capacity, and long-term cognitive resilience.

A week ago, while walking my dogs, the algorithm sent me an episode from The Huberman Lab  titled “How to Learn Faster by Using Failures, Movement & Balance.” As I listened, I found myself nodding along (and occasionally whispering “YES!” into my AirPods). Dr. Andrew Huberman, a Stanford neuroscientist, was explaining how adults learn — not just mentally, but neurologically. And everything he said about movement, balance, and learning through failure sounded exactly like what happens every day in pole and aerial classes at Altitude.

That’s when it hit me: Pole & Aerial training isn’t just a workout. It’s a brain workout.

The Science of Learning — and Why Adults Need Movement to Rewire

According to the podcast, the adult brain doesn’t stop changing after 25 — but it does get more selective. We have to earn our neuroplasticity. The way we do that? Through errors, novelty, and balance challenges.

When you attempt something new — like learning a drop on a sling or your first inversion — you may get confused or mess up a little, recalibrate, and try again. That process of “fail and fix” tells your brain:

“Pay attention. We need to get better at this.”

That’s neuroplasticity — your brain literally reshaping its wiring to meet the challenge.

Huberman also highlights the vestibular system (your inner-ear balance network) as one of the fastest ways to trigger plasticity. When you move your body through space — flipping, spinning, or hanging upside-down — you’re activating a deep brain-body conversation that keeps your nervous system sharp and adaptive.

Why Traditional Gyms Don’t Fire Up the Brain the Same Way

Here’s the thing: walking on a treadmill, lifting weights in the same pattern, or zoning out during an elliptical session may help your heart, but your brain has likely checked out. Those activities don’t demand novelty, coordination, or multi-directional balance. They’re repetitive. Predictable. Safe.

Aerial, on the other hand, is the opposite. Every climb, spin, and transition is a complex, full-body puzzle. You’re constantly adapting to shifting forces, solving problems in midair, and using both your creative and logical brain simultaneously. That’s what makes aerial fitness such a potent tool for neuroplasticity — especially for adults over 25..

Pole & Aerial: The Ultimate Adult Brain Gym

Each element of pole and aerial practice matches the neuroscience behind faster learning:

• Failures as Feedback: In aerial, wobbling or missing a catch isn’t failure — it’s information. Those micro-corrections create the conditions for lasting brain change.

• Balance as Brain Fuel: Spins, inversions, and dynamic transitions activate your vestibular system — a direct line to your brain’s learning centers.

• Novelty Never Ends: Every class challenges coordination in a new way. Variety keeps your brain lit up and your motivation high.

• Short, Focused Bouts: Class formats naturally follow a prescription for adult learning — focused bursts of effort, followed by recovery.

Why Adults Over 25 Need This Kind of Challenge

As adults, it’s easy to slip into autopilot. The body repeats what it knows; the brain stops stretching. Pole and aerial disrupt that cycle. They demand curiosity, courage, and connection — all while giving your nervous system the novelty it craves. Every inversion, drop, and spin is a moment of micro-discomfort that your brain learns to master. That’s how confidence grows, not just in the studio but in life. So when you take a class, you’re not just improving strength or flexibility — you’re keeping your brain adaptable, resilient, and young.

My Takeaway: Embrace the Wobble

Listening to this podcast validated what I’ve witnessed for over 12 years in the studio: Adults who challenge their balance, fail forward, and try new things don’t just get stronger — they get smarter.

If you’ve ever said, “I could never do that,” your brain is begging you to prove it wrong. Come climb, spin, and (yes) fail a little — because that’s where the magic happens. Your body will thank you. Your brain will too. And your inner child? She’ll finally get her wings.

Ready to train your brain and body? Join a class today.

References

Huberman, A. (2021). How to Learn Faster by Using Failures, Movement & Balance. Huberman Lab Podcast, Episode 7. Listen on Spotify

HubermanLab.com Episode Summary