Always wanted to do a cartwheel, hold a handstand or land your first flip, but think it’s too late? Good news: at Paragym, at 5465 Rue de Bordeaux in Montreal, most of our members are adults, and many of them started with no experience at all. Our adult acrobatics classes draw on gymnastics, parkour and circus, in a recreational, supportive and non-competitive setting.
Why learn acrobatics as an adult?
Acrobatics is a playful way to get stronger, more flexible and more at home in your body. Every class is a full workout: strength, coordination, balance, awareness of your body in space… and a lot of fun when a new move finally clicks. Beginners are welcome: everything is built on safe progressions, where each skill is broken down into small steps before being put back together.
Your skills journey: from rolls to flips
At Paragym you don’t learn a flip overnight. You build a path, step by step, at your own pace.
The basics: rolls, cartwheels and jumps
It all starts with simple movements done well: body lines, forward rolls, cartwheels, jumping and landing, first inversions. That’s the work of Foundations, our most accessible class, with a slower pace and plenty of focus on the “why” behind each movement.
Handstands
The handstand is a pillar of acrobatics. Equibasics is made for beginners who want better balance, control and stability. Equilibrium then focuses on inverted balance on the hands, and Equi-Acro (Blue/Black level) explores variations and transitions.
Round-offs and first flips
In Acrobasics you continue learning the 21 Fundamental Movement Families, linked to a thematic “compound” move: cartwheels, rolls, bridges, inversions, then the foundations of the front flip, backflip, side flip and back handspring, with assistance, the air floor and crash mats.
Advanced flips
The advanced Core Acrobatics class trains Paragym’s cornerstone flips: front flips, backflips, side flips, round-offs, front and back handsprings, aerial cartwheels and more. Each movement is broken down into progressive steps until you can do it independently. To mix acrobatics with obstacles, there’s Acro-Obstacles.
Tricking moves inside our acrobatics classes
Drawn to the kicks, twists and flips of tricking? Paragym doesn’t run a separate tricking class: those skills are learned inside our acrobatics classes. The same foundations (take-off, rotation, air awareness, landing) serve both. Core Acrobatics even includes tricking-style moves such as the flash kick and the aerial cartwheel.
How the levels work
Our classes follow four participation levels based on the Paragym Movement Assessment:
- Orange (level 1): true beginner, first introduction to acrobatics.
- Red (level 2): active beginner who can do a “functional” cartwheel and forward roll.
- Blue (level 3): athletic beginner with a fluid cartwheel and a 20-second wall handstand.
- Black (level 4): experienced, over a year of structured classes and a solid base of flips.
Each level’s skills are detailed on the Levels & Curriculum page. Not sure where you fit? Take the placement quiz.
Safety and coaching
Safety comes from progressions: no skipping steps. Skills are trained in small teams of two or three participants who learn both how to perform a movement and how to spot it correctly, using Paragym’s own assistance techniques and suitable surfaces.
Your first class
Classes are barefoot, and there are changing rooms on site. Wear comfortable clothes you can move freely in. Check the schedule and pricing (à la carte or membership), and see the full list of our adult classes. Aiming for a backflip? Check out our Backflip to the Future program too.
Not sure which class to book first? Foundations is the best starting point for beginners and athletic people alike, and the placement quiz can point you to a higher level if you already move well. From there, you progress class by class, at your own pace.
Ready to give it a try?
Check the schedule, pick your class and come move with us at 5465 Rue de Bordeaux.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to start adult acrobatics?
No. Beginners are welcome. Foundations and the Orange level are designed as a first contact with acrobatics, even if you haven’t been active for a while.
Will I really learn flips?
Yes, at your own pace. After the basics, Acrobasics introduces assisted flips, and Core Acrobatics trains advanced flips until you can do them independently.
Is there a tricking class?
No. Tricking kicks, twists and flips are learned inside our acrobatics classes, from the same foundations.
What should I bring?
Comfortable clothes. Classes are barefoot and changing rooms are available.