From professional performances to bachelorette parties and girls’ nights at the studio, Axis Pole Fitness has options for anyone wanting to experience cirque-style fitness.

This style of exercise, which involves poles, aerial lyras, aerial cubes and silks, became a legitimate source of fitness about eight years ago, owner Rachel Tisdale said. During that time, Tisdale gave birth to her daughter and was looking for a way to build upper-body strength.

“It’s a gymnastics-based fitness, and you get to use fluidity and flexibility while gaining skill,” she said. “It kept me extremely interested as opposed to the gym, which I dreaded. I was always excited to practice.”

Tisdale started teaching classes out of her home, and because of the volume of people interested, she opened a studio in Cy-Fair last January. The studio—the only one of its kind in Houston—specializes in acrobatic pole fitness and aerial arts with aerial lyras and silks, a cube and poles.

“I really wanted to share the joy of pole fitness and aerial arts,” Tisdale said. “It’s such an exciting addiction. It’s different than running or weightlifting because you’re constantly seeing the little rewards.”

Lead instructor Megan Reaneau helped Tisdale open the studio. Her background in gymnastics—she coached for eight years—made her interested in the concept.

“One of the reasons I love doing this is seeing the strides people have made,” Reaneau said.

Classes run every hour on the hour and last about 60 minutes. Clients begin by taking a beginner or pole fit class during which they learn the basic skills of each piece of equipment.

A membership at Axis Pole Fitness costs $160 a month and allows for clients to take three classes weekly. New clients are required to call first to ensure they are placed in the appropriate class and to reserve spots in each class. Members can also take part in open-gym time, which gives them the opportunity for more practice on a specific piece of equipment.

Clients who excel in the classes may eventually be able to participate in Axis Performing Arts—an entity that performs throughout the Greater Houston area.

“Once you get to the point at Axis where you want to be, which might take you two years, you still have different outlets to challenge you,” Tisdale said.

Client Mindy Lang began taking classes at Axis Pole Fitness about six months ago because she wanted to get involved with acrobatic fitness.

“The flexibility has been the biggest source of opportunity for me,” Lang said. “I like feeling like I can be a circus performer for the day.”

Axis has about 70 clients, but Tisdale said the studio could eventually host up to 200 people throughout the week in classes and open gym.

“It’s a lot of fun, and the next day you’ll be so sore,” Reaneau said. “You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish in one day.”