FIRST FALL TERM
September 1 – October, 26
SESSION ENROLLMENT
STARTS JULY 23
If you want to secure your spot in a class for the whole term, you can purchase your credits upfront and use them to enroll for the whole session. Since each term is 8 weeks long, 12-packs are your best option for session enrollment.
DROP-IN REGISTRATION
STARTS JULY 30
You can also sign up for classes on a drop-in basis, by purchasing packs and using the credits as needed. We recommend paying close attention to expiration dates. Credits can also be used for Private Point Rentals and Open Gym bookings.
ABOUT THE
TRAINING
Stretching at Circus Center is centered in techniques designed to increase your flexibility, improve your range of motion, and help prevent injury while training. Students of any age, level, and discipline can benefit with consistent stretching.
Tap into your natural flexibility to flatten your splits, improve your backbend, and safely teach your muscles to move farther and faster. Your newfound bendiness can improve your aerial training, acrobatics, and daily life.
Classes consist of active stretching exercises for every muscle, focusing especially on the legs, hips, back, and shoulders. Stretching students do thorough work on their backbends, hip openers, and splits. Our instructors correct form and gently push you deeper, building your flexibility slowly and safely. As you advance from Stretching into Contortion, you learn just how far your body can go - giving you even more tools to improve your aerial or acrobatic performances.
FLEXIBILITY & CONTORTION SCHEDULE
CLASS PACKS
When you purchase a class pack, you are purchasing class credits that you can use to sign up for classes. Most of our classes cost 1.5 credits. Credits expire 1, 3, or 6 months AFTER YOU FIRST USE THEM.
- An hour long class costs 1 credit
- An 85-minute class costs 1.5 credits
- A premium class costs 2 credits
1 DROP-IN = $30
Expires 1 month from date of first use.
6-PACK = $171
(5% off regular priced classes)
Expires 1 month from date of first use.
12-PACK = $324
(10% off regular priced classes)
Expires 3 months from date of first use.
24-PACK = $612
(15% off regular priced classes)
Expires 6 months from date of first use.
$79
INTRO PACK
Good for at least 3 classes (any classes) and up to 6.
Classes must be taken within 1 month of purchase.
Pack is good for one individual only – sharing among family members is not permitted. See our policies page for complete details.
Serchmaa Byamba
DEPARTMENT CHAIR
Serchmaa’s career in Contortion started in 1989 when she went to Russia to perform in front of thousand for the very first time. Since then she performed with “Mandukhai” Mongolian Ethnic Ensemble and traveling circus “Urguu” and Mongolian Ethnic dance and music ensemble “Jamukha” in many countries including Russia, Poland, Korea, Japan, China, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Pakistan, France, Mexico and United States of America.
In October 16th of 1992, while performing in Germany with “Urguu” circus troupe, Serchmaa was invited to participate in European Youth Circus Festival in Weistbaden, Germany. More than 35 countries sent their top circus performers including four other contortion acts from Nederland, Hamburg, Belgium and Hungary. Serchmaa was the only and still is, Asian ever to be invited to participate in European Youth Circus Festival and she won the “Golden Elephant” award and named the golden girl of Contortion.
In 1998, Serchmaa moved to USA following her husband and later in the year, was invited to be the part of traveling circus “Cirque Ingeniuex”. Serchmaa performed with the circus for a year and decided not to continue on with the circus tours, but to stay close to her family in San Francisco, CA. After settling in, Serchmaa started performing as an independent contractor and she appeared in many individual shows and performed as a part of circus shows, including numerous TV talk shows, Tom Cruise movie “Minority Report”, Will Smith’s “Pursuit of Happiness”, San Francisco Black and White Ball, Mongolian Cultural event In New York city, “the Bird House” circus performance, fire ballet “Odyssey” by Crucible, TV show “30 minutes to fame”, fashion clothing line “Dema” and “Cirque de Oy Vey”.
Serchmaa Byamba started her teaching while training 14 young girls to perform with ballet dancers for the event “The Beginning of Universe” in 1994. Four of the original 14 girls stayed to pursue contortion and Serchmaa continued to train them. Serchmaa took on the offer to teach specifically Mongolian contortion at the San Francisco Circus School “Circus Center”. At first she did not know there would be adults interested in learning Mongolian style contortion and some had a dream to be Contortionist. Because many contortionists in Mongolian still believe that when someone wants to become contortionist, one should start from as early as 6 or 7. Serchmaa recalls that in order to teach adults and train them to become contortionist, she had to make some changes in her training techniques. “Working with adults is more challenging than children, because firstly kids at young age, their bones are still not fully grown and it is easier to adopt to become more flexible, but with adults, who already have full grown bones and body, is harder to bend. I am not saying that all adults are not flexible. I have seen incredibly flexible adults who come to me and after training several courses go on to perform in front of an audience. I even had an older woman come to me and asked if she could learn to do a split and she did it. I was so proud of her and many other students. It totally changed my mind about having to learn something in earlier childhood in order to become professional. And seeing grown up people still yarning to learn more made me proud and it gave me confidence to teach adults. There just had to be different level of programs for different level of flexibility. Being professional does not just stop with you finishing some course or having diploma, but it requires you to continue improving yourself everyday with lots of training.” said Serchmaa.
Serchmaa teaches private and group contortion classes in San Francisco. Her students include from 5 years old to 35 years. Just like she said there needed to be different level for different people, she offers well designed flexibility, conditioning or contortion classes. For the trained eyes, it is easier to recognize talent and that is why she meets you and takes one on one private classes with you before decide what exactly you need and your body can take.
Serchmaa Byamba’s students perform in many local and international shows and circus’ and they train hard every day.
ONLINE CLASS
FAQ
TAKING A CLASS
How do I sign up for online classes?
New Students: Create a Circus Center MindBody account here. Once logged into your account, select “Online Classes” tab.
Returning Students: Log into Circus Center MindBody. Select the “Online Classes” tab.
Why do you need my birthdate? Do I have to give you my real birthdate?
Our system will not let you register for classes unless there is a birthdate that confirms that you are at least 16 yrs old since our classes have a minimum age of 16 for adult recreational classes. We don't require that you give us your actual birthdate in the system, but we do require that you confirm to us (by email is fine) that you are at least 16. Students are able to control their own birthdate settings in MindBody and, especially during the reduced staffing of our building closure, this is the fastest way for students to be able to register themselves for classes. If a student prefers that our front desk team manages the birthdate settings in the student's MindBody account, our team is always happy to set a real or fake birthdate if we are provided with that information. Also, please remember, age ain't nothin' but a number.
How do I pay? / Which credits do I use?
New Students: You can purchase Online Class Credits ($20 each) through MindBody.
Returning Students: You can either apply any existing Class Credits or Premium Class Credits toward online class, or you can purchase Online Class credits ($20).
I’ve signed up and paid. What’s next?
You will receive an email confirmation that you are registered for class at the time of enrollment. You will receive a notification email approximately 60 minutes before the start time of your class with a link to the Zoom meeting. If you enrolled less than 60 minutes in advance, you will receive your notification email within a few minutes.
Even if your MindBody notification settings are turned off, the emails with the Zoom meeting links will be sent. Make sure to check your filters and spam folders if you don’t see the emails in your primary inbox. Sometimes after attending a number of classes, the emails begin to be sent to spam, so make sure to mark the emails as a known sender to prevent this!
What do I need to attend class? (Props, Clothing, etc.)
You will need to clear 7' x 5' flat floor space. Some sort of padding is also recommended - yoga mat, carpet, or towel. For Handstands Online, you will also need access to a wall at least 4 feet wide.
Athletic/workout wear is appropriate for all classes. Class descriptions will indicate if specific props are needed. We are teaching some classes with the props typically used at Circus Center. Below are approximate dimensions as well as a link to purchase. Shop through Amazon Smile and Amazon will donate to Circus Center!
Yoga Block (purchase here)
9”x6” and either 3 or 4 inches wide
Exercise Bands (purchase here)
Colors and resistance vary depending on the brand. Look for any medium or heavy resistance. At Circus Center we use Theraband brand - either green or blue - cut into 5 foot lengths.
Foam Roller (purchase here)
36”x 6 diameter
High density rollers last longer and are more suited for stability and balance exercises.
Yoga ball (purchase here)
45cm
Elastic loop rubber band (purchase here)
Name: Ballet Stretch elastic rubber band.
Flexibility training dance yoga gim
Type: 1.5(W) 45 (D) in
Hand balancing blocks
Handstand blocks (Advanced Levels only): Hand balancing wooden blocks should be custom. Various styles and sizes are available online. Consult directly with your teacher for specific recommendations.
Can my roommate/partner/family member join if I already booked/paid for an online class?
Yes! We are experimenting with a new, sharing-friendly policy, so feel free to bring your bubble-mate to class with you!
CANCELLATION
What is the cancellation policy?
Online classes have a 12 hour cancellation policy as of Monday May 4.
- You must remove yourself from the roster of an online class at least 12 hours prior to the class’s start time to have your credit returned to your account. This is considered an “Early Cancellation.” Students are easily able to remove themselves from rosters via MindBody, and due to our limited staff, we request that students not request early cancellation by emailing info@circuscenter.org unless specifically experiencing a problem with the online system.
- If you remove yourself less than 12 hours prior to the class start time, your credit will not be returned to your account. This is considered a “Late Cancellation.”
Please note, any time you cancel yourself out of a class (early or late), you will receive a confirmation email and/or text message. If you do not receive a confirmation, your attempt to cancel was unsuccessful, and you are still considered enrolled in the class. If you are unable to successfully cancel on your own, please email info@circuscenter.org for assistance.
I can’t attend, but my friend can take my spot. Is this ok?
Switching classes or trading spots with other students on rosters or waitlists is not permitted.
WAITLIST
How do I get on the waitlist for an online class?
If a student has available credits in their account, MindBody will allow them to register for a waitlist via the online system.
If a student does not have available credits, they will be prompted to purchase an Online Class Credit. If you do purchase a credit but do not get into the class, that credit will remain available on your account until its expiration date.
If you do not wish to purchase an Online Class Credit but would like to be added to a waitlist, please email info@circuscenter.org. If you do get added to the roster of the class, you will be responsible for purchasing the class credit.
How will I know if I get onto the roster for an online class?
It is necessary to “opt-in” for emails on your MindBody account to use the waitlist feature for classes.
An email will be automatically sent to the email address on your account when you are added to a class from the waitlist. Please keep this information correct and make sure to add automatedemail@mindbodyonline.com to accepted addresses in your email to ensure your notification. You may choose to respond to this email, accepting or declining your space on the roster, either way you are responsible for paying for the class if you do not early cancel out of the class (see cancellation policy).
What should I do if I didn’t get onto the roster for an online class?
You will not be automatically added to the roster of a class from the waitlist even if a space becomes available if it is less than 12 hours prior to class start time. Please feel free to check the class roster to see if last minute spaces have become available. You can also remove yourself from the waitlist at any time prior to the class.
I got onto the roster for an online class, but now I can’t attend. What should I do?
If it is more than 12 hours prior to the class’s start time, you can early cancel yourself out of the class in MindBody. You can also respond to the “You’re on the roster…” email notification as soon as possible declining your space on the roster, but as a courtesy during this time of limited staffing, we request that you manage your own cancellation if you are able.
CREDITS
What if my account assigns the wrong credits to my online class credits?
Please email info@circuscenter.org to have your Account History reviewed and credits reassigned. We are unable to prevent classes pulling from the incorrect class pack, but we are typically able to correct it whenever the issue occurs.
Do Online Class Credits expire?
Yes, all credits have expiration dates which should be evident at the time of purchase. Please contact us if you aren't sure about your specific expiration dates.
Can I share my credits with another student?
Members of the same immediate family (parent, spouse/partner, child, sibling) may share adult rec class packs and credits. To confirm that your accounts are properly set up for credit sharing, email info@circuscenter.org. Please note - sharing credits does not mean that one family member can register for a class but then another family member can attend in his/her/their place.
I have in-person class credits/class pack(s) on my account that will expire soon or already expired since Circus Center closed on March 13. What are my options?
You have two options available:
- We can exchange your in-person credits for the equivalent pro-rated value in Online Class Credits. Please contact us for the exact exchange value of the credits on your account. We can also exchange these for credit toward any other service we are currently offering including youth programs, check our website for current offerings.
- All in-person class packs and individual class credits will be eligible for an extension of the amount of time that Circus Center was closed (March 13 until we are granted permission to offer in-person training again by the City and feel that it is safe to do so). You are welcome to contact us with your request and we will add it to our running list of expiration extension requests, but it’s not necessary to contact us prior to our reopening in order to be eligible. It does not matter if your pack expires while our building is still closed or is no longer showing on your account, it is not lost and our team has access to your full purchase history with complete information about the activation and expiration dates of every pack and will still be able to reactivate the pack later.
To request either option, email info@circuscenter.org.
REQUIREMENTS
Are there prerequisites for any online classes?
All of our current online classes are for students ages 16 and up unless otherwise noted. Also, some of our online classes require instructor approval. If you took classes in person at Circus Center you may have approval on your account already so feel free to try to sign up. If the system indicates that you don't already have approval, please send a brief email to info@circuscenter.org with any relevant information about why you might be qualified to take the class. This can include photos or videos of you demonstrating the skills mentioned in the class description or can be other information about your relevant training or performance history that will help the instructor determine if the class is an appropriate fit. We are aiming for a quick, frictionless approval process, if after one class you and the teacher realize you should level up or down, we will help to make that happen!
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
What should I do if I don’t receive a Zoom link 60 minutes prior to my online class?
Email info@circuscenter.org as soon as possible to request support. Please include your full name and the name of the class you are trying to attend.
What should I do if I’m having technical issues with Zoom during my class?
First, leave the Zoom Meeting and re-enter using the Zoom Meeting ID or direct link. If this does not alleviate any issues and you are unable to attend the class, please email info@circuscenter.org so your credit can be returned to your account.
I’ve emailed info@circuscenter.org - how soon will I hear back?
Our staff should be able to respond to your request within 24 hours.
I’ve left a voicemail at Circus Center’s Front Desk - how soon will I hear back?
Our staff should be able to respond to your request within 1 business day. You may receive an email follow-up rather than a call, as our administrative staff is exclusively working from home For urgent or time sensitive requests, we highly recommend emailing info@circuscenter.org instead of leaving a voicemail.