Sophie Lanka

Aerial, Contortion, and the Studio She Built

Sophie Lanka is the founder of L'Atelier Aérien, a flexibility and aerial arts studio in France. She works with movement the way some people work with language — as a way of saying things that words alone can't reach.

Where do you practice, and what does that space look like?

"I practice in different spaces depending on where life takes me. Most of the time, I move either in my aerial and flexibility studio in France, L'Atelier Aérien, or in more intimate spaces when I travel — a quiet room, a terrace, a wooden floor, sometimes even outdoors when the place feels right.

What matters most to me is not that the space is perfect, but that it feels alive, peaceful and supportive. I love natural light, softness, a clean or natural floor and enough silence to really listen to my body."

What does a typical session look like?

"A typical session usually starts slowly, with a warm up for my joints. I like to arrive in my body before doing anything. Some mornings, I don't have this time so I finish the day by moving.

After the warm up, I move into deeper flexibility, backbends, splits, inversions, or more creative embodied movement depending on my energy. Some days are very structured and technical, especially when I train contortion or teach. Other days are softer, more intuitive — almost like a conversation with my body."

What drew you to the kind of movement you do?

"I was first drawn to movement because it gave me a way to express parts of myself that words couldn't reach. Pole dance, aerial arts, flexibility and contortion opened a door to strength, sensuality, freedom and self-trust. Over time, my practice became much more than physical. It became a path of self-connection."

What does consistency mean to you?

"For me, consistency does not mean forcing myself to repeat the same routine every day. It means staying in relationship with my body. Sometimes consistency is a strong training session, sometimes it is ten minutes of stretching, breathing, or simply placing my hands on my heart and listening.

I keep it going by making movement part of my life rather than something separate from it. I follow my energy, but I also honor my commitment. That balance between discipline and softness is very important to me."

One thing always nearby?

"I almost always have a mat nearby — of course — but also music. Music changes everything for me. It helps me enter the space, connect to emotion, and let the practice become more alive. My cork mat is my favorite one and joins me in all my adventures."

Follow along Sophie @sophie_lanka on Instagram.

All photos taken by Claire B. Photographe Bordeaux

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