Freyja Wild | Finding Balance
What got you involved in the circus, and who were the people who helped you get into it?
I do what I do from the perspective of an artist. I do enjoy training, getting stronger and better. The reason I do it is because I want to present a certain image, character or element of myself on stage. When I was three years old my mom took me to a circus show and I told her then that's what I wanted to do. I ended up starting in circus classes when I was seven years old and just fell in love with it.
What is your ultimate goal with the circus and what is your biggest accomplishment?
It's always a really hard question because when I was a teenager and I was thinking about my career with circus, my idea was I would be on tour three months a year and working in a restaurant the rest of the year. When I was nineteen I got a full-time job in the circus, so all my expectations were succeeded. I think since I've been in the circus, I may have made a thousand dollars outside of circus. I think that would be my biggest achievement, earning a full-time job in the circus. Another goal is to always get a little bit better and get a little more experience. I also want to make sure everyone is having a good time.
Who has been your biggest role model outside the circus, and who is your biggest in?
I think it is made up of so many people. When I was younger there was a woman named Kareena Oates, who is now Kareena Hodgson. She would wear leather and do hula hoops through fire. I remember her being so glamorous and so strong and I wanted to be like her. I am almost finished a course in health and nutrition and coaching. I found out she retired from circus and became a life coach as well. She was a huge role model for me and still is for me. There are still so many others, mainly women. Women who break the mold and do things that women haven't done before.
What is your favorite place, base, middle or flying?
I am able to do any which one depending on who is around. I do really like base though because I am 5'4 and 65kgs so when I lift people bigger than me it's impressive. I like what that says about the strength that women can have. I also enjoy being in the middle because I am very confident with that.
How do you find time to balance work, the gym, etc?
In the last couple of years I have had a little more time off than usual. I have found it is very difficult to maintain my training when I am not working. Until a couple of years ago I was working full-time so if I had time off from work I didn't train because I needed to rest. I realized recently that I need to get better at giving myself a workout program to feel good about myself and my body when I get back to work. Another thing that is a big part of circus and life in general is managing your adrenaline gland and fatigue because we perform so often. Our adrenaline glands are called upon more often than most people because we are often doing things that a little bit scary or exciting. It is quite common to get adrenal fatigue in the circus so I'm being careful to make sure I take time to spend a few hours a week being calm and not stressing about anything.
What does your diet consist of and what is your favorite cheat meal?
I am not very strict with my diet. I am a vegetarian but that choice is mainly about environmental concerns rather than health. Other than that I don't really believe in dieting. I just try to eat lots of vegetables and I eat a lot of different things. I will also listen to my body. I won't eat McDonald's or drink Coca-Cola. There a bunch of things in my mind that aren't food. As for the cheat meal, because I eat healthy when I crave something it will be healthy.
For people starting out in the circus, what are some tips you would give?
The circus is so varied. First of all I would say that there is a place for everyone, however if you don't love it it's not worth it. It is a lot of hard work and you have to be able to develop thick skin. You will be put in positions that will not be the most comfortable. It is not something people go into for the money. If you aren't driven by a really serious passionate then it probably isn't for you. Other than that I would say lots of different styles and you need to spend years training before you can take the next step and make it a career.
What defines health and healthy to you?
The biggest factor is happiness. If being overweight and eating cake makes you happy, you outta do that. I think we have a little too much pressure on being happy. If you can feel good everyday and happy in your mind, that's healthy. For some people that is working out twice a day, and for others it's having a good social life. I think health is finding the balance that makes you happy.
What is a philosophy you live by?
I think balance is something I really strive for. I know I need to spend time alone in order to recharge to be social. I know I need to eat well, but also in a way to be happy. I know that I need to strengthen my muscles but also need to stretch them. I just need that balance.
What was an obstacle you faced and how did you overcome it?
I had a big knee injury when I was 21. I busted my ACL. It snapped in one go. I had never thought about doing anything but circus before. It was new for me, and ended up being really awesome. I was working for a company that had really good insurance so they paid for the surgery and a percentage of my wage. An ACL reconstruction takes about 9 months to recover and I was back on tour in 7 months. In that time I started studying nutrition, so I realized I could have more than just one passion. I learned so much about my body and about balance. I learned how to take of myself, as well as finding joy outside of circus.