In downtown New Providence, tucked along Springfield Avenue, there’s a workout waiting over your head — literally. AIR Aerial Fitness, at 1280 Springfield Ave, isn’t your average studio. It’s a place where you climb into a silk hammock and elevate your entire fitness routine.
AIR Aerial Fitness is part of a national brand, brought to life in New Providence and South Orange by Owner and Master Trainer Maura Batson. A former client and instructor, Maura leapt at the chance to become a franchise owner and community builder. “This is the home that built me,” she says. Her warm personality and youthful glow don’t hide the obvious — Maura is a powerhouse. She doesn’t just dream big; she executes big. Sitting with her, it’s hard not to be in awe.
Born and raised in Maplewood, Maura earned a degree in Special Education and began her career as a Special Ed teacher and addiction counselor. When COVID hit in 2020, she — like so many of us — went searching for a little levity. She found it at AIR. She calls herself a busy bee, but what I see is a woman brimming with ideas and the energy to bring them to life.
Her vision for AIR goes beyond fitness. She’s creating a space built on confidence, creativity, and connection. The instructors are skilled, intentional, and incredibly supportive — adapting poses for all bodies, levels, and comfort zones. AIR offers classes for kids and teens, too, giving younger flyers the chance to build strength, coordination, and bravery in a safe and joyful environment. They also host private parties — birthdays, team-building, ladies’ nights out — where aerial time becomes pure play.
Classes blend conditioning, Pilates, ballet, and even HIIT, all while suspended in a hammock. Sure, the benefits include improved mobility, joint health, oxygen flow, and core strength. But the most immediate benefit is happiness. Everyone leaves smiling.
AIR Aerial Fitness isn’t just a gym. It’s a place where people grow — physically, mentally, and socially. Whether you’re flying solo in a hammock, learning new moves with a friend, or watching your child gain confidence, there’s something surprisingly transformative about hanging between the beams. In a busy world, this studio invites you to slow down, breathe, and float while discovering muscles (and confidence) you didn’t know you had.
“What we do here is so different. The aerial hammock sets us apart and allows us to offer something truly special,” Maura says.
With its warm, inclusive vibe, creative approach to wellness, and deeply personalized instruction, AIR® Aerial Fitness is more than a workout — it’s a community where everyone is invited to rise.
And Maura’s vision is only getting bigger. Owning two studios gives her room to think expansively, including her newest passion project: a Teen Entrepreneurship Series designed to help local youth bring their own big ideas to life. She wants to spark innovation and pay forward the confidence she’s cultivated.
Maura is a boss. With a team of over 26 women — instructors, managers, marketing pros — she’s poised to keep growing and uplifting her community. And I, for one, will be watching.
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"This is the home that built me"