Storm was always my favorite X-Men as a kid.  Why?  Because she could fly.

storm

Flying was – is – my no-brainer choice for a super power.

[And I'm not talking operating-an-aircraft flight...more like  soaring-human-body-in-motion.  Unless you're a fighter pilot, in which case  bravo my fortunate friend.]

Fortunately, there are plenty of activities that can allow us to experience the joy of flight.  The most traditional include:

Trapeze. This is the old school method of flight; highly skilled and not so much a solo activity.  Unfortunately it takes a lot of upper body and wrist strength if you are not a tiny person (I’m not) and it is not readily available for most people.

Hang Gliding. People have a lot more access to hang gliding and it is not prohibitively expensive.  (And the people who do it are passionate about it.)

Bungee Jumping. Be still my heart.  No really, be still my heart.  Definitely a higher risk activity and one that can scare the ever loving bejeesus out of you.

It more a bucket list item than a sustainably long term activity.

Skydiving. See “Bungee Jumping”..

Thankfully there are many dynamic ways to fly!

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Trampoline/ Bounce House. I own a giant trampoline and I can attest that they are awesome.  You can flip, jump, bounce; it’s extremely versatile.

There is an element of danger (mostly for kids) which is why a bounce house is a better alternative for the younger set.

Roller Coaster. As a Florida girl, I have been around roller coasters since I was a baby.  [In fact, my first memory of a roller coaster was going to Disney and not being allowed to ride Space Mountain.  No really, I'm not bitter.]

While you don’t get independent movement with a roller coaster, the coaster is doing enough that you don’t really notice it.  And, if you sit in the front, the view is spectacular.

P.S.  I am terrified of heights but it is so worth it.

Zip Trekking. Zip trekking is the holy grail of eco-tourism.

I’m ashamed to admit, though, that I care less about the “eco-tourism” than I do about the “badass”.

What is Zip Trekking?  Basically someone sets up a looong (usually descending) line and you clip yourself to it and let inertia do the rest.  Soo much cooler than it sounds.

Zorbing. From the Zorb website “Where New Zealand once again leads the world in stupid things to do while you’re not thinking about work.”

Basically, zorbing consists of getting inside a gigantic ball and having someone push it downhill.

I thanked my everlovin’ lucky stars that they have one of these in Tennessee.  Though they are expanding, Zorb is still only located in several places.  (Though, admittedly,those places are all over the world in the most random locations.)

Anti-Gravity Yoga. From their website, “AntiGravity Yoga is a fitness regime designed to increase one’s overall health and physical agility while having fun and creating beauty.”

Uh, guys, I think you meant “creating awesome“.

While that’s actually only a beginner class, you can extrapolate how fluid and graceful the suspended movements can be.  It’s dancing and – yes – it’s beautiful.

Bungee Ballet. The first time I saw this, Angelina Jolie was rocking Lara Croft in the first “Tomb Raider” movie.  And I knew, I was in love.

If that isn’t Cirque du Soleil fabulosity, I don’t know what is!

Body Flight. It’s basically indoor incredible with giant wind turbines creating the feeling of sky diving without the “I could die” factor.

My local body flight school offers a first time, two one-minute jump package for $64.  Holla!  And you literally are flying.

Human Gryoscope. This is actually NASA APPROVED.  A human gyroscope has been an essentially training tool for astronauts since the inception of the space program and it can be found at Space Camp.

[Although when I went to Space Camp on a school field trip and asked to go on the "spinny thing" they put me in a regular rotating chair and then told me to walk a straight line.  I'm not bitter. Suck it, Space Camp.]

Anyway, you can actually buy one…for $10,000.  You know, for those of you who are all “What recession?”

And the most surprising way to fly?

..

Swimming + mp3 Player! Diving, floating, swimming…it doesn’t matter.  Being in water means being weightless.  But coupled with an underwater mp3 player?  It transforms swimming into the most glorious experience EVER.

[I go to the local rec center and just float in the deep end, listening to "Halcyon" by Orbital.  For an hour and a half.  Because it's heaven.]

You don’t have to be Superman.  Everyone can fly.