It's TED Talks Daily. I'm Elise Hugh. I really enjoyed today's talk from a circus aerialist, 80 Delaney, which she gave a TED Women 2020.

Delaney is someone who takes risks with her body for a living, and to do so, she's had to learn her body really well.

These days, she uses that understanding and her high-flying performances in an unconventional way to teach sexual consent.

The approach is a fresh way to think about our bodies and the agency we have over them.

A quick warning, though, before we begin.

This talk contains mature content and may not be suitable

for all listeners. Over my career as an aerialist, I've learned to listen to signs from my body,

whose most important job is to keep me alive. This visceral sensation of fear can be part of the fun.

Why do you think we go on roller coasters, watch horror movies, or in my case, fly through the air?

But it will only be fun if we have choice in those moments. Those who enjoy horror movies do so

when they know they can look away.

When I swing through the air to take the hands of a partner high up in a circus tent,

ultimately I have a choice of releasing if I trust that person to catch me.

Listening to these signs is an incredibly important life skill,

and not just for adrenaline junkies like me.

If we don't know how to listen and respond to our warning signs of fear,

we risk being overwhelmed by a fight, flight or freeze stress response.

When teaching circus, I see my students feel these sensations every day.

And when they do, there's a unique opportunity to talk about them,

to acknowledge and trust those feelings, including how to say no when something doesn't feel right.

This is a great foundation for communication about our bodies elsewhere that isn't scary or awkward, it's normal and expected.

Because the truth is, I'm not just teaching circus skills.

...