I sweep them down and then cross them across my chest, but everyone else at the gym throw them up and hold them by their armpits. My coach says up is easier, but I tried and I can't get it when I do that.
For side aerial I used to bend them and put them by my side (kind of like a chicken, lol) but our coach told us to try and straighten them, which makes it look neater
I usually have them straight by my side, but I tend to bend them into chicken arms when I try it on low beam Rachel's Gymnastics at the Gym - YouTube
I do some aerials in this video!!!