Gymnastics is a sport that requires certain physical skills to be able to practice it. Even if you're great at handstands, wheels, and jumping forward, it's still important to take other aspects into consideration to reach the expert level. Below you will find tips for becoming more flexible and developing a full range of motion.
Steps
Step 1. Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely
Sports clothes are ideal, especially leotards, but if you prefer, shorts and a comfortable t-shirt will also be fine anyway.
Step 2. Learn new stretching techniques
Stretching is essential for working your muscles and making them more flexible during training.
Step 3. Practice constantly
You can stretch when and for as long as you want. You can do this in the morning, before bedtime, and even during TV commercials.
Step 4. Start gradually
If you are new to gymnastics, it will take some time to develop your body flexibility. Start slowly and increase the difficulty little by little.
Step 5. Identify your strengths and weaknesses
Can you move some muscles efficiently but struggle harder with others? Train the muscles that need it and keep the already strong ones active.
Step 6. Seek the support of a "professional"
If you know someone who has a special talent for gymnastics, ask them for advice on how to stay motivated and ask them to train with you until you have achieved your goal.
Step 7. Make stretching a routine
Training only until you are flexible enough is useless if you don't keep the results. By doing stretching exercises on a daily basis, you can keep your goals so sweaty.
Advice
- Follow a daily routine and add new moves from time to time to make training more varied and fun.
- When you stretch, you are likely to feel a slight burning sensation and pain, for example in the thigh; at this point, straining the muscle too much would be counterproductive. When you feel pain, continue stretching for a while longer until you feel the muscles pulling a lot all over the thigh; hold the position as much as possible and increase every day.
- Daily training is the only way to get an elastic gymnast's body. Remember to breathe during the exercise and you will see that you will feel less pain. Pain indicates that the exercise is working.
- Have fun and always do your best; gymnastics is a beautiful sport and it must be fun.
- Don't pull your muscles too hard if you feel a lot of pain, you could hurt yourself.
- Stretch morning and night; be constant and never give up.
- Remember that correct breathing is very important as it helps your concentration and oxygenates your muscles.
- Gymnastics can be a painful sport. At very advanced levels you need to have a lot of willpower to not give up.
- Relax to make the movements smoother.
- Remember to smile during your performance or the judges may take points away from you.
Warnings
- Always use common sense when exercising. Stop if you feel a lot of pain.
- Be careful - gymnastics is a very complex sport, if you don't train consistently you are more likely to get hurt.
- Get help from a coach when trying out new moves.
- Stretching can be painful, so it takes a lot of willpower.
- Remember: nothing can change overnight.
- If you think your coach is pushing you too hard, tell him right away.
