PHYSICAL BENEFITS:
Strength:
Actively running, jumping, tumbling, and holding one’s
body weight up in various positions builds strength. The
muscles work against gravity, using the child’s own body
weight as resistance. Practicing these skills over time
builds strong, lean muscle tissue, giving a toned,
healthy body able to rise to physical challenges, and
aids in body control, balance, and posture.
Flexibility:
The best way to describe flexibility may be the ability
to move a muscle group through its entire range of
motion. In gymnastics, children stretch into many
varying positions, stretching their various muscle
groups. Increased flexibility also aids in injury
prevention. A stretched, flexible muscle is less likely
to strain or tear.
Strong Bones:
Weight-bearing activity is strongly encouraged by the
CDC for bone health, as it promotes increased bone
density. Gymnastics is a fun, healthy way to learn a
variety of weight-bearing skills.
Fit, Healthy Bodies:
According to the CDC, (see link) childhood obesity is
one of our top health concerns in this country. Children
who suffer from obesity are more likely to have risk
factors for heart disease, asthma, sleep apnea, and type
2 diabetes. Obese children are also more likely to
struggle with weight into their adult lives. Being
involved in a fun, active, challenging physical activity
is part of the healthy lifestyle required to combat
obesity and its related health issues. Currently many of
our schools have limited or no physical education, and
far too many of our children spend their spare time in
front of video games, televisions, and computers.
Gymnastics is a great way to add fun,challenge,
movement, and physical activity to the lives of our
children.
NON-PHYSICAL BENEFITS:
School – yes school!
Recent studies suggest physical activity helps to build
connections in the brain. Gymnastics is a sport that
requires focus, concentration, an understanding of skill
being attempted, body-awareness, and a variety of other
thinking processes. Gymnasts are not just exercising
their bodies – they are exercising their minds! Focus,
discipline, determination, and problem-solving are all
part of the gymnastics experience, and each of these
skills are incredibly useful in a classroom setting as
well. Many of our gymnasts are straight A students, even
with the sometimes lengthy hours they spend in the gym.
The lessons learned at the gym serve them well.
Social Benefits:
In addition to learning to practice and work with others
in the gym, gymnasts also learn how to encourage each
other. From the pre-schooler learning to take turns,
receive and follow instructions from someone who is ‘not
the Mommy’, and follow a simple series of steps, to the
competitive gymnast who is learning how to practice good
sportsmanship, learn from his or her own mistakes and
triumphs as well as those of other members of the team,
encourage team members, and work with teammates even and
especially when the going gets tough… social lessons are
everywhere in the gym! Each of these lessons translate
to the world in general and give our children skills
that will serve them well as they grow into responsible,
successful adults.
Confidence:
Nothing builds confidence quite like wondering if we can
do something, and finding out we can. The harder we work
for it, the more meaningful and lasting the feeling of
success. Gymnastics offers repeated opportunities to
succeed at a higher and higher level, constantly
challenging the athlete, and constantly rewarding those
who rise to the challenge. With coaches dedicated to
assisting your child in facing each challenge as it
comes, we are in the confidence-building business!
Reduced Risky
Behavior:
Fact is, gymnasts are busy! Too busy to spend too many
hours in front of the TV, computer, or video games. And
too busy to allow boredom to dictate their
decision-making. Not only that, physically active kids
are far less likely to use tobacco, alcohol, or other
drugs. Having a positive, constructive outlet for their
energies helps children greatly in making the right
choices at the right times to achieve the dreams and
goals they hold for themselves.
Character:
You may have noticed the Character signs around the gym,
and the motivational posters. They are more than
decoration. Character education is part of every class.
At every age, we emphasize responsibility, caring,
respect, trustworthiness, citizenship, and fairness. We
also teach children how to work hard, and how wonderful
the reward is for it. We show them how to pick
themselves up when they fall, and teach them that their
very best effort is its own reward. Children learn that
perfectionism can bring them to a frozen stand-still,
but a willingness and eagerness to learn and try their
hardest will take them farther than they ever imagined.
We show children dreams are more than the stuff of
Disney – they are real and possible when you conceive
them, and then have the willingness to work for them. We
teach them that we do not achieve anything alone, but
with the input, support, and love of others. In short,
yes we are in the business of building healthy bodies,
and excellent gymnasts… but we are also very much in the
business of building strong, healthy, confident, people
with amazing tools to carry them wherever they choose to
go in life. What greater benefit could there possibly
be? |
