A new way to look at Gymnastics
A springboard into so many activities
Gymnastics is a fundamental activity that provides a springboard into so many other sports and activities.
At Places Leisure we are always looking to raise the profile of Gymnastics and work closely with British Gymnastics to increase participation on the Rise Gymnastics programmes that operate at our centres.
We firmly believe that gymnastics is, like swimming, is an essential life skill for all children, providing a springboard into so many others sports and activities. Our new animation video looks to highlight the opportunities available for children with a grounding in gymnastics.
Dave Marshall, Participation Director at British Gymnastics comments
"The animation is a great way to showcase gymnastics in an innovative way. Gymnastics provides a great start point for children to learn and develop physical foundation skills that can help with many other sports and physical activities in life. At British Gymnastics we’re pleased to work with partners like Places Leisure to provide our Rise Gymnastics programme creating quality gymnastics programmes that are fun, progressive and rewarding".
Watch the video below and keep reading to find out more about the benefits of this wonderful sport.
Gymnastics has a rich history which dates as far back as the days of Ancient Greece, where the gymnasium was utilised as a training ground for public games’ competitors.
Fast forward (a few…) thousand years and gymnastics is still a thriving sport with millions of people taking part worldwide. Most spectators could only begin to imagine moving their bodies in ways that combine such strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance. But the truth is, our junior Rise Gymnastics syllabus is made to be accessible for anyone with an interest to give gymnastics a go – from complete newbie to advanced skills.
The benefits of gymnastics go beyond the sport itself, helping to lay the foundations for a healthy and active lifestyle that many famous athletes swear by to set them above their opponents.
We chose our top 3 benefits to gymnastics and why they are unmatched when it comes to transferring them into both daily lives and other, seemingly unrelated sports:
Flexibility
Gymnastics increases strength and flexibility. Overtime this can prevent injuries, improve posture and contribute towards greater all-round body strength which can be likened to the same affect that calisthenics has – utilising bodyweight and gravity to build muscle strength.
One athlete noted how “nobody can reproduce the movement of gymnastics guys, but gymnastics guys can reproduce the movement of everyone. They’re the most athletic athletes in the world”. Whilst the professionals make it look easy, it’s something that takes a lot of time to perfect, but undoubtedly pays off.
Balance and Coordination
Ever watched an artistic gymnast in competition? The balance and coordination that is required in such routines is unrivalled. As Max Whitlock took to the Tokyo Olympics this year with chalk-dusted hands, his pommel horse routine really challenged the limitations of the human body.
The power of the mind-muscle connection is one that has unlimited benefits in everyday life, countless other sports and has even been argued to reduce the risk of health issues associated with mobility and cognition.
Endurance
Being good at gymnastics does not come easy and with studies showing that most major gymnasts start their careers very young, dedicating many hours a week to training – there is no doubt it is a sport that teaches endurance!
A trait that is invaluable when applied not only to learning a new sport or skill, but also when applied to academia and social capabilities. Teaching gymnasts that if at first you don’t succeed – try and try again.
If that’s not enough reason to give gymnastics a go – come and see for yourself! Choose your nearest Places Leisure centre from the list below to find out more or complete our enquiry form below to enquire about lessons.