Over the holidays it is common to miss a few days of training at the gym. Missing even as little as a couple can be detrimental to a gymnast's flexibility and form. Listed below are a few easy things to do at home to keep your gymnast in tip-top shape over the holidays and beyond.
CONDITIONING:
All exercises that make your muscles stronger will help you improve gymnastics skills. Because gymnastics is one of the few sports that uses most of the muscles in your body, most conditioning exercises are beneficial including: Sit-ups, Pull-ups Push-ups, Sit-ups, and calf-raises.
SPRINTS:
Vaulting requires a fast running approach. You can practicing running fast anywhere. Because great vaults are quick and powerful, so the faster your run–the more power you will have during your vault.
PULL-UPS:
Pull-ups can be done by installing a pull-up bar in a doorway. Pull-ups will increase upper body strength which will benefit a gymnast on every apparatus. You can find a good pull-up bar on Amazon.
SCALES:
Practicing scales help to improve balance, flexibility, and strength. Stand on one leg and lift the other leg directly in front of you for a front scale or directly behind you for a back scale. Stand in a scale position for as long as possible while keeping your balance.
HANDSTANDS AGAINST THE WALL:
Handstands against the wall is a way to work on handstand skills. Because the handstand is the base to many skills in gymnastics, it is very important to make sure to use the appropriate technique to improve and to maintain this skill. Cartwheels, round-offs, back-handsprings and front-handsprings are all performed with the foundation of the handstand position. To perform a handstand against the wall, stand with your back against a wall, put your hands on the floor in front of you, one at a time put your feet on the wall ,walk your hands closer to the wall as you walk your feet up the wall until your stomach is touching the wall and you are in a handstand position. Hold for as long as you can before coming down. While in the handstand, concentrate on tightening up all your muscles and think about pointing your toes up to the ceiling. The wall will force the body to be absolutely straight.
JUMPS:
Jump as high as possible while keeping the body tight while in the air.
Jumps To Practice: Straight, Tuck, Straddle, Pike, Split, Wolf, Half Turn, Full Turn
TURNS:
Turns are requirements in both floor and beam routines.. While wearing socks, turns can be done on carpet or on a solid floor. Make sure to keep the body as straight as possible while turning.
SPLITS:
Splits are a skill found both on the floor and in the air in gymnastics. Practicing splits can be done anywhere. Be sure to keep flexible by practicing the splits at home every day.
LEAPS:
Leaps are required on both beam and floor in routines. Practicing leaps is important for routines. While practicing, concentrate on keeping legs straight and jumping as high as possible while making sure the angle made with the legs is even on both sides.
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