Challenge Your Family with Gymnastics
Gymnast's lives are very busy! Running from school to the gym every day means they don't spend a lot of time at home. When gymnasts do get some time at home, that means they can have family time! But what can you do to mix up things at home and have a little family fun? Teach your family gymnastics, of course! We've compiled a few gymnastics "challenges" you can bring to your family to add some fun to your days at home!
Always remember to stay safe when practicing gymnastics at home! Do not attempt advanced tumbling or bar exercises. Check with your coach for safe exercises to do at home, to make sure you and your family stay safe and injury-free!
The Outfits
Before you start your family workout, you need to look the part! Gymnasts will wear their leotards, of course, but parents and other family members may not have gymnastics apparel. Comfortable workout apparel like leggings, shorts, and tank tops will work. You can even choose a fun "theme" to dress around, like a certain color. Award points for style (or humor!) to add even more fun! Plus, the matching-theme outfits will look awesome in the photos you take for social media and memories!
The Warm-Up
It's always a good idea to stretch before you start your gymnastics workout. Teach your family your stretch routine! Little gymnasts get the chance to "be the coach" and lead class for the first time. You can challenge each other to see who is more flexible. You could also go for a jog around the neighborhood (or around the house) to get warmed up and show off your fabulous gymnastics outfits!
Conditioning
Strength is an easy skill to practice and improve at home. Most conditioning exercises don't require equipment so they can be done anywhere! Show your family what conditioning exercises you do at the gym. Or, have everyone follow along with a home workout your coach sent out. It can be really fun to watch your family do what you do at practice!
You can even have conditioning contests. See who can do the most push-ups or sit-ups. Have a plank contest and see who can hold it the longest. Set up a conditioning course with multiple stations and do it relay-style with your whole family. See how long it takes the whole family to go through the course! Offer a fun little prize for the winners, like choosing a dinner option that evening or picking which movie to watch that night.
Gymnastics Routines
It can also be fun to watch your family learn your gymnastics routines! It might be hard to show them how you vault at home, but it's easy to teach a beam or floor routine. Lay a long ribbon or strip of tape on the floor to resemble a beam. Practice beam drills with the family to see who has the best balance and coordination. Then, teach them your beam routine. Even if you leave out the really tricky skills that are not safe to do at home without a coach, you can mix in some new easier skills, and even throw in a few fun dance moves! Once your family knows the routine, perform for each other! You can judge on skill and style, or just perform for fun.
A floor routine is easy to teach at home, too. Move some furniture out of the way to make room for gymnastics! Teach your family your floor routine. Like the beam routine, you may need to switch some tricky skills out for easier skills so no one gets injured. Then, perform for each other! Once your family knows the basics of a good floor routine, you can even take turns making up fun routines for each other to perform!
