I’ve always had an affinity for gymnastics. My theory is it’s because it is one of the few sports where being short & petite is actually an advantage, and at not-quite-5ft I fit the prototype…. well, save for the bra size.
In fact, when my dad moved us up to Oregon by him when I was nine (it’s a complicated story), one of the first things I asked for was a membership to SuperKids Gymnastics. I’d been bugging my mom for years and would prance around in a leotard but my mom just couldn’t afford it.
I had big dreams. I mean, BIG. Like, Olympics B-I-G.
Alas…. what I found was that the 5 year olds were miles ahead of me and after only a year of weekly group lessons I quit and focused on sports I was more competitive in.
For a very brief time I tried starting again. But when I tried out in 8th grade and they placed me with a bunch of 3rd graders I gave it up for what I thought was the last time.
Until last week, when I found out Turner Hall offers adult gymnastics classes. *insert hallelujah chorus*
Okay… so clearly I’ll never be competitive in any sense of the word but I really love the feeling of flip-flopping around on cushy mats and attempting to fly through the air on the bars. And, although it’ll be awhile before I can even pull myself around a bar without support I am so excited at the possibility of having fun while exercising again.
I was thisclose to letting my fear and self-consciousness keep me from joining, but I didn’t. And if I were in therapy I’m pretty sure they’d call that a breakthrough.
Truthfully, I even surprised myself with what I could do:
A cartwheel, a round-off, a handstand (plus forward roll), a front handspring… and with a bit of assistance I even landed a few backflips.
From now on I will refer to myself as a gymnast. Ohhhh yeah. I can see my inner eight year old beaming with pride.
Sore doesn’t begin to describe how I’ve felt the last couple of days but it’s a great feeling to hurt this much and still want to go back for more. I’d like to believe that with some hard work I could do the splits (!!!) and a few beam tricks (!!!) again.
Thanks to FitMilwaukee and Tracy for inspiring me to push myself and try new things. :)
36 Responses to “I am a gymnast – backflip and all”
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Twitter: EstherCrawford
- @jeffreine that bridge gives me chills
- @jeffreine yep! and watched tv ... I'm pretty sure every night should end like that
- @soccerhaus it was pretty hilarious... then another couple came in and started making out too.. it never ended
October 3rd, 2011 at 8:25 pm
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October 3rd, 2011 at 3:15 pm
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February 5th, 2010 at 6:15 am
[via YouTube] Yay!!! I love that you joined this class!!! I can’t do a cartwheel – NEVER have been able to….ok but now I’m inspired :-) You rock!
February 5th, 2010 at 4:23 am
[...] at Faintstarlite shares a video of her experience taking an adult gymnastics class. I thought I was adventurous when it came to fitness but I'm pretty sure she has me beat. On top of [...]
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:38 am
LOVE. You go, girl!! :)
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:12 am
[via YouTube] OMGEEEH!!! I have always felt the same way about people who can do stuff like that. Tumblers and cheerleaders just flip all around like nothing and I have always wanted to do those things. You have encouraged me to definatetly seek this out in my home town. I might wait though til I get somewhere clsoe to my goal weight before I actually start a class. Thank you so much and good luck to you in yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 1st, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I’m 31 years old, and I’m taking gymastics classes. I started gymnastics when I was 4 and I quit it when I was 12. After 17 years I decided to come back and do gymnastics because I hated the gym. This is something I really enjoy and makes me unplugged from the world, the problems, the stress…. I LOVE GYMNASTICS. And it is an excellent sport.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:08 am
[via YouTube] so true! and omg that looks like so much fun. Good for you
January 31st, 2010 at 5:01 pm
[via YouTube] very encouraging, i really needed to hear this :]
January 31st, 2010 at 12:51 pm
[via YouTube] I did gymnastics when I was little, but they wouldn’t let me advance because there were a ton of things they said I couldn’t do well enough. Then we moved and I never found another class. Now I’m no longer that flexable.
January 31st, 2010 at 11:31 am
[via YouTube] I’m gonna try to convince my mom to follow your footsteps
January 31st, 2010 at 12:50 am
[via YouTube] SkooterX has viewed this video!
January 30th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
OMG there are adult gymnastic classes? I had NO idea. That intrigues me… I might have to see if I can find one. I gave up gymnastics when I was a kid but I’ve always wished I could do it again.
January 30th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
[via YouTube] I have always known exactly the things you just covered but I just needed someone to ratify it.
Thank-you so much for doing that for me!
January 30th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
[via YouTube] thats so cool good job ..so u said they have that class at the ymca ??
January 30th, 2010 at 11:39 am
[via YouTube] Hey very nice! Way to Go!