Getting your child involved in sports while they’re young is a great way to instill a sense of discipline and keep them active. But whether it’s a team sport or a more individual activity, such as gymnastics, there’s always a certain amount of risk involved. To keep your little one safe and healthy during their gymnastics classes, follow these three tips from the professionals at The Victors Gymnastics in Rochester, NY.

3 Tips for Staying Healthy in Gymnastics

1. Stretch to Increase Flexibility

Despite what you may think, not all gymnasts are born super flexible. It takes work to be able to bend your body in certain ways. And the key to building up that flexibility? Regular stretching. Besides helping with flexibility, regular stretching also reduces your child’s risk of injuries and improves their technique.

2. Focus on Gluteus Muscles to Help With Balance

Taking the time to build up both the gluteus medius and gluteus maximus muscles can help increase your child’s balance, which is a key element to being a good gymnast. Strengthening these lower muscles keeps their hips, knees, and lower back strong and healthy.

3. Listen & Talk to the Coaches

Encouraging your child to both listen to and communicate with their gymnastics instructor is arguably the biggest key to staying healthy. Listening to and following their coach’s instructions during class and warm-up routines will help them stay healthy and progress to the next level. In addition, being able to communicate any pain or discomfort to the coach will ensure your little one doesn’t push themselves too far.

Looking for more tips on how to keep your child safe and healthy in gymnastics? Contact the professionals at The Victors Gymnastics today at (585) 663-4810. You can also visit them online for more information regarding their gymnastics and tumbling classes.