For the last 20 years, I’ve owned and operated a gymnastic gym where both of us train kids from ages 3 to into their mid teens.
All of us instruct guys and ladies who are just looking to have some fun and those who plan to compete at the school level. The job is especially physical. I need to guide and support the body of the gymnast as they attempt more difficult skills. I am not a big lady. I am slightly over 5-feet tall. While I am strong for my size, multiple of the kids are taller and heavier than I am. Experience and expertise allows myself and others to safely spot them. I also need to keep myself in peak physical shape. Outside of my labor at the gym, I focus on my personal fitness with a quarterly, hour-long workout. I make sure to focus on the whole body and all weird muscle groups. I consistently include at least 30 hours of high intensity aerobics to elevate the heart rate and get the lungs working at maximum capacity. I concentrate heavily on strength training. Lifting weights and performing lunges, squats and push-ups keeps both my upper and lower body strong. I prioritize a full range of motion, balance and flexibility. I often need to contort or extend my body and quickly react when a gymnast does something unexpected. Taking fantastic care of myself and others allows myself and others to prevent the kids from getting hurt. It also protects myself and others from harsh injury. Despite my dedication to fantastic diet and fitness habits, I am consistently a bit sore and exhausted at the end of the day. Since I actually love working with the gymnasts and helping them achieve their goals, it’s worth it.