By Daniele Frerichs
While my children are too young to participate in school sports programs, we as a family have found an alternative to get our girls active and involved at a young age, and that is gymnastics. We have discovered that enrolling our girls in gymnastics has taught them stretching and tumbling skills, trampoline skills, social skills, class routine, and has put some pure fun to their young lives.
Whether your children are younger or you have a school-age child looking for a sport to participate in, I encourage you to explore the possibilities in gymnastics.
Gymnastics has exercise AND funn! What more could you ask for? Credit: Flickr, msburrows
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, balance, grace and passion. If you were glued to your television during the last Summer Olympics watching the gymnastics events, you have a good idea of the sport. Primary events include floor (tumbling), bars, balance beam, vault, rings and pommel horse. Trampolines are also very common in gymnastics training.
I was a competitive gymnast growing up, and when I ran into my old coach one day, I knew I wanted my girls to start gymnastics as soon as they could. Some gyms start children as young at 15 months old, and most gyms continue programs through high-school age.
Despite common assumptions, gymnastics is not just for girls! Girls and boys of all ages are involved in gymnastics at all levels. Gymnastics training is also highly encouraged by many cheerleading programs in the area to improve tumbling skills.
There are several gyms in the Chambana area to consider if the sport of gymnastics interests you and your children. Check out the information and websites below for programs, class times, pricing, and even birthday parties. Be sure to ask about free trial class to try out the gym.
Little Gym of Champaign
1333 Savoy Plaza Lane, Suite 6, Savoy
(217) 352-5500
Champaign County YMCA
707 N. Country Fair Drive, Champaign
359-YMCA
Irish’s Gymnastics
1714 E. Grove Ave., Rantoul
(217) 893-4085
I-Power School of Gymnastics
215 S. Staley Road, Champaign
(217) 359-3081
Top Star Training Center
1708 W. Hensley Road
(217) 378-5058
