As we spend more time at home to help stop the spread of COVID-19, it’s easy to forget our daily activity routine. 

Regular exercise is good for our physical and mental health. PCYC NSW is here to help you stay active, and celebrate our favourite sports with a series of fun, easy-to-do fitness challenges that can be done at home.

Many of our PCYC NSW clubs are temporarily closed, and we’re no longer getting incidental exercise from commuting, running errands or playing sports with friends. 

Don't worry though, we've got you covered. Some of our talented PCYC coaches are here to bring you workouts you can do at home, based on techniques from your favourite PCYC activities.

First up is Gymnastics! Follow Liz and Amelia through this fun routine based on different techniques that help develop your shoulder and core strength, improve cardio, balance and coordination. They are all key to warming up for Gymnastics training – plus the routine is a lot of fun!

Gymnastics Fitness Challenge at Home! | Stay Active Series

Ever though about getting into Gymnastics? Gymnastics Australia can give you a lot of reasons why you should try out this popular sport. It has many benefits for people of all ages and abilities. Check out the list below!

1. Disease Prevention
Participating in moderate gymnastics training regularly reduces the risk of developing health related diseases such as asthma, cancer, obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Gymnastics encourages a healthy diet, regular exercise and a balanced lifestyle. Gymnastics training assists in the building of strong bones in children and can decrease the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life. Children, teenagers, adults and the elderly can equally reap the health benefits of gymnastics participation.

2. Increased Flexibility
A lot of time is spent on improving flexibility in gymnastics training. For competitive gymnasts this means improving leaps and jumps. For recreational and adult gymnasts this is about improving the flexibility of muscle groups in order to prevent injury. The more flexible a person’s muscles are, the less likely they are to strain or tear a muscle completing everyday tasks.

3. Improves Motor Skill Development and Accelerates Learning
In gymnastics training, athletes learn how to strategically fall, and are constantly making minor adjustments in movements. These constant adjustments allow gymnasts to become more aware of movements and their consequences. This improves coordination and accelerates the learning of fine motor skills.

4. Improves Concentration
Gymnastics helps improve focus in young people and adults. Gymnastics tasks require high levels of concentration in order to reduce the risk of injury. Improved concentration and focus comes from the independent thinking and problem solving skills developed while learning a new skill or completing a difficult task. New skills and difficult tasks are relative to each individual so improvements in focus and concentration can be seen throughout all levels of gymnastics. Improving concentration can also improve a person’s cognitive function and memory skills.

5. Discipline
Gymnastics training teaches discipline to athletes from a young age. Athletes must be able to take corrections from their coaches and apply them independently; they must also be able to continue with their program on their own when a coach is working with another athlete. Gymnasts learn to have the discipline and commitment to attend class every session. In addition, athletes acquire determination to push through fears in order to achieve new skills

6. Improves Strength
Gymnastics training emphasises body weight strength to improve core strength, reflexes, whole body muscle extension and flexion, and balance. Gymnasts are some of the strongest athletes in the world and gymnastics strength training can help tone all muscles and assist in decreasing chronic muscle soreness and pain.

7. Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Young people participating in competitive gymnastics are more likely to make good lifestyle choices. this is due to the busy schedule that gymnastics training demands on top of schooling. Gymnastics also creates more mentally healthy children and can increase self-esteem.

8. Pregnancy Benefits
Moderate gymnastics training can improve the mental health and quality of sleep in pregnant women. Research by Kocsis et al shows that there was a significant decrease in anxiety and stress in a group of pregnant women who participated in gymnastics than those who did not. They also proved that gymnastics decreases restless sleep, chronic tiredness, and daytime sleep in pregnant women. The group of women who did not participate in gymnastics at all showed no positive results.

9. Time Management
It is a common occurrence that top performing gymnasts are also top performing students. This is because gymnastics teaches young people time management skills. Students involved in gymnastics must typically plan their weeks in advance. Adults who participate in gymnastics as children are generally better at managing their time later in life than those with no gymnastics experience.

PCYC NSW offers a wide variety of gymnastics classes to cater for all types and interests. Our goal is to keep you Active in sport and your community. Find out more about the classes we offer and book now for next term's course at your local PCYC.

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