Gymnast of the Month
(February 2013)
Samantha
Platinum Level
Samantha is a dedicated athlete who recently moved up to the fifth-highest level of USAIGC/IAIGC Gymnastics (the Platinum Level). She has been a gymnast with Rhythmic Illusions nearly since the start of the club (almost nine years) and has steadily worked her way up through the levels. One of Samantha's specialties is her back flexibility, which is visible in all her routines when she performs ring balances, ring leaps, and double stag jumps. She is one of only two gymnasts in the club who can do a standing back split, and the only gymnast on the team who can perform a floor-to-standing back scale. Samantha has competed in five USAIGC National Championships and qualified for the USAIGC/IAIGC international team for 2012.
2013 Competitions
Mountaineer USAIGC Invitational
December 1st, 2012...Bluefield, West Virginia
Ready or Not USAIGC Invitational
January 13th...Newton, Massachusetts
USAIGC State Championships
April 13th...Middletown, New Jersey
USAIGC Northeast Regional Championships
May 25th...Middletown, New Jersey
Maine USAIGC Invitational
May 19th...Maine
New York Invitational
Late April....New York City
USAIGC/IAIGC World Championships
June 24th-July 2nd...Palm Springs, California
All-American Open
Early August...Ocean, New Jersey
Sponsors
Special thanks to the businesses and individuals who have contributed to and advertised at our events:
Huddy's Restaurant (Freehold, NJ)
JCS Coins (Hazlet, NJ)
W.A.R (Middletown, NJ)
Kumon (Middletown, NJ)
How can I improve my gymnastics?
Gymnastics--whether it's artistic, rhythmic, trampoline or tumbling-- is one of the world's most complicated sports. Strength, flexibility, mental toughness, and dedication are crucial to become the best gymnast you can be.
It is extremely helpful to practice at home. You'll learn very quickly that the very best rhythmic gymnasts are the ones who put in a little extra time, even if it's between homework sessions or while watching TV.
Want to look amazing when you compete or perform?
Even doing just ten minutes of stretches per day will MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Try out this schedule:
Monday evening (normal gymnastics practice with the team)
Tuesday (fit in ten minutes of working on your splits while finishing your homework)
Wednesday (find ten minutes to warm up your back and stretch it out by doing rings, backbends, etc between TV commercials)
Thursday (ten minutes of practicing your pivots...attitudes, passe, etc in your kitchen while waiting for dinnertime)
Friday (normal gymnastics practice with the team)
Saturday (walk around your house on your toes {en releve}, practice doing your trickiest apparatus skills for ten minutes while listening to music).
Sunday (nothing! Take a break! Watch rhythmic YouTube videos and relax!)
Check out some of these training videos and follow along with them as you warm up and stretch at home!
Please keep in mind that some of these athletes have been doing these stretches for years...only do what your muscles can handle a little bit at a time. Never push your stretching to the point of pain, and only stretch after warming up for a few minutes first (jumping jacks, jogging).
You can try many of the below warm-ups and stretches on your own, but always adjust them to what you can safely handle...and eventually, you WILL be as fantastic as the gymnasts in these training clips!