How Gymnastics Classes for Children Can Reduce
Stress
We know that exercise
helps reduce stress and anxiety, and makes us happier overall. Experts have
found that being physically fit produces endorphins (feel-good
neurotransmitters in our brain), reduces stress hormones (like adrenaline and
cortisol), improves self-esteem, helps us sleep better, and encourages
mindfulness.
Gymnastics is a really fun and accessible sport for
children of all ages to enjoy these stress-reducing benefits, plus other
amazing physical benefits like improved coordination, motor skills, balance, strength,
agility, and flexibility. Gymnastic also helps children learn important social
skills like following directions, listening, taking turns, learning
independence, respecting others, and getting along with teammates.
Gymnastics is the foundation of all individual
sports and physical activity. “Gymnastics helps to develop a kinaesthetic
awareness much better than any other activity. Kinaesthetic awareness is the
body’s sense of movement. It’s just as important as the other five senses, but
often overlooked. A lack of kinaesthetic sense can lead to poor coordination,
fear of movement, and lack of agility. Gymnastics involves rotating vertically
and horizontally, going upside down and sideways, twisting, moving through the
air, without touching the ground, getting high and low, and more.”
How Gymnastics Eases Stress
Besides the physical benefits, gymnastics also
offers some additional ways for children to feel calmer and happier. Gymnastics
helps children in the following important ways:
Improving Focus: Performing gymnastics moves requires a great deal
of focus in order to succeed and not fall over. Think about how thin a balance
beam is and how much attention is required just to walk the length of the beam
without falling off, let alone if a child is performing handstands, leaps, or
back flips on the beam. Learning to focus on accomplishing their goals
even amongst many distractions is one of the greatest skills a child can learn
that can help them in so many ways throughout their lives. By being aware of
their body, thoughts, and emotions and learning how to shift their
concentration, they will be empowered and stay in control. Gymnastics is the
perfect way to teach focused attention from an early age.
Building Self Confidence: While low self-esteem triggers anxiety,
healthy self-esteem makes children more relaxed and comfortable in their own
skin. Whether it be learning a new gymnastics skill, participating in
gymnastics competitions, or getting over stage fright while performing in front
of an audience, your children will build confidence as gymnasts. Gymnastics is
a sport all about mastering challenging skills, so children build confidence as
they improve over time. Gymnastics helps them learn that hard work and practice
pays off, and that they have the power to succeed in the sport and in life.
Overcoming Fears: Gymnastics can be used as a tool for children to
address their worries. Gymnastics entails movements and equipment that can be
very intimidating–even frightening– for children when they first try them out.
A child may be afraid of falling off the balance beam or feel uncomfortable
upside down in a headstand. By encouraging our children to challenge themselves
in the gym, we give them the experience of facing their fears and moving beyond
them. They also learn to communicate what scares them and why. All of these
tools will help them throughout life as they face new fears and challenges.
Getting Started with Gymnastics
You can find numerous opportunities for your
children to learn gymnastics from a young age. Here at Earls Gymnastics we
provide a purpose-built facility that is warm and welcoming with experienced motivated
coaches to ensure your child has a fantastic learning environment that’s lots
of fun.
Earls Gymnastics is one of the leading Gymnastics
clubs in the country from pre school gymnastics all the way to international
athletes.
To find out more Click Here
