Gymnastics is an activity of ancient origins and modern tensions. Communities of medium to large size tend to have gymnastics facilities provided by private or public organizations. The media continues to draw attention to gymnastics and at the highest levels gymnastics commands a large audience. In this media coverage little information is offered regarding the benefits of gymnastics.
    Some experts say that the greatest benefits of gymnastics training for children are physical. Gymnastics is given credit for the following:

    Some experts say the greatest benefits are that to the mind. Gymnastics is often given credit for the following:

    Most will agree gymnastics provides qualities that are beneficial throughout life to the gymnast. Benefits can be categorized into physical and benefits to the mind.

Physical Benefits

    Gymnastics is an anaerobic sport where anaerobic means without oxygen. Gymnastic performances tend to be short, usually 90 seconds or less. As a result gymnasts tend to develop middling levels of aerobic (with oxygen) capacity. The level of a gymnast's activity is too intense for long-term performance . Gymnastics is an "acyclic" sport which means the same movements are repeated over and over. One of the major benefits of gymnastics activity is it subjects the gymnast's body to a wide variety of stimuli.
    Of all the Olympic athletes gymnasts are among the strongest, pound for pound. Relative strength is the term used to describe the strength quality of gymnasts. Gymnasts demonstrate their strength by being able to move their bodies through a myriad of positions. The strength of a gymnast is high when expressed relative to their body weight. One of the major redeeming characteristics of gymnasts is strength, especially when compared to other sports.
    Of all the athletes gymnasts are among the most flexible. Due to the need for gymnasts to adopt certain specific positions in order to perform skills gymnastics emphasizes flexibility. The flexibility demands of gymnastics are probably the most significant and unique aspect of gymnasts that serves to separate gymnastics from most other sports. Flexibility can be an effective aid to the reduction of injury.
    Gymnasts are very good at both static and dynamic balance. They learn to balance on their feet and their hands. Gymnasts tend to develop a higher tolerance for imbalance or disturbances to their balance. Gymnasts do not react with as large a "startle response" to sudden imbalance as non-gymnasts. This probably means that gymnasts can tolerate larger disturbances to their posture because they become more familiar with these positions and do not consider them to be such a threat.
    Gymnasts learn early to fall without injuring themselves. Because gymnastics is performed on mats, the gymnast learns to fall and roll to spread the forces of impact over a larger area and time. Early in their training considerable effort is expended in teaching gymnasts to roll - partly as a skill in itself and partly as a prerequisite to other skills. Learning to fall helps the gymnast avoid injury. Gymnasts acquire a very "cat-like" ability to right themselves and to fall without being hurt.
    Gymnasts are among the smallest and lightest of athletes. Gymnastics is somewhat unique in that it provides competitive opportunities for the smallest and lightest athletes.

Benefits To The Mind

    Gymnasts tend to do very well in school. Gymnastics is a complex sport with many dramatic and subtle nuances. Educational experiences in gymnastics reach from physics to the appreciation of cultural diversity. Gymnastics is a fabulous teaching/learning medium. This sport represents the teacher/coach with lots of opportunities to help a young athlete learn many of life's most important and difficult lessons in a controlled environment. Gymnastics can help the youngster learn many cause/effect relationships in a concrete tangible manner that suits their young minds well. Gymnastics fosters the application of learned abstract concepts to other areas within the sport.
    Gymnastics shares with other sports the opportunity to learn about teamwork, sportsmanship, fair play, dedication, and so forth. Because gymnastics is so very difficult to perform, the learning time is long when compared to other sports. The long time required to attain mastery of the fundamental skills requires patience, dedication, perseverance, and planning. Gymnastics helps people learn to work hard for objectives that can take years to achieve. In the modern world of quick-fixes, instant communications, instant hamburgers, and instant entertainment, there will needs to be a place for young people to develop their character.
    Education is perhaps the most important part of gymnastics. When an activity can be naturally orchestrated to provide participants with unique and valuable experiences, it serves the participants more than any book, television show, or website. Gymnastics provides a unique and valuable social education and experience. The most successful gymnasts pursue success rather than avoid failure.
    Gymnastics embraces the concept of providing a positive, nurturing environment form which to grow. Successful participation in sport, particularly gymnastics, not only requires many qualities but also produces many traits. Self-esteem is one such trait. Gymnastics promotes self-esteem and self-confidence. Coaches teach manners and respect. Coaches teach more than just gymnastics, they teach all of life's lessons.
    Study after study confirm that children involved in sports including gymnastics, are more likely to avoid drugs, score higher on achievement tests, stay in school, have greater self-esteem, and live a healthier lifestyle. The children who participate in gymnastics not only learn motor development, but interpersonal relationship skills, perseverance, discipline, commitment, humor, perspective, teamwork, humility, and leadership.