Kiwisport | Gymnastics | Flexibility

LI: To explore our gymnastic skills.

This week LS1 had our first session of Gymnastics with Steven (Gymnastics coach). In our warm up we did 5 different types of stretches to make sure we were flexible and that we wouldn't injure ourselves during the session. The different stretches were:

1. L Shape Straddle - In the L shape straddle you have to be sitting down with your legs out straight in front of you and your arms straight above your head up high. Have your body in a 90 degree angle for this stretch.

2. Back/Front/Side Support - For the back support you have to have your hands on the floor with your fingers facing your toes and be pushing against the ground to lift your body high. Keeping your feet on the floor, make sure your body stays straight.

For the front support, you need to have your body facing the ground with your hands pushing against the floor. You have to have your body up and straight in the air and your feet holding the other end of your body.

To do the side support, your body needs to be facing one side (left or right) and with one hand on the ground holding up your side, and your two feet holding another side of your body. Keep your other arm up into the air and make sure your straight.

3.Butterfly wing stretch - Put your feet together but point your knees facing outwards. With your legs in the shape of a butterfly, constantly move your legs up and down staying in position with your legs like butterfly wings. If you want, you can try to bend your body and try to stretch your face towards your feet.

4. The Tuck - Pull your legs against your chest sitting down, and put one hand on each of your legs and pull in more (if you can). Then Pull your legs apart slightly enough to fit your head in and then tuck your head between your legs and try to make a small enough body shape as possible.

5. Seal - To do the seal, lay with your stomach on the ground and with your hands straight by your shoulders as if your ready to do a push up. After forming with your stomach on the ground and your hands by your shoulders, push up as far as you can and bend your back as far back as you can and try to push your head backwards to try and look at the area behind you.

Activities

For our activity there were three different stations and 3 groups. We rotated so each group got a turn at every station. There were different things to do at each station linking to gymnastics and being flexible. The different stations were:

1. Supports
2. Balance
3. Roll/Balance

At station 2 (balance) there were 5 different things to do there. There was one interesting equipment that caught my eye. It was the parallel bars. I absolutely hated the bars as I was bad at supporting.