Gymnastics is undoubtedly one of many hardest sports activities there may be. However I might additionally argue that not solely is gymnastics a tough sport, gymnasts (as a inhabitants) are extremely robust on themselves as nicely.
When you cannot be inside your gymnast’s thoughts and suppose for her, there are some issues you are able to do to assist your gymnast be extra compassionate in direction of herself.
Issues You Can Do To Assist Your Gymnast Be Much less Robust On Herself
1. Reward your gymnast for who she IS and never what she does.
Gymnasts typically get wrapped up within the identification of being a “gymnast.” This will make issues difficult for them once they aren’t doing nicely in gymnastics. If they are going by means of a very robust season or battling a psychological block, they will start to affiliate their lack of expertise with a scarcity of self-worth. And that is unlucky as a result of everyone knows {that a} 12 12 months previous gymnast is SO rather more than simply a gymnast.
One of many methods you’ll be able to assist your gymnast is to recollect to reward her for qualities she has that transcend her gymnastics skills. Is she form to her associates or teammates? Is she useful round the home? Is she a caring huge or little sister? Does she work laborious in class? Is she an excellent artist or inventive in different areas of her life?
Take into consideration traits that describe who your gymnast is as an individual and bear in mind to go with her on these traits. As a substitute of claiming “That was an excellent again handspring” deal with her efforts as a substitute. You would possibly say “I noticed you working laborious in your again handspring.” This teaches your gymnast to select up on her innate qualities of being a tough employee versus feeling her value is tied into with the ability to do a ability in gymnastics.
2. Be a task mannequin to your gymnast.
As her mum or dad, do you present her how you’re compassionate in direction of your self? Or are you at all times beating your personal self up or saying unfavorable issues out loud that your gymnast can hear?
When you won’t understand, your gymnast will decide up on the phrases and actions you exhibit in direction of your personal self. Actually, a examine by Dove performed a few years in the past confirmed that younger women typically have the identical physique insecurities as their mothers, even when they’re actually younger. For instance, a mother who says she hates her legs or purposely would not put on skirts due to how her legs look will typically have a daughter who hates her personal legs, even when her daughter has no motive to hate them. There may be a lot energy in the way in which you deal with your personal self as her mother.
Due to this fact, the way you deal with your self issues! Your gymnast sees and hears all of it. And subconsciously she adapts your personal demeanors as her personal.
3. Write your gymnast a letter
As a enjoyable shock, write your gymnast a letter telling her how proud you’re of her. Remind her of all her superb qualities that make her stand out as a gymnast. Is she tall? Remind her how her peak makes individuals discover her lengthy traces. Is she swish? Inform her how the way in which she strikes is so stunning and makes her coronary heart shine.
Too typically we focus on the issues that may be improved with our gymnasts as a substitute of specializing in all of the positives. By writing a letter, you’ll be able to put all of it out onto paper and your gymnast can learn it again to herself when she wants a lift of excellent emotions.
In case you’re a gymnast, listed here are some issues you are able to do to be much less robust on your self:
1. Deal with your self such as you would your greatest pal
One of many hardest issues about being a gymnast is feeling like you must be laborious on your self with a view to achieve success. This sense would possibly come from the kind of teaching you get. Or it’d come from your personal assumptions that you just have to be crucial of your self with a view to get higher. Realizing that each tenth counts can put plenty of stress on you too. And being “yelled” at in observe or consistently corrected can take its toll.
Because of this, most gymnasts I work with are usually hypercritical of themselves, particularly once they make errors. And with each mistake comes extra unfavorable ideas akin to “I am such a nasty gymnast” or “I am unable to do something” or “I will by no means get this proper” or “Coach would not care about me.”
These ideas are sometimes harsh and but most gymnasts I do know proceed to permit themselves to interact in these ideas after they’ve made errors or struggled to be taught a ability.
One of many largest suggestions I give my gymnasts is to speak to your self such as you would your greatest pal. In case your greatest pal was having a troublesome day on beam or making mistake after mistake, you would not go as much as her and yell at her extra. You would not inform her she’s a horrible gymnast or that she ought to simply stop. And also you definitely would not say something that may make her really feel worse. As a substitute you’d do your greatest to construct her up. You’d encourage her. You’d say good issues to her. You’d let her know that you’ve confidence in her and her skills and that you realize she will be able to do it.
That’s how gymnasts ought to observe chatting with themselves. But once I inform gymnasts to do that it is like some overseas language they’re unaccustomed to! Most do not know what it is prefer to be form to themselves. Nevertheless it’s so necessary to a gymnast’s shallowness and resilience to really feel like she has somebody (even when it is herself) who builds her up.
2. Embrace errors
Whereas errors are frowned upon in gymnastics competitors, they’re definitely mandatory in observe (and even in competitors) with a view to be taught new expertise or discover ways to alter to new conditions.
Once I ask gymnasts to consider how lengthy it took them to be taught their kip or giants or again handspring on beam or every other ability that usually takes a very long time, most wish to neglect about that lengthy journey. And but, with each flip they took and had been unsuccessful, they got here nearer and nearer to studying that ability.
Errors are info. Errors are necessary. You be taught what to do and what to not do once you make errors. This lets you alter and get higher at what you are doing.
And but most gymnasts I discuss to cringe once they consider the errors they’ve made. They have an inclination to see this failure as remaining as a substitute of a step alongside the way in which to the highest of the staircase.
Due to this fact, I encourage gymnasts to embrace their errors and have a look at them as helpful info. What are you able to be taught from these errors? What’s not working? What can you’re employed to enhance on? What would possibly you be doing mistaken?
3. Bear in mind all of the stuff you love about gymnastics
One method to keep constructive and be ok with your gymnastics is to recollect why you like doing it. Alongside the way in which, it is simple to neglect why you like gymnastics a lot. While you’re placing within the effort and all that tough work, you would possibly neglect that you just’re doing it as a result of it is one thing you like to do.
One method to bear in mind all of the stuff you love about gymnastics is to create a “What I Love About Gymnastics” board. That is just like a imaginative and prescient board, however it has causes that you just love gymnastics on it. Perhaps you suppose it is enjoyable otherwise you love flipping and studying new tips. Or possibly you’ve gotten a slight obsession with leotards! Maybe you want competing or hanging out together with your fitness center associates.
Regardless of the causes, you should definitely put them in your board by reducing out photos, phrases, or pictures that characterize these emotions of pleasure about gymnastics. Then glue this stuff onto your board, add a number of glitter or decorations, and cling it up in your room. Having this as a reminder is a good way to recollect the completely satisfied components of gymnastics. While you hold this in thoughts, you will be extra compassionate in direction of your self as a result of you realize you are doing gymnastics since you like it.
As a gymnast, it is necessary that you just work laborious but additionally do not lose sight of all that you’ve got achieved. Whereas all of us wish to do higher, being “robust” on your self is just not at all times the easiest way. While you’re robust, your mind really learns to belief you much less and subsequently pushes again. As a substitute attempt to keep in mind that your mind is simply as delicate as your greatest pal and that it’s good to deal with it kindly and with respect.
—–
In case you or your gymnast wants assist, along with the assets under I additionally provide one-on-one teaching classes through Zoom.
Useful Hyperlinks:
