You know, this gymnastics thing, they call it, flexibility, ain’t that somethin’? My granddaughter, she’s all into it. Bends herself like a pretzel, that one. Makes my old bones ache just watchin’ her. But she says it’s important, this flexibility in gymnastics. Says it helps her do all them flips and turns.
So, I got to thinkin’, maybe I should learn a thing or two about this flexibility. Not that I’m gonna be doin’ any handstands, mind you. But maybe it’ll help with my stiff joints. This old body ain’t what it used to be.
Now, that girl, she tells me you gotta warm up first. Like gettin’ the blood flowin’, she says. Walkin’ around, doin’ some jumps. Just movin’ the body, you know? Makes sense, I guess. Can’t just go bendin’ yourself in half without gettin’ the body ready. Flexibility in gymnastics need warm up. That’s what she says.
Then there’s this thing called stretching. She showed me some stretches. Pullin’ on your legs, reachin’ for your toes. Lordy, it’s a chore. But she says it’s good for you. Keeps the muscles loose, she says. And them gymnasts, they sure are loose. Like rubber bands, they are. If you want to be like a gymnast and have that flexibility, you gotta stretch.
- Stretch your legs
- Stretch your arms
- Touch your toes.
- Do it every day.
She also talks about somethin’ called “splits”. Now, that just sounds painful. But she does it. Slides right down to the floor, legs straight out. I can’t even imagine. But she says that’s how you get real flexible, doin’ them splits. She does it on both legs, too. Left leg, right leg, she’s like a human compass. Flexibility in gymnastics, it’s a lot of work, I tell ya.
She says you gotta do these stretches every day. Every single day! Ain’t nobody got time for that, I told her. But she’s persistent. Says it’s important to keep the muscles stretched out. Otherwise, you get all stiff again. I guess she learned something at those gymnastics classes.
She also says being flexible helps you not get hurt. Makes sense. If you’re all stiff and tight, you’re more likely to pull somethin’. These gymnasts, they’re always jumpin’ and flippin’. Gotta be flexible to do all that without breakin’ somethin’. Flexibility is important for not getting hurt in gymnastics.
Now, I ain’t no spring chicken. My flexibility ain’t what it used to be. But I see what she means. If you can move your body easy, it’s better for you. Less pain, she says. And who wants to be in pain? Not me!
This flexibility thing, it’s not just for them young gymnast folks. Even us old timers can benefit from it. Maybe I won’t be doin’ the splits anytime soon, but I might try some of them stretches. Just to keep these old bones movin’. My old joints could use some help, especially in the morning time. It’s hard to get up sometimes, the body is all stiff and sore. So, maybe a little bit of stretching can help with that.
That granddaughter of mine, she’s a smart one. Always teachin’ me somethin’ new. And this flexibility, it seems like a good thing. For gymnastics, for everyday life, for just feelin’ better.
- Being flexible helps you move better.
- It can help with pain.
- It’s good for your body, young or old.
- That gymnastics requires flexibility.
So, I reckon I’ll give it a try. This flexibility thing. Maybe I will try those stretches she showed me. I will start slow, of course. No need to pull something or hurt myself. I will just take it one day at a time. And who knows, maybe one day I will be a little bit more flexible. Maybe I can touch my toes again. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to do that. But maybe it’s not too late for this old body to learn some new tricks.
She told me you gotta kick your legs too. High kicks, she calls ’em. Ten times, she says. Walkin’ around, kickin’ your legs up in the air. Looks a little silly, but I guess it helps. Stretches out them leg muscles, I suppose. I saw her doing it the other day, kicking those legs up high. She didn’t even break a sweat.
Flexibility, it ain’t just about touchin’ your toes. It’s about movin’ your whole body. Bendin’, twistin’, reachin’. All them things that get harder to do when you get older. But maybe, just maybe, if I work at it, I can keep my body movin’ a little easier. Just gotta keep at it, she says. Don’t give up. Even a little bit each day is better than nothin’.
Now, I ain’t sayin’ I’m gonna be doin’ cartwheels or anything. But maybe I can get out of bed without groanin’ so much. Maybe I can reach that top shelf without needin’ a step stool. Little things, you know? That’s what flexibility can do for you. It is important for everyone, not just those folks doing gymnastics. That is for sure.
So, there you have it. That’s what I learned about flexibility in gymnastics. It’s a lot of work, but it seems like it’s worth it. For them gymnasts and for us regular folks, too. Just gotta keep movin’, keep stretchin’, and maybe, just maybe, we can all be a little more flexible. And that’s a good thing, I reckon. No matter how old you are, it’s never too late to try something new.
