Coming back from a physical injury is a great feat. Conquering the mental fallout is like winning the Olympic gold medal. This article chronicles the steps I took on the long road to overcoming fear. Trust the process. I’ve written a lot about managing fear and the effects our Lizard brain has on our ability… Continue reading Rebuilding Confidence: How to Overcome Fear After an Injury
Tag: The Geriatric Gymnast
Improving My Cholesterol in Perimenopause
The ins and outs of cholesterol, and 7 rules I've followed to improve my numbers this year, without statins. Let's talk cholesterol, shall we? Summertime is my rest and recovery time. I spend more time doing my Geriatric Gymnastics shenanigans. It is also my time to visit my doctors and check in on my health… Continue reading Improving My Cholesterol in Perimenopause
Geriatric Gymnasts in the Spotlight
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!! My Geriatric Gymnast story is highlighted in the Atlantic! Read on for more information. I am fully entrenched in all flippy things Paris 2024. Like the rest of the world, I love watching the glory of Golden Girls Simone, Suni, Jordan, Jade and Hezly, and the greatness of the bronze boys Paul, Brody,… Continue reading Geriatric Gymnasts in the Spotlight
Preparing for my First Gymnastics Camp
Stepping out of your comfort zone is always a challenge. This article talks about preparing to take a giant leap out of mine. While I've been flipping for 16 years now, I have never flipped anywhere but my home gym. In the past year or two, I've seen lots of adult gymnastics "camp" and competition… Continue reading Preparing for my First Gymnastics Camp
Promoting adult gymnastics
Gymnastics is not just for kids anymore. This is a story of a recent encounter I had with a fellow writer, athlete and coach who is doing a deep dive into the expanding realm of adult gymnastics. I recently made a new flippy friend! Out of the blue, I got an email that caught my… Continue reading Promoting adult gymnastics
Inspiring Through Adult Gymnastics
Last June, I published Why Do I Post So Much?, a reflection on all of the gymnastics stuff I put on social media. At the time, I had posted a video that was getting some attention (over 140K views, which is gargantuan for my little account). As others commented how inspired they were by the… Continue reading Inspiring Through Adult Gymnastics
Validating Fitness Strategies: Gymnastics, Nutrition, and Bone Strength in Perimenopause
Back in 2022, I wrote an article called Keeping the Bones Strong, which was an overview of the science behind bone building and how gymnastics activities really helps achieve strong bones. This article tracks my recent DEXA scan and looks at the strategies I've been using to maintain strong bones. I've spent the better part… Continue reading Validating Fitness Strategies: Gymnastics, Nutrition, and Bone Strength in Perimenopause
A Primer for Back Tucks on the Trampoline
This article is designed to help gymnasts who are struggling with their back tucks on the trampoline. It offers lots of how-to tips and detailed, step-by-step descriptions of the hows and whys of the drills I've personally used to improve my technique. One of the main questions I often get relates to getting over the… Continue reading A Primer for Back Tucks on the Trampoline
Improving back handsprings, part 2
This article was actually written and published in February 2024, before my April version of Improving Back Handspring Technique. For some reason, it got lost in the WordPress ether and I had to do a lengthy archive search process to find it again. When I read it through, there was even more useful information than… Continue reading Improving back handsprings, part 2
Improving Back Handspring Technique
If you are looking to solve your back handspring issues, this article might give you some food for thought. Back handsprings are one of the harder basic skills to acquire, especially for adult gymnasts. The idea of hurtling yourself backwards onto your hands, then snapping your feet back down to the ground and rebounding back… Continue reading Improving Back Handspring Technique
A second opinion
When you get a diagnosis you are not sure about, get a second opinion. It may reveal a better path forward. It did for me.
When injuries attack
What happens when a Geriatric Gymnast gets MRI results that are less than favorable? She makes plans to heal. Read on.
Why do I post so much?
I started at 36. I've been injured, frustrated, had setbacks, and enjoyed every moment at the gym. Read my thoughts on having safe, adult, flippy fun.
Moments from the Geriatric Gymnast
I hope that any adult looking to explore their inner Olympian can find a place to realize their childhood dreams. My goal is to help encourage them to take the leap.
Michael Morenberg
Mike and I talk about our community of adult gymnastics: the “Hive Mind,” being a quinquagenarian, spotting and coaching, and the necessity for the gym to be a judgment-free zone.
Progress isn’t linear
"Progress isn't linear" is one of my favorite sayings. It applies to everyone for everything that we work for, but I have had to lean into it as I have spent my time over the last 15 years doing adult gymnastics. It's how I have been able to keep flipping in my 50s.
Our lizard brain
The brain, in all its complexities, can help us or harm us, depending on the day, our mood, or the direction of the wind. We know that anxiety is a killer beast, and at the gym, it can really get in the way of progress.
Once a year day
There are a lot of people my age who would rather not acknowledge their special day. Maybe it's not wanting to reveal how many circles around the sun they are, or they don't want to call attention to themselves. Who knows? That's not me.
Tammy Goedken, part 2
In part two of my conversation with Tammy Goedken, we talk about our observations as coaches for the adult set, and how we believe that gymnastics is the most fun way to condition your body (and soul).
Conversations with the Geriatric Gymnast
As if I didn't have anything better to do, I've embarked upon a new Geriatric Gymnastics project. Along with this blog, the Changed for the Better podcast and blog, and working full-time as a high school dance and PE teacher, I was inspired to create a little something to further celebrate my cultish adult gymnastics obsession.
Maintaining a positive self-concept at the gym
How do we build the courage to do hard things? Do we see ourselves as competent and able to tackle the challenges? In this post, I discuss how a strong support system bolsters our training experience.
Managing Fear
A discussion of how I've managed fear throughout the course of my Geriatric Gymnastics training and how it continues to be a factor in my decision-making process at the gym.
Age is Just a Number
"Age is just a number" is something I hear a lot. What does that really mean to me?
Stacey's Headspace 