Tutorial: Practice Your Gymnastics on Public Transportation

How To Make The Most Out of Your Commute!

So everyday I’m stuck for 2 hours on King County Metro buses.  During my commute, I always think about how I’m wasting all this time on the bus that I could be using to prepare for the Olympics.  But then I came across this video from a popular French comedian Remi Gaillard.  Meet Dorenel Comivoci (Romania):

How to Turn Your Surroundings Into a Gym:

This is like the bus I practice on

• Use the handles and bars on the bus to practice bars! You won’t be able to do any release skills or pirouettes, but the bars work great for conditioning. For longer commutes, split your workout into two parts.  For the second part (usually the bus has emptied out) try tumbling down the aisle! The bus moves a lot and is bumpy, so if you can tumble down the aisle I guarantee you’ll be able to tumble on a balance beam!  If you get really adventurous, try your dismount sequence to exit the bus.

• Use large stationary objects as a vault horse.  Small statues and garbage cans work especially well.

• When you’re out in public waiting around, maybe for the bus, use railings as your beam. It’s good practice because usually the railings are even narrower than the beam, so when you get back on the beam it will feel really wide!

Red Square was originally built as Russia's first National Gymnastics Center

• Public squares can act as great floor mats!  Don’t worry about hitting people.  Comivoci demonstrates that people will usually get out the way for you. It’s good practice to perform in front of crowds, so do this exercise as much as possible!  Red Square in Moscow was actually originally built as Russia’s first National Gymnastics Training Center, but they moved to an indoor facility after several gymnasts died of exposure.

I hope these tips help to get in shape and practice your gymnastics as much as possible!

Obviously Remi Gaillard, our instructor, has been trained to a very high level in gymnastics. You’ll notice his immaculate form across all the events.  I’d say it’s better than most American gymnasts’ form.  I actually have proof that Remi trained at the Ranch with Bela.  At the start of another one of his videos, “Kangaroo”, you’ll notice ostriches and some more of Bela’s animals from the Ranch.  So don’t feel bad if it takes time to reach his level.

I personally like to practice on the bus and in Red Square at UW(not the one in Moscow, although I’d love to practice there), what about you?  Share your favorite place to practice.

Lena <3