Every four years, millions tune in to watch the Olympic gymnasts twist, twirl, contort, and elevate their bodies in positions unimaginable to most. What many do not realize is that these athletes have had to train to be a gymnast for many years, and for most, decades. So what exactly does it take to train to be a gymnast?

Strength: Look at any of those athletes, male or female, and the muscle tone and definition are unbelievable. They need to not only be able to lift their own body weight but to also maneuver it gracefully. Control comes with strength. For this reason, rigorous weight-training is a must if you are trying to transform yourself into a top-notch gymnast.

Practice: Many gymnasts begin their sport around the ages of 4 or 5. Most competitive gymnastic organizations allow contestants as young as 6. From this age on, most practices last three or four hours and are usually a minimum of three days a week — sometimes five during the offseason. Of course, nothing dictates that you have to put in this amount of time to train to be a gymnast. Still, this is not a sport that you can easily pick up. It requires a lot of work.

Coaching: You can’t learn gymnastics on your own. Sure, many will claim to have taught themselves a back flip, but the dangers of the sport and skill required cannot be mastered without someone who is trained. It is important to seek out a coach or trainer that has experience teaching the sport and knows the proper precautions to take in order to avoid serious bodily injury.

Flexibility: This goes hand-in-hand with strength. It is one thing to be able to lift one’s body weight, it is another to do so in a way which seems graceful and without impediment. This can only be achieved through keeping a broader range of flexibility than the average person.

Looking For A Trainer Or Coach?

While the Olympians make it look easy, the sport of gymnastics is grueling, physical, and time-consuming. If you are interested in learning how to train to be a gymnast, there are probably many local resources that can get you started. TalkLocal can put you in touch with such a gym quickly. Our service is entirely free and we’ll only connect you with qualified individuals and businesses.

When playing sports games or just trying to get some outdoor exercise, you might find that different fields offer different benefits. Grass fields and turf fields are very different. Check out the pros and cons of turf fields to help you decide what kind of field investment you may want to make.

Pros Of Turf Fields:

– Over time, turf is cheaper than grass, which could help with your personal budget. There is a large, one-time installation fee when you first get your turf field, but it’s much cheaper to maintain. Turf doesn’t die over the winter and it is typically safe from abuse by wild animals and birds, unlike grass. Grass also requires trimming, chalking, pesticides, etc. Although turf does require watering and aerating, the maintenance here is much cheaper than with grass.

– Turf is safer than grass. Grass fields develop knots and puddles in inclement weather, which makes tripping a big risk. Turf fields don’t have this problem, which makes running outside, or on a turf track, much safer.

– Turf can be used indoors or outdoors, whereas grass cannot thrive indoors.

Cons Of Turf Fields:

– Turf fields do soak up heat like a sponge soaks up water. In some cases, turf fields have grown to be more than 30 degrees above the actual temperature. This can cause risk of heat stroke and dehydration, which is important to consider.

– Choosing turf instead of grass does remove a naturally occurring plant from the environment. Although this is not drastically harmful to the environment, it should be noted.

– The light, airy structure of turf might affect the way an athlete plays differently than grass, which is what he or she is probably used to. When playing on turf, an athlete would also want to train on turf to insure he or she knows what to expect during the game.

No matter what you choose after analyzing the pros and cons of turf fields, you’ll need to budget if you plan to build a new field at all.

Find Someone To Install Turf For You

TalkLocal can help you with budgeting, deciding on, and constructing your field. We can also help you decide which gyms or fitness facilities may be best for you. We take the work out of the search for qualified professionals by connecting you with the right local help.

We all know that cardio exercises are good for the heart and a great way to get rid of that extra weight we’re sick of carrying around, but it’s hard to figure out which form of cardio is best for you.

Runners generally tend to be healthier than non-runners, but even still, they must decide the benefits of running on a treadmill vs track. Neither option is inherently better or worse than the other, but both have different benefits. A personal trainer might be able to tell you which best fits your unique needs.

Running On A Treadmill:

– You can track your speed and distance very easily on a treadmill. If your goal is to be able to run at a certain speed, a treadmill can help you start out. When you run on a treadmill, you set the speed to a certain number based on how many miles per hour you want to run. Speed “6,” for example, is running at six miles per hour. By doing this, you can insure that your training level is where you need it to be.

– Treadmills have pre-determined workout programs that might help you. Whether you’re trying to run intervals, get your heart rate up or focus on burning the most calories, you can usually find a treadmill program that meets your needs and keeps your workout regulated.

– Most treadmills come equipped with heart rate monitors. Although these are not 100% guaranteed and do not work as well as an individualized heart rate monitor, they do help you keep a general idea of how much your heart is working.

Running On A Track:

– If you hope to be a distance runner, or to compete in races, running on a track might be better for you. Wind resistance, varying inclines, and temperature all play into outdoor running. Running on a track (inside or outside) can help prepare you for that.

– Track running can help you build endurance on your own instead of relying on a treadmill to set the pace. This way, you can easily find your own natural pace by timing yourself and then work to run faster or further on your own terms.

– Running on a track is somewhat safer than a treadmill just because of the falling risk. If you fall on a treadmill, you risk injuring yourself if the treadmill keeps going. Falling on a track may hurt, but it’s a one-time type of injury.

Both of these options help you build endurance and improve your cardiac health. Running on a treadmill vs a track will help you stay in shape no matter what you choose.

Consult A Local Personal Trainer

If you need help with your fitness level, TalkLocal can connect you to the fitness professionals in your area. We take the work out of your search so you can focus on the healthy lifestyle you want and need.

Choosing the best running shoe is not as easy as walking in the store and picking the shoe with the most expensive logo stitched on the side. Your choice should depend on the type of running you do, the shape of your feet and even the way your feet react during a run. A personal trainer can certainly provide some insight, but here are some things to keep in mind when choosing the best running shoe.

Size

It is important to buy a shoe that fits. This might seem obvious, but many people end up buying shoes that are too small or too large without even realizing it. It is best to try the shoe on in the store if you aren’t sure of how the sizes run.

Many shoe stores offer Brannock devices to measure the toe to heel size as well as foot width. This will tell you what letter (indicating the width) of shoe would suit you. It is also a good idea to try on shoes at the end of the day. Feet tend to swell slightly as the day progresses. It is best to try on shoes when your feet are at their largest so that you can ensure the shoe will not be too tight later.

Arch

The arch of your foot greatly impacts the shoe you need. Those with flat feet need more arch support than those with normal or high arches. If your shoe is not supporting your feet correctly it can affect more than your feet. Unsupported arches can cause pain in the legs, back, and hips.

Pronation

This is a fancy word for the amount your foot rotates when running. A natural run causes the foot to hit the heel first and then rotates slightly inward in order to act as a natural shock absorber. Some runners overpronate or supinate (roll outward). Those who overpronate need stiffer sides and a straight last. A last is the shape the shoe makes in its imprint or the bottom shape of the shoe. A straight last will prevent the foot from rolling too far inward. A supinator needs a curved last. This will help encourage the foot to rotate more inward.

Location

Do you run trails, roads or on a treadmill? Location is an important factor when choosing the best running shoe. Trail shoes provide more traction and support for uneven surfaces than road/treadmill shoes. Road shoes provide support for repetitive pounding on hard, even surfaces. They work well on a treadmill for this reason.

Overwhelmed? Let Us help!

It’s clear there are many factors to consider when buying running shoes. If you are serious about making running part of your fitness routine, TalkLocal can help get you in touch with a fitness professional or personal trainer that can help you find the right running shoe. Our service is free, fast, and easy.

Getting rid of that spare weight and working to improve your physical fitness can be difficult, especially when picking the best gym can be confusing or intimidating. When it comes to exercising, everyone has different needs, which is why picking the best gym requires you to focus on what you want.

To help you figure out what you want from a gym, ask yourself some of these questions:

Do I want to tone and build my muscles?

If you do, you need to evaluate the gym’s availability of free weights and weight machines. If you are advanced in strength training, you probably already know what you need. If you are a beginner, you want to make sure you have access to hand weights, starting around five pounds each. You will also want machines that work various parts of your body (core/abs, arms, back, and lower body) and leave you with room to add more weight and improve.

Do I want to use cardio machines, or do cardio activity in a large free space?

This is an important question. Some people prefer the bikes, elliptical machines, and treadmills, but others prefer to have a large, open space for various interval training and individual activities. Some gyms don’t have the space to support those activities.

Do I want to take classes or utilize a personal trainer?

Sometimes, especially if you’re new to working out, taking fitness classes can be very helpful. In this situation, you usually have a professional instructor who leads you and a group of other people in a fitness activity, usually related to cardio. Some options include:

– Yoga, which tones muscles and helps you relax

– Pilates, which is a cardio exercise that also tones muscles

– Zumba, a cardio activity disguised as a form of Latin dance

– Kick boxing, a cardio activity that also teaches basic self-defense

If any of these classes sound like something you might want, make sure the gym offers them. You may also consider the class sizes.

If you are looking into a personal trainer, you will want to research the trainers at gyms in your area to be sure they can help you meet your goals, at a price you can manage.

Find Gyms And Trainers Easily

If you still have more questions, TalkLocal connect you with someone that can help. We can connect you to the professionals in your area and make picking the best gym a breeze.