Gymnastics is up there with some of the most challenging and demanding physical activities that a human can possibly undertake.

Gymnasts put themselves under immense physical and mental pressure to perform exercises and feats of strength whether it be as part of a hobby, competitor or career with top level athletes reaching olympics level.

But there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to gymnastics and with a variety of health benefits associated with the activity - there’s never been a better time to start. We’ve selected 5 key health benefits that performing gymnastics has on the body, sit tight - you’re in for a bumpy ride.

1. Increased flexibility

It’s no secret that gymnasts are flexible.

Whether they’re contorting themselves into bizarre shapes or doing the splits on stage, gymnasts are up there with some of the most flexible people to ever grace the Earth.

Flexibility from gymnastics is a huge benefit with the added mobility leading to improved posture, greater range of motion and reduced pain from the spine or hip areas that may be felt.

2. Increased coordination

Gymnasts also have phenomenal coordination and just spending a few hours a day performing gymnastics can have a huge benefit on the coordination of those performing the movements.

Coordination is key for just about everything we do and making sure that you’re in tip top form can only be a positive, right?

3. Increased cognitive function

With the heavy focus and concentration required for gymnastics, you should be seeing a huge increase in cognitive function throughout the rest of your time outside the gym too.

Keeping the brain active is not only vital for learning new things and processing information, but for the prevention of diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Keeping the brain active as we age is imperative and with activities such as gymnastics, we can ensure that we protect our future selves.

4. Increased strength and muscle growth

The increased strength and muscle growth is a given in the world of gymnastics and with a huge reliance on bodyweight movements - you’ll be maximising both at the same time.

The increased overall strength is great for protecting the joints and easing the load, making sure that longevity is a focus within the body. Muscle growth of course looks great, but also increases the amount of food that you’re able to consume daily - meaning more meals with maintained weight. It’s a win-win situation.

5. Improved mental wellness

Improved mental wellness is the fifth and final benefit to be included on our list and for good reason. The self-discipline involved in the gymnastic community is incredibly strong and with the development of gymnastic skills comes confidence in and out of the gym.

Gymnastics has a lot to offer, with improved mental wellness, increased strength and muscle growth, improvements in cognitive function, cognition and flexibility - there’s never been a better time to get into gymnastics.