One of the most common questions I get as a coach is: “When should gymnasts move from bodyweight training to weight training?” In gymnastics, shaping and bodyweight control form the foundation of strength. But there comes a time when progressing requires adding resistance beyond an athlete’s own body. The key is knowing when athletes are ready and how to add weights safely. Start with Bodyweight and Shaping Foundations Every gymnast begins with bodyweight strength: push-ups,

One of my favorite things is creating new and exciting cardio workouts for my athletes on Saturday mornings. It keeps training fun, challenging, and engaging. This week, I took inspiration from the popular Hyrox workout. Recently, I’ve seen a lot about this race, which has gained popularity for its high-intensity functional training that combines endurance and strength exercises. It presents a unique challenge that can be adapted to athletes from different backgrounds. I recr

As many of us already know, conditioning can make or break your team’s success. Strong, well-conditioned gymnasts not only learn skills faster but also stay healthier and more confident in the long run. The problem? Most coaches are juggling a lot—lesson plans, rotations, parent emails, meet prep, and about a million other things on their to-do list. Writing out a detailed strength program usually ends up taking a back seat! That’s exactly why I created Raise the Bar strength