Q&A for How to Be a Good Gymnast

Prioritize compound lifts during workouts, like squats, deadlifts, pulldowns, and presses. Also, make sure that you're averaging 7-8 hours of sleep per night, since muscle growth occurs during sleep/recovery.

You should take one to every lesson, because you need to ensure that you are staying hydrated all the time.

Keep practicing. If you are at a meet and mess up, don't worry too much. Nobody's perfect and we all make mistakes. Practice the skill you messed up on to improve it for next time and show how much you care about getting better.

I personally have had this happen. My advice is to get a spotter to stand there so you can feel comfortable. If that won't work, try drills and then try on a soft mat. If you are scared of doing it on the floor/beam without a mat, just know that your coach won't let you do something you aren't ready for.

Practice and stretch everyday; even 5 to 10 minutes of practicing before you go to bed is better than not practicing at all.

Some essential stretches for gymnastics are pikes, splits and bridges. Over time you will figure out what stretches work best for you.

Face the fears by being proactive. Lay down soft mats, get a good spotter and start small and develop your skills gradually.

Try the skill on a soft, padded mat. If you are still worried about hurting yourself, consider a spotter. They are always there to help you. Also, don't try a skill unless you are ready and have drilled it.

Your coach is probably just trying to get you to do your best. Try really hard to keep improving. If you really can't work with this particular coach, switch gyms and get a new one.

Conditioning is strengthening and preparing your body to function at its best. Try push ups, crunches, planks, jumping jacks, burpies, and sprints.

A snack and a drink for after. Also a pair of extra clothes, perfume, deodorant, aftershave and some Bobby pins. These are just the basics; you can put whatever you want in your gym bag.

You could use a friend's trampoline at their house, or buy a mat to use on the floor.

She's probably jealous. Part of being a good athlete is tuning out people who tell you that you can't do it. Channel your anger and prove her wrong. If you really can't do this, talk to the coach or your parents about it.

You would probably want to go find a good spotter. Once you think you mastered it, try it without a spotter.

Remember that criticism is meant to help your improve. Without criticism, you would never know where you made mistakes. If criticism seems too personal or cruel, make sure you mention it to your parent so you only receive constructive criticism.

First, start off by doing a jumping cartwheel. When you're good at that, attempt an aerial. Keep your arms by your chest. You will need A LOT of power in your legs when taking off. Keep practicing and you'll get there.

Set goals for yourself and practice as often as you can. Identify your weaknesses and focus on those to improve most quickly.

You are better than them. Just be super nice and get them all confused. If they bully you a lot, tell a coach.

Ask your coach about exercises to make your ankles stronger, stretch them a lot, and ask your coach to tape your ankles for support when you tumble.

Try squaring your hips up. This will help you to stay balanced through the skill. If you are doing it on a beam, then try to do it with a soft mat underneath. If you are doing it on the floor, then just try your hardest and squeeze your muscles and stay tight.

It will hurt when you do a bridge at first because your back isn't used to you bending it so much. Start by getting a supporter to help you hold the position. Just keep trying until you can do it.

If you point your toes that will help a lot. Also for practice if you try a back lumber it will help you keep your legs straight.

If you're too scared of going backwards, jump back on your bed so you can get over the fear of jumping backward.

Practice on a trampoline until you can do them perfectly. When you feel ready, using a soft mat, try an aerial. If it doesn't work, go back to practicing on the trampoline.

Yes! There is no age limit on gymnastics and if you start as a teenager (like I did), you may be able to set higher standards for yourself, because you have more self motivation than smaller children.

Keep practicing! Muscle memory will eventually take over.

Food, water, grips, leotard, clothes, hair ties, scrunchies, bandages/band-aids, and shoes are all good things to bring to gymnastics with you.

Just keep on going, everyone learns at a different pace. Just keep practicing, and talk to your coach if you think you need extra help.

Everyone learns at a different pace. If you keep on practicing, you will get better.

I can only help with the back hip circle. Make sure you get a high cast and follow through with it. Do not hesitate, you could end up getting hurt.