Getting Into Gymnastics As An Adult

Struggling with your why?

Gosh, this could have so many meanings, but let’s focus on one that has been on my fellow gymnasts’ minds as of late… Why am I doing this? Why I am choosing to train like a gymnast? Why am I re-committing myself to a sport that demands so much from my body? Why am I spending all of this time working to either re-learn or newly learn gymnastics skills? And most importantly, what is my end goal?

We are perfectionists, and yes I am using a collective ‘we’ here because I know I am not alone in this. We feel like everything needs purpose and meaning and to be a part of this larger plan for our lives. Planning is good - trust me I am the queen of planning, but we also need to consider the idea of doing something just to fuel our soul. Does this mean we can’t still have goals we strive to achieve and dreams we hope will happen? Absolutely not, in fact I encourage you to have goals and dreams. But rather, let’s shift the purpose from whatever unattainable form of perfection we are striving for, to simply something that brings us joy.

Unadulterated, unfiltered, unending joy.

Allow me to explore exactly what I mean by this a little more. Perhaps you are a part of the adult gymnastics community because you were a former gymnast who still has a deep-rooted love for the sport, but you have no intentions of actually doing gymnastics anymore - great, this is a place for you. Perhaps you are a part of the adult gymnastics community because you are striving to be out on the competition floor again - great, this is a place for you. Perhaps you are a part of the adult gymnastics community because you have always admired the sport of gymnastics, but you never got the chance to do it as a kid so you are paving your path a little later in your life - great, this is a place for you. Perhaps you are a part of the adult gymnastics community because you have an undying love for the sport of gymnastics and you want to celebrate all of the wonderful things it gave you with fellow former gymnasts who share that same love - great, this is a place for you. If you haven’t gotten my point yet, it’s that no matter what your journey in adult gymnastics has looked like, looks like currently or will look like in the future… you belong here. And as a matter of fact, we love having you here and we are so excited to be sharing in this journey with you.

In order for us to truly share, I feel I should introduce myself. My name is Serena Pergola, a #TLAGTeam member, and I am overjoyed to be sharing in this journey with y’all. It is my pleasure to be bringing you content that lives right here on the Train Like a Gymnast blog and I hope it fuels your soul reading it just like it fuels my soul writing it. I was a competitive gymnast for about 15 years, competing in club gymnastics on a Junior Olympic level, as well as, in Varsity gymnastics on the State level. I unfortunately experienced what wound up being a career-ending injury when I fractured my back and I am still suffering the repercussions of that injury almost 10 years later. My gymnastics journey has been a wild one, and I will share more as we get to know each other a little better in this blog-world. My personal motivation? To empower others, by first holistically empowering myself and leading with kindness every day. I take a deep dive into my life both inside and outside the four walls of a gymnastics gym in my book, The Silver Lining: The Intersection of Sexual Assault and Anxiety Through the World of Gymnastics. My book is available on Amazon if you are wanting to hear more now, but I will share more here as we get to know each other!

Ultimately, I am fairly new to the adult gymnastics world community and I am still trying to identify what exactly this journey will bring for me, but one thing I am absolutely sure of is that I belong here too - and I am so glad we are running this marathon journey together.

P.S. Are you digging my tank and want one for yourself?

Find this tank and more apparel below…

Train in style!

One question that has been weighing on my heart personally is another why…

Why is it that so many gymnasts, who have retired from the sport for whatever particular reason, feel so compelled, so called, so drawn to immersing themselves back in the sport of gymnastics?

Is it the sport? Or is it our undying, unwavering, unbreakable bond with the self that we were when we were a gymnast? 

Something I have always found interesting is this concept that I still fully and wholeheartedly identify as a gymnast. When asked to write short biographies and introductions into who I am as a person, be it for a podcast feature or even a professional engagement, I always mention that I am a former competitive gymnast. I feel as though it would be an incomplete portrayal of who I am without that fact. Mind you, in one breath I feel as though I have not been a gymnast for almost 7 years now and in almost that same breath I feel as though I will always be a gymnast, whether I am twisting and flipping, or not. Interesting concept, right?

I know I am not alone in this. My fellow former gymnasts out there, or even more so my current adult gymnasts out there are reading this and giggling to themselves in agreement. Why is this though? Is it the sport that is intrinsically imprinted on our souls? Or is it the identity we assume at such a young age that becomes a part of our soul in a way we will never shake, and maybe a way we never would want to shake?

What do you feel it is? Why is it that we all gather together in the Train Like a Gymnast community and we long for the days of being a gymnast? Well, rest assured, we no longer need to long. We can fully assume our gymnast souls and immerse ourselves in the training, balancing, stretching, grounding and flipping content spread all throughout this platform. And most of all, we belong here.

Share with me below what you feel the root of your intoxicating love with gymnastics is…

And then fuel that love with your favorite Train Like a Gymnast program! 

Taking that step through the door opened a world of possibilities for me.

-The Silver Lining by Serena Pergola

Until next time…

Xo - Serena

In the meantime if you want to know a little more about me - connect with me on Instagram @serenapergola!

My gosh this life is crazy. The thing about loving yourself is it’s a decision you have to make every single day. The beauty about holistic health is that it is an approach that encompasses all aspects of your health. I typically like to do more “traditional” work outs a few times a week, however, these past two months have brought about a lot of uncertainty and unplanned commitments that threw my regular routine completely off track. At first I was really disappointed I could not find the time to do these workouts, but then I realized that I don’t necessarily have to do those “traditional” workouts in order to tend to my physical health. My physical health can be tended to in numerous ways and it could be way more fluid than I had originally thought. Something I’ve realized throughout this experience is this: Historically, I would have gotten really strict with my eating habits as a result of doing less “workouts”, but what my body and my mind need at this very point in time is to eat the billions of Italian cookies that my grandma offers me while I share those precious moments with her reminiscing on past experiences she had with my grandpa. The thing about holistic health is it’s just that - it’s holistic - and if we don’t treat it as such we wind up defeating the purpose altogether. So this isn’t to say throw all sheets to the wind and go rogue, but instead stay entirely present in your ever-changing life and listen to your body’s holistic needs. Place your worry in His hands & your faith in His plan. On that note, right now my body is shouting for some physical rest & my brain is shouting for more mental nursing stimulation so i’m signing off. Love y’all - let’s keep loving on ourselves real well. ❤️ #metoo #anxiety #empowerment #survivor #speakupstandup #silverlining #depression #awareness #sexualassault #suicideawareness #nursesinspirenurses #warrior #nursing #voiceshavepower #bodyimage #fierce #selflove #takingbackmylife #stronger #stopabuse #girlpower #growthegood #kindness #mentalhealth #nursingstudent #neveralone

Hellloooo?! Is this thing dialing??☎️📞🤣 Happy Birthday Dad 🥳 Grateful for all your endless support. Lucky to still be laughing together to today - love you lots ❤️

What better day than #internationalwomensday to discuss the invaluable traits the sport of gymnastics empowers young women with. The only caveat is, the gymnastics culture historically is a little more complicated than that. 🤔 I distinctly remember the feeling I had after this competition... In fact, I distinctly remember the feeling I had after every competition. I was constantly reaching for perfection - perfection that ultimately doesn’t exist. There is no such thing as perfection and yet as gymnasts it’s all we’re ever taught to reach for. Now at this point in my life I can see just how toxic it was for that to be instilled in us. Gymnastics taught me so many positives, more than I even knew at the time I was learning them, however, those positives unfortunately also brought negatives with them. 🥇 For a long time I wasn’t sure what to make of those negatives - in fact, for a bit of time all I could see was the negatives and I ran from the sport. But I didn’t want to run, I love the sport of gymnastics with my whole heart and I always will. I have come to realize that it isn’t the sport that brought upon those negatives it was the culture of the sport. 🙅‍♀️ In creating healthy environments for gymnasts those negatives don’t have to exist. The sport can shine in its purest form and offer all of the positives without the negatives as a side effect. Together we can #changegymnasticsculture One step at a time. I am so grateful to have found the community within @TrainLikeaGymnast to confide in, share and ultimately, shift the culture of gymnastics. For more of my thoughts on the gymnastics culture check out my latest blog on trainlikeagymnast.com/blog 🤸‍♀️ And I would be remiss to not mention my incredible momma on this #internationalwomensday because without her to not only instill in me my values that have made me who I am today, but also demonstrate those values as my role model in her every day life - I would be nowhere. I am eternally grateful. 🥰 #metoo #anxiety #empowerment #survivor #speakupstandup #silverlining #depression #awareness #sexualassault #suicideawareness #warrior #voiceshavepower #bodyimage #fierce #takingbackmylife #stopabuse

On the last day of #nedaweek let’s look at ourselves in the mirror and smile at the person looking back at us. Our body has fought & persevered through so many obstacles. Proclaim these victories aloud to yourself & step into a place of gratitude. Here are just some of the tough & incredible things my body has done for me in just 22 years: Endured & overcome physical and sexual abuse, carried me while I flipped & flew through the air over a 4-inch beam, endured & overcome periods of time when my mind played tricks and restricted it of enough nourishment, allowed me the physical capability to care for those who cannot physically care for themselves, endured & healed from a fractured spine and the countless other gymnastics injuries throughout my time as a competitive gymnast, allowed me the able power to walk on the beach and feel sand beneath my toes, endured & overcome periods of time when my mind played tricks and overran it with improper nourishment... Those are just a few of the innumerable things my body has done for me. Let’s pay attention to what our body asks of us in return - the cues of hunger, fullness, nutrients & also deliciousness. Now, it’s your turn - be proud of your body and reward it with the nourishment it deserves. #metoo #anxiety #empowerment #survivor #speakupstandup #silverlining #depression #awareness #sexualassault #suicideawareness #nursesinspirenurses #warrior #nursing #voiceshavepower #bodyimage #fierce #selflove #takingbackmylife #stronger #stopabuse #girlpower #growthegood #kindness #mentalhealth #nursingstudent #neveralone

HELLO BEAUTIFUL! 👋 Yes, i’m talking to YOU. Your beauty shines bright inside & out. It’s National Eating Disorder Awareness week and I want to share a bit about my own experience in the hopes that it resonates and empowers you in some way... #nedaweek First off, as always, I am here for anyone and everyone who is wanting to share - I can be a listening ear👂, a shoulder for support 🫂, a voice of empowerment 🗣, or any other form you need to help you get through. I would love to help see you 👀 and meet you 👥 wherever you are at in your journey. 🧗‍♀️ “Body image is usually talked about in one of two ways: negative body image or positive body image. Negative body image encompasses those who are struggling, like myself for example, whereas positive body image usually describes the ideal outlook one aspires to have on body image. Body image can get tricky, especially because the way one views their body is not always true to what their body actually looks like. It is important to remember that embracing your body the way that it is and treating it with respect and love will make you the healthiest you can be. Unfortunately, body image anxiety is all too common. My personal struggle is balancing healthfulness and overindulgence. I try not to restrict myself too much or when I do have a day of indulgence, I overindulge. Similarly, I try not to be too strict all of the time or I get overly conscious and count every ounce of indulgence as a complete loss. Moderation is the clear best choice, but it always seems to be easier said than done. This concept of moderation is still something I struggle with to this day. I go through waves of cutting carbs completely from my diet or indulging daily because “I deserve it.” I do not have a fully formed and practiced solution to this struggle quite yet; however, I do know that recognizing the problem and admitting it to myself is the first step. I pay conscious attention to my internal obsessive thoughts regarding my eating habits and I am proud of myself for being able to recognize when I am being irrationally strict. ... Continued in the comments...

Let’s talk about saying no 🙅‍♀️ I know for me personally, “no” is like a forbidden word in my vocabulary. I find myself consciously spreading myself too thin just to avoid saying no. I find it especially hard to say no when I think I will genuinely find joy in doing the thing, even if it means sacrificing some form of my personal health to get that thing done. But am I able to experience real, whole-hearted joy if I have to sacrifice my mental, physical and emotional health to do it? Some things I have been having to remind myself of a lot lately that maybe y’all might need a reminder of too: 💆‍♀️ We cannot properly pour into and empower others if we do not first pour into and empower ourselves. 🙇‍♀️ When we outsource our joy, we depend on others to experience it. When we find joy from within, other sources of joy have the power to add to the sweetness, but don’t have the power to take away from it. You are worth more than second priority - by putting yourself first, your ability to give to others grows immensely. 🌟

Count your blessings & remind your loved ones just how much they mean to you. “Place your worry in God’s hands and He will give you the strength through continual faith.” 🙏💙

Thrilled to be supporting fellow healthcare-pursuers who are leaning into the true meaning of “holistic health” 🧠 As clinicians we are tasked with helping and healing the physical illnesses of our patients, but we are simultaneously tasked with helping and healing the mental and emotional scars these illnesses leave lingering behind. Oftentimes, this second task is overlooked and undervalued. I am proud to support the @mentalhealth.mvmt in spreading the message “You Matter Most” because without holistic health, we can never truly help or heal. 🤝 Honored to be given the opportunity to pursue a career where I can leave a lasting impact on others. 🙏 #sexualassault #gymnastics #metoo #anxiety #empowerment #survivor #speakupstandup #silverlining #rape #depression #awareness #sexualabuseprevention #suicideawareness #education #warrior #nursing #voiceshavepower #bodyimage #fierce #selflove #takingbackmylife #stronger #stopabuse #girlpower #growthegood #kindness #mentalhealth #nursingstudent #neveralone