I own and run a gymnastic gym where I teach kids between the ages of four and eighteen.
Along with verbally instructing, I provide hands-on spotting.
It’s essential to physically assist the students as they learn and attempt new skills. My support provides them confidence, makes sure of proper positioning and helps to avoid injury. At five-feet three-inches tall, I am not a very big person. The kids are sometimes taller and weigh more than I do. To be proficient at my job and avoid injury, I maintain my physical condition. I workout for approximately an hour every morning. I focus on flexibility, balance, range of motion, strength and stamina. While I am sometimes sore after a full day at the gym, from supporting the weight of the kids, I seldom get hurt. About a year ago, I was spotting a class of teenage girls as they worked on their more difficult skills. It wasn’t difficult for me. However, one of the girls attempted a back handspring twisted slightly as she performed the skill. This forced me to extend my body to reach her and guide. I felt a slight pinch in my leg at the time, but didn’t give it much thought. When I arrived home an hour or two later, my right leg had started to throb. The pain extended upward from my knee and curled all way around my hip. It was excruciating. I couldn’t manage to sit down. The next day, I went to see my chiropractor. He said that I’d torn my psoas muscle. I’ve never felt such terrible pain in my life. I couldn’t go up and down stairs or drive. I couldn’t work and sleeping at night was nearly impossible. I iced the muscle every few hours, took double doses of Aleve and wasn’t able to start spotting again for several months.