I've been hunting and hunting for a place that offers ADULT gymnastics/tumbling classes. I've always wanted to do gymnastics for fun, and now I'm thinking experience in gymnastics may help me with doing the crazy aerial stunts in lindy hop dancing as I continue learning it...

I found ONE school that mentions adult gymnastics classes but it is about 3 hours away... and it is mentioned on the calendar page that says "Fall of 2008". So I need to call them when they're open to see if they still offer that class... and if so, to then debate if driving 6 hours is worth it for a one hour class.

I have a book intended for phys-ed teachers to teach basic gymnastics but I'd rather be paying somebody who can show me in person how to do these things, and to spot me. The book covers up to and including back handsprings and balance beam stuff. This just doesn't seem to me to be stuff I should teach myself from a book in my back yard.

Anybody else here in adult gymnastics classes? It seems like a strangely rare class from all my searching, I found other people asking if they exist in various forums.

EricaHart wrote:

This just doesn't seem to me to be stuff I should teach myself from a book in my back yard.

No kidding! You need someone to teach you to do things correctly and safely and to spot you!

When my daughter was young and taking both dance and gymnastics You might have to take private classes. I briefly thought about adult gymnastics and you're right -- it just doesn't seem to be taught. The closest thing I saw was her acro classes she was in at the dance school she went to. It was on an advanced level, though. Some adult, professional dancers were in that class. Even though the school stressed ballet (the director was a former Joffrey soloist) it also stressed all the other skills which might get you a real job in the dance world. The director was also skilled in acro, had been a competitive diver in high school and had danced on Broadway where, I'm sure, his acro skills came in handy.

This brings me to a thought about finding adult classes. Maybe look for adult diving classes and ask the instructor if he or she also teaches acrobatics or knows someone who does. And then there are a few circus schools around the US who might teach acrobatics or be able to refer you to someone. Last, do a Google search for gymnastics associations to contact. Professional and trade associations are very useful in referring you to members in your area who may be able to help.

Good grief, the first part of my message is totally garbled and the software says it is too late to edit. It was supposed to start thus:

You might have to take private classes. When my daughter was young and taking both dance and gymnastics I briefly thought about adult gymnastics and you're right -- it just doesn't seem to be taught.

Yep I thought that's what you meant. Your tips DID help me find more schools... using some of those new keywords... and after calling them.p, I'm still getting the same replies... "only up to age 18" over and over. I found mentionings of an Ohio Gymnastics Association but can't hunt down a website or contact info FOR/OF it. I called the school that is 3 hours away... they DO still offer adult gymnastics on a day and time that works for me... so I think I'm going to attend that place. Gymnastics looks too fun and I wanna try it. I should have asked what exactly they include for adults... I hope I can eventually do the uneven bars!

This is definitely not all extensive but here are some gyms you can look into. Adult gymnastics is becoming more popular and Dominque Dawes did a yahoo cover story on it a few months back (and her gym is not on the list) masters-gymnastics.com . . .