Uppers at the Y

During the winter months when we needed a break from group games in the All School Room and snow play in the backyard, we took weekly trips to The Y in Greenfield. The Y holds a special place in my heart as I have been going there since I was a kid. It’s where I learned to swim, play basketball and soccer, and do gymnastics. It’s where I spent many of my summers at camp as a child. As a teenager I began teaching gymnastics classes and coaching the gymnastics team, and in my adult years I started a very successful parkour program. Now, I get to bring my students back to my old stomping grounds, and it feels amazing.

The Gymnastics Center at The Y is a space where people of all ages and skill levels can let loose, jump, run, flip, climb, balance, and play. The Uppers began each visit with static stretching followed by dynamic stretching and other floor skills in lines. We tried the basics like forward rolls, leaps, cartwheels, bounding, galloping, and skipping. Once our bodies were warmed up, we moved into parkour skills where students got to use trampolines and similar bouncing apparatuses. Uppers jumped to grab hanging silk, rolled over stacks of mats, and ran on the walls. Some climbed ropes hanging from the ceiling while others swung around the room while others pushed. 

The Uppers most enjoy the free time they have at the end of class to explore the room and equipment. I love this time because I get to see students cheering each other on, offering emotional support, and challenging each other to try new things. We are so lucky to be able to visit The Y each year!