Tip #3: Being a great gymnast.

Tip #3: Study ballet. Again, this probably seems very basic, but grace is a huge part of gymnastics, and it is something that has to be learned. My mom used to come to my meets, and almost every time, she would say, "I can tell which girls are ballerinas and which aren't." Girls who have taken a few ballet practices learn to extend all their limbs, point their toes, and move in a way that looks totally effortless. My sister, who is a dancer, tells me that gracefulness eventually comes naturally. If taking a ballet class is not an option, that's okay. There are other ways you can practice being graceful. Take the time to stand in front of a mirror at home and go through a routine only completing your arm movements. Watch the way you move and try to make it appear as light and as polished as possible. It will pay off!!! I wish I had done more of this when I was a gymnast.

If you watch "Make It or Break It" on ABC Family (come on, I know most of you do :P), you will see Sasha Beloff telling his girls that there are two types of gymnasts: power gymnasts and artistic gymnasts. To an extent, that is very true. I always considered myself a power gymnast. However, to be the very best, you need to have both power AND artistry, and both those elements can be learned.

I would also suggest watching a few videos of past Olympic gymnasts (and by past, I'm talking 1960s-1970s). Over time, the emphasis on poise and beauty has slowly made room for a greater emphasis on power. That's not a bad thing by any means, but sometimes it helps to look back at how gymnastics has evolved and how it all started. Watching early gymnastics routines always inspired me to bring back the artistry in my own routines.

Since I don't know how to embed videos yet, I will provide you with the link to a routine from 1968. There are a lot of lovely, beautiful dance moments in here. Enjoy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxpl6BzYJ5o&feature=related