I'm 24 now. I had fun as a 16 year old doing my first gymnastics class, and most of the time it was just that- fun. We didn't end up polishing any skills I can put my finger on, though. I was only there for a year. If you join when you're older they seem to ignore you, as you've grown out of the age bracket. The worst thing for me is that one day I was learning to do a front walkover- something I never succeeded at because I was really scared after this- and my teachers were supposed to be spotting me. They said that they were confident in my ability and moved on to another student, leaving me in the center of the floor, pressured to perform. I had never done a front walkover before, there was nothing to be confident in. They were not giving me anymore attention- something they frequently did in favor of my younger, more naturally inclined classmates. But I tried anyway, due to their urging. My legs tucked too far up my back as I flipped over, and I didn't catch myself with my feet. I hurt myself pretty badly by bending my back too much and then falling onto the overextension, but didn't want to let on- for whatever reason. I was a "rub some dirt in it" kid. I cried in the bathroom for like ten minutes while the worst pain calmed down, then managed to feebly get through the rest of the class. Years later, I was getting an xray for something else, and the doctor noted I have a back misalignment "found typically in gymnasts". It's from injuries like what happened to me. Luckily it's minor and doesn't have something they can really do for it, but if I had been more confident without teacher supervision like they were trying to make me, I could have really hurt myself. So, not a great experience. Not gonna do anything about it at this point, and it's been so long since- but wanted parents to be aware what this place is about. read more