Wanna be the best? Don’t Rest – Condition!

  Conditioning may seem like a pain in the butt at the end of a practice but it’s that pain in the butt that will give you the continuous kick you need to push harder and become a stronger cheerleader overall. Everyone wants to become a top tumbler and do impressive stunts at competition. It’s no secret what the best teams are doing. They incorporate conditioning into each and every one of their practices. Cheerleading is a sport that will never be easy. It’s your job to continue to push your boundaries in order to be unstoppable.

Think of conditioning as the foundation of a structure. You cannot build a great house without a strong foundation! Keep this idea in mind when doing your exercises. Although it may seem strenuous and tiring, it’s those moments that are crucial to building your body that much more. As you know, stunting and tumbling require a ton of physical strength. The only way to get to that point is by constantly pushing yourself further.

There are many ways to condition and strength train. If you’re just starting out, take about 10-15 minutes after each practice and devote it to non-stop conditioning. Gradually build up exercises each time. Conditioning should be a grueling and challenging process. You should be sore later! Make sure you are stretching and hydrating properly as well.

As Carmine Silano says, “The point is to take the limit you currently have and be able to sustain that limit for an extended period time. Make this limit the new norm, and create a new limit each time you condition”. You should never feel that conditioning and strength building is easy. If it’s easy, you are not working hard enough. Think of your favorite cheerleader.  Why are they your favorite? Think of them hitting their pyramid 2:00 into their routine already. Do you think they got there by being lazy?  Behind every great athlete is a core strength building routine that constantly is testing them and making them that much greater. Your goal should be to top the person you idolize. Be a leader, not a follower. Pave your own way and make people follow you.

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion” – Muhammad Ali