F**k me - I seriously overestimated my abilities this eve

[eagleray]

The kids were messing around this eve doing 'gymnastics' (they're 2 and 6) and I decided I would try a somersault.

I used to do them all the time but that was 40 years ago.

My head landed on the mat then my neck kind of caved in on itself. I feel quite lucky I didn't do myself permanent damage and probably need to face up to how pathetically fat and unfit I've become (recovering from cancer too which I imagine didn't help much)

Off to practice my cartwheels now 🙄

A somersault? Good grief you're ambitious. I admit I've never in my life attempted one,.

I used to do a mean forward roll and then immediately after a backward roll. I'd do it now but I wouldn't want to make others feel inadequate.

@MrsBungle Although I try and channel my inner geisha whenever possible, grace and beauty was sadly lacking as I lay gasping on the floor

The only thing I could do as a child was headstands. If I tried one now I would at best have a headache for 3 days, at worst break my neck. I feel accomplished if I can crouch down for a few seconds and get back up without having to hold on to something or pull up on something. Kudos to anyone over 40 who can do this.

I can do a handstand still at the advanced age of 47- I only attempt it when utterly hammered though- usually against the bedroom wall.Poor DH went to bed at 9:00pm (in anticipation of a 4.30am get up for work) - so I will leave it for tonight!I don't think I have done it for a year or two though!

@mamehasan

Elloelloello

Goingtotown

Enormasnob - that a type of revolution? Like a cartwheel?

Farting crabs

I had a go on my niece's scooter a couple of years back. She ran in front of me, I tried to stop and hit a gravel pit hole. Ended up going over the hand bar onto the gravel. Skinned both knees and one hand particularly badly. My hand took ages and ages to heal - right hand too!m and the day before I went back to school (teach.) My word it hurt!!

Your proprioceptive sense wears out when you get old, it's linked to eyesight and vestibular sense and yes I had to google most of the words in that sentence last year when I threw up on a roundabout.

I decided to really get fit this year by returning to my step aerobics days. Doing the around the world move caused me to fracture my knee. I was really bummed because at age 22, I killed that damn step!

I tried to get up the stairs without using my hands, while carrying a mug of coffee in each. Not a f----g chance. DW had to rescue me from halfway up.

Hang on op.

Did you attempt a somersault or a forwards roll? I assumed you meant somersault (as you typed) but I think some people are thinking of what I call a forwards roll.

My new years resolution is to learn to somersault (I'm 38). My BIL (dancer/gymnast) is going to teach me.

@ShowOfHands it was a bog standard forward roll that did for me... I couldn't even do a somersault when I was a kid, never mind now!

@ShowOfHands to me the terms are the same although for others they may mean something different?

Hands and head on floor then roll forward if that makes sense?

I have hypermobility and in theory can do the splits without even trying. The other week I had to take a photograph from a tricky angle for work, did what can only be considered the world's deepest lunge and ended up crippled for a week. My hip made an almighty crack and I definitely twanged something in my groin. I'm 30 and apparently knackered.

Here's a somersault! This is what I tried to do - perhaps I should have watched the video first...

"I used to do them 40 odd years ago. "

I gave myself a frozen shoulder for 8 months following a swimming pool handstand.

We need a Mumsnet Gymnastics class.
I could start with ''put down that pie''.

I came off the sledge yesterday, today my shoulder kills. I'm 45. Today the kids are going by themselves!

Eagleray that’s a forward roll, not a somersault.

Used to piss me off as a gymnast when i was a kid people getting the terminology wrong!

I was a pretty serious gymnast- an now 50 and can still back flip and double somersault with the best of them, despite being 2 stone overweight and having done no exercise since i gave up gymnastics.

O/p, you have mats at home?!

I'm 58 and can touch my nose with my toe does that count as being fit

Eagleray that’s a forward roll, not a somersault.

I think most of us non-gymnasts will have known what she meant, because to most of us they are the same thing.