How to Complete a Safe Somersault

Remember how much fun it was to do somersaults as a kid? Just because you are not a kid anymore doesn’t mean you can’t complete a somersault safely.

A few things to remember

● Don’t complete this if you have any spine or bone density issues.

● You will be using your arms and legs for push off and to control your landing

● You will be rolling on your thoracic spine (upper back) and lumbar spine(lower back), not your head or neck

Make sure the area around you has some cushion and is clear of obstacles

With your feet hip distance apart squat down so your hands lay flat on the ground. If you do not have the hip, wrist, and knee flexibility to attain this position comfortably you may not want to continue.

With your hands flat on the ground, push through your legs to lift your hips high in the air, while tucking your chin and rounding your spine as if to look at your belly

Continue pressing through the legs and lifting through your hips until your center of gravity begins to shift to your arms. Maintain the curve of your spine with your head and neck tucked.

Press completely off your feet and onto your hands maintaining a tucked head and neck. The area of your spine that you roll on should be your upper back and shoulder blade region, not your head or neck.

Stay in a tucked position as the momentum carries you forward. Follow the curve of the spine as you roll.

If you have maintained enough momentum you will be able to tuck your feet underneath you.

Press through your legs and come up to standing.

Congratulations, you just completed a somersault!