Everything You Need to Know Before Starting Rhythmic Gymnastics Part 2. What to Wear to Your First Gymnastics Class
Updated: Aug 10
When I first started rhythmic gymnastics, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I didn’t even know the sport existed until my very first trial lesson. It wasn’t until many years of trial and error until I figured out exactly what rhythmic gymnastics entails. Now, I get to share that insight with you!There is a lot to unpack so I'm making this a series. This is part 1:
Starting with training apparel, the type of clothes allowed will vary from club to club. From my personal experience, my coach only allowed us to wear tight fitting black training clothes, however I have seen other clubs’ gymnasts wear loose fitting shirts of various colors. It really depends on what your club allows, however I think the best color to get is black.
You will need :
-Tank Tops/T-Shirts/Sports Bras
My favorite brands of t-shirts are Athleta, however there are many other brands including:
The t-shirt should be breathable, and able to move with your body. Most coaches require black attire, so that is the color I recommend.
-Long sleeves
For when it's too cold to wear only a t-shirt but you want to run routines in a t-shirt, long sleeves are a great way to stay warm during the beginning of practice and to take off when the intensity increases. Don’t wear just a long sleeve though, I made that mistake once and when my coach told me to take off my long sleeve during routines, I didn’t have anything underneath.
Here are some brands:
32 heat (from Costco)
-Leggings/ shorts
Leggings were my choice of wear for practice. I liked them because they allowed me to move seamlessly without getting fabric bunched up. Here are a few brands that also sell shorts as well:
My personal preference was Lululemon because they made me feel skinnier, however it really depends on personal preference so do what's best for you!
-Socks/ Toe shoes
White socks are also essential for warming up. Personally I use Kbell. Toe shoes are like the ‘pointe shoes’ of rhythmic gymnastics. Whatever brand you choose should be based on experience and personal preference. I used Sasaki throughout my entire career. There are definitely pro’s and con’s to different brands and you can learn more about my take on them here. Meanwhile here are a few popular brands:
-Back Warmers
Back Warmers are important to have, especially as you get older. Rhythmic gymnasts use their backs a lot to do crazy things, so having a back warmer will keep you back supported and flexible. Purchase on :
-Leg Warmers
Leg warmers are good to have when it gets super cold in the gym. They keep your feet and ankles warm. They are good to keep in your gym bag. Here are a few brands :
-Knee Pads
Knee pads are good for protecting your knees when you are doing things like acro's or catching on your knees. My favorite brand is Solo Knee Pads . These are good to keep in your gym bag, however you don't need to wear them all the time unless you want to.
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