"Children taught to live in the moment and enjoy it" Coach Elizaveta Maksyakova talks about the Academy charitable training camp

Adaptive rhythmic gymnastics coach from Kazan, Elizaveta Maksyakova, shared her impressions of working with special needs children at the charitable training camp at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy.

“I used to empathize with these children, I felt sorry for them, I was even a little afraid, to be honest, I was afraid to do something wrong, give a wrong look, act in the wrong way. Now they always greet me with hugs and smiles. Even if the day is not going well, they will always cheer you up,” Elizaveta said.

The coach also noted that these children have the opportunity to be involved in sports. “By nature and physiology, these children are often quite flexible precisely in the joints. But this is also a problem, because it is important to take the time to build muscles so that there are no injuries. They still can’t hear much rhythm and music, for now. It’s hard for them, but we are slowly getting used to it,” she said.

Special needs children taught her to cherish life and appreciate it, said Elizaveta. “They taught me to just live and enjoy the moment, enjoy what we have and what these kids may not have,” she admitted.

The charitable training camp for gymnasts from Kazan is held in Sochi at the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy, June 1-8. The program includes general physical training, acrobatics, stretching, working on elements, individual training, games, relay races and swimming at the pool.