INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Being flexible is one of the most important qualities of a gymnast. If you want to be a gymnast, you can start working on your flexibility right now. Doing stretches and other exercises every day will make your body more limber, allowing you to perform gymnastics moves with grace and ease. Being flexible also improves your coordination. To improve your flexibility, do these exercises every day: Do neck rotations and try to bring your ears as close as possible to your shoulders without raising them. Next is the shoulder stretch, where you pull one arm at a time across your chest. Stretch your chest by locking your fingers behind your back and extending your arms up. Stretch your back with the seal stretch: get in a push up position, then push up keeping your hips on the ground. Stretch your hamstrings and back by leaning forward to touch your toes. Practice doing the splits until you can go into a full split with ease. Starting from a sitting position, do a knee to chin press. Bring one knee toward your chin, hold it there, then repeat with the other knee. Do bridges. Start lying down with your knees bent. Put your hands on the floor behind your head and lift your body into a bridge position. It's a fun gymnastics move that will help you get used to using your body in more flexible ways than you're used to. You'll also learn how it feels to be upside down. To start, crouch close to the ground with your hands firmly planted on the floor. Tuck in your head and roll forward onto your back, letting your legs follow naturally. Keep practicing until you can do a forward roll without thinking. Make sure you keep your head tucked in, and don't roll directly on your neck. You could injure your neck if you put all of your weight on it. Try a more advanced version of the forward roll by starting from a standing position and smoothly rising to your feet without using your hands to support you at the end of the move. Find a soft or grassy spot to practice doing a cartwheel. This isn't a dangerous move, but you might fall a few times before you get the hang of it. Start in a standing position with your right toe (or your left, if you're left-handed) pointed in front of you and your hands above your head. Lean forward sideways, and place your right hand on the ground, following by your left hand. As your hands touch the ground, kick up your legs and use your arms to support their weight. Your left foot should touch down first, then your right. End the move standing upright. The first few times you try to cartwheel, it will be hard to get your legs above your head. Keep practicing until you're used to the feeling of being upside down. Eventually, you should be able to cartwheel without bending your knees. To do a roundoff, try landing with both feet at the same time instead of one at a time. Keep your feet together and plant them on the ground. This is the foundation of many gymnastics moves, and it's one you can perfect at home before you get lessons. Find a soft place to practice. Stand up straight with your hands over your head. Step forward with your right foot (or your left, if you're left-handed) and tip forward to plant your hands on the ground. At the same time, kick up your legs above your head, keeping them straight and together. Hold the position for a moment before dropping your feet back to the ground and standing upright. It might help to practice against the wall, or with the help of the spotter, while you're learning this move. Keep your chin tucked in and your shoulders against your ears. If you think you have an aptitude for gymnastics, and you're ready to try more complicated moves, it's time to take some lessons. A qualified gymnastics coach will teach you how to do advanced moves using the right form. You'll learn how to strengthen your muscles so that you can execute moves with perfect grace. Also importantly, your coach will be able to show you how to train without risking your safety. You can teach yourself at home gymnastics skills like a round-off, a front walkover, and a back walkover. In a gymnastics gym, you'll get to learn how to use professional equipment. For girls, vault, balance beam, uneven bars, and floor exercise. For boys, vault, high bar, still rings, parallel bars, pommel horse, and floor exercise. handsprings, front tucks, back tucks, aerials, front aerials, etc.. To find gymnastics lessons near you, do an online search for "gymnastics gym" or "gymnastics club" and the name of your town. You'll probably find a range of options, from free lessons offered at your local YMCA to more expensive private lessons. At clubs, your skill level will be evaluated and you'll be instructed as to what class would fit you best.

SUMMARY: Work on your flexibility. Learn how to do a forward roll. Practice doing a cartwheel. See if you can do a handstand. Take gymnastics lessons.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Before you run the risk of hurting your friendship over something trivial, first determine if you would want your friend to talk to you if you were exhibiting the same behavior. If you're not sure that you would, perhaps you should question if the behavior is really that risky. If you definitely would, then you should speak to your friend immediately about it. Issues that you wouldn't want to hold your tongue about are those in which your friend may be in danger or pose a danger to others. These include drinking and driving, unprotected sex, theft or using drugs. Before you talk to your friend, understanding why they are acting the way they are is often helpful. This allows you to go into your conversation with a clearer idea of what your friend is going through, which may provide you with more ways to help. Asking other friends or those around that person may help you figure out why they are behaving the way they are. You might mention to some other friends, "I've noticed Cassidy has been going out and drinking a lot lately. Have you noticed that, too? Are you concerned?" Many different psychological disorders cause people to behave in risky ways. Those with ADHD, Bipolar disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or another mental health condition may be more inclined to exhibit risky behavior. Knowing if a mental health condition is the underlying reason for your friend's uncharacteristic behavior can give you ideas about how to get help, such as adjusting medication or going to see a doctor. If you are unsure of yourself and what to say, having other people who care about your friend there with you may be helpful. Additionally, asking a school counselor or addiction specialist to speak with your friend is beneficial, particularly if drinking or drug use is your concern. Professionals can answer questions and offer support that you may not be able to, and they are experienced in having these types of meetings, which may help things to stay calm and productive. You'll need to take your friend's personality into consideration when planning the meeting. If they are deeply private or even paranoid, they may react better to a one-on-one conversation. Having a group of people there may make them become defensive. If you witness your friend doing something extremely risky and dangerous, such as doubling their narcotic prescription, you may need to enlist the help of law enforcement and/or EMS. If you tell your friend to stop and they don't listen, call 9-1-1. Receiving assistance in this way is the best option in extreme situations. This will ensure their safety, your safety, and the safety of anyone else who is involved.

SUMMARY:
Ask yourself if you would want to be told. Determine if there is a reason for the risky behavior. Enlist the help of others.