Perfect Balance: A Young Athlete’s Guide to the World of Gymnastics

Become a stronger, more informed gymnast with this practical guide for young athletes, filled with unique insights, advice, tips, strategies and more intended for young gymnasts who want to feel heard and understood in one of the toughest, most competitive sports.

Gymnastics is one of the fastest growing sports, particularly for young girls. Yet despite its popularity, many young athletes quit before they reach high school age due to the physical and mental demands.

In Perfect Balance, multiple award-winning former gymnast and mentor to young gymnasts Julia Konner helps young athletes navigate their relationship with gymnastics. With a mix of objective advice, personal stories from the author’s years as a gymnast, anecdotes of other gymnasts, and additional insights from a coach’s perspective, Perfect Balance will be an invaluable, real-life guide for these young athletes participating in one of the most intense sports out there. Inside this book, young athletes will find:

Practical tips for strength building Strategies for developing mental toughness Advice on dealing with body dysmorphia Information on how to choose the best coach and gym for you And so much more!

Whether you’re just starting your gymnastics journey or are a seasoned gymnast with Olympic-sized goals, Perfect Balance will guide you in becoming the best young athlete you can be.

Julia Konner, MPH is a 28-year-old former collegiate Division 1 student-athlete and coach with over 16 years of competing as an artistic gymnast. Through her many years as a club athlete, collegiate athlete, and then unanimously-voted team captain, she has faced her own adversities through injuries, body image issues, and ways that the time requirements of training 30+ hours/week impacted her social life. Over the years she has helped countless young and college-aged athletes navigate the complicated, arduous, and time-consuming sport of gymnastics. Through her personal experience and intricate knowledge of the sport, Konner provides evidence-based advice for young gymnasts at every level and continues to mentor young gymnasts and collegiate student-athletes through the ups and downs of the sport of gymnastics.

Konner holds a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from the University of California, Davis. During and after finishing her graduate work, she worked in research and program management related to prevention and mitigation of chronic diseases through healthier lifestyle habits. She remains active as a competitive CrossFit athlete, focused on both the physical side of strength as well as the mental. She currently lives in Washington, D.C., and works in global public health.