Hi, my name is Jocelyn Thompson-Rool, I'm a Peloton instructor and I teach running and bootcamp

classes on the Peloton tread. Don't get caught up in the amount of time that you have to spend

doing something you don't need to do 30 minutes or 60 minutes for it to count. Five minutes can

make a big difference, even like a simple walk or a stretch or something just to get you started,

start small and don't shortchange yourself. The Guardian Labs has partnered with Peloton to help

you find motivation that moves you. To find out more, visit thegardian.com forward slash motivation

with Peloton. This message was paid for by Peloton. The Guardian Welcome to the Guardian Long

Read, showcasing the best long-form journalism covering culture, politics and new thinking.

For the text version of this and all our long reads, go to thegardian.com forward slash long read.

A lesson in loss, humility and absurdity, how rhythmic gymnastics took over my childhood.

When I was six, a chance encounter with rhythmic gymnastics, all ribbons, sequence and smiles,

opened up a sublime, sometimes cruel, new world, by 12, I had quit. What had it all meant?

Written and read by Rebecca Liu and produced by Esther Apoku Jenny. Every four years,

the same argument plays out. The Olympics reminds the public of the existence of rhythmic gymnastics,

and the public scoffs at this ridiculous spectacle. With its ribbon dancing, its sequence,

its extravagant bending and pearl wetting. Where artistic gymnastics, the one with the beam and

the bars, the one with triple backflips and the constant risk of broken bones, is dignified and

athletic. rhythmic gymnastics is freely and absurd. How was this even a sport? Why is it part of

the Olympics? These are the usual criticisms. In return, in battle and mirrors will point out

that rhythmic gymnastics is extremely difficult, actually. There is immense skill involved in those

back bends and leaps. Besides, have you tried throwing and catching a ball while holding your foot

above your head? When I first caught sight of rhythmic gymnastics, I knew nothing of this.

...