Words by Karen McCain | Images by Al Blanton
When their daughter was two years old, Jason and Ashley Farley decided to enroll her in Mommy and Me gymnastics class to help with her shyness. They never dreamed that she would excel so remarkably.
She went from a shy toddler to a confident, elite athlete.
Collins Farley is now 13 years old and a competitive gymnast. Gymnastics is a sport that requires immense strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination – and to compete at the top level, it requires a time commitment. Collins practices at least 25 hours a week and travels from her home in Arley, Alabama, to JamJev Gymnastics in Bessemer. She competes in the vault, uneven bars, floor exercise, and balance beam events.
Collins’ hard work has clearly paid off. She recently showcased her skill and became a champion on the uneven bars event at the Alabama state meet.
Collins is a Level 9 gymnast in Region 8 USA Gymnastics (USAG), comprised of gymnasts from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Her competition season runs from January to May, and in six regular-season meets this year, she qualified for the USAG Region 8 meet, where she faced other top gymnasts. From there, she became eligible to compete in the USAG Eastern Championship National meet, held in Savannah, Georgia, from April 30 to May 3. This prestigious achievement places her among the elite gymnasts in her division.
To keep herself in the best shape possible, Collins receives therapy at Bowen Chiropractic on Airport Road in Jasper. “I am incredibly thankful to have Bowen Chiropractic supporting me to help me achieve my goals!” Collins says. “Dr. Clara, as well as Dr. Renee and Dr. Collin, help to keep my body and mind healthy so that I can train and compete my best every day.”
To mitigate injuries and facilitate long-term health, Collins receives red light therapy, laser treatments, and spinal adjustments. These therapies keep her muscles relaxed and lower inflammation.
“When I have an injury, (Bowen Chiropractic) always has my long-term goals in mind to help me safely get back to gymnastics as quickly as possible. Most importantly, they pray for me, encourage me, and give me wisdom for my path to becoming a collegiate athlete,” she adds.
The team at Bowen Chiropractic, together with Collins’s twin brother Colt and their parents, extends their best wishes for an injury-free meet as she competes once again in Savannah on May 1.
Indeed, her hard work and interactions with other athletes in her sport have not only helped her to overcome shyness but have propelled her to excellence in her chosen sport. WL
