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Hi all, I got into amateur gymnastics training ~4 years ago, dove in headlong without building a solid foundation and using too much volume, and have been out of the game with a bunch of muscle pain issues as a consequence. I'm hoping to start over from scratch with regular video coaching (if not in person) and focusing exclusively on restoring proper movement, no strength until my body is ready for it. The Fundamentals course seems like a possible option. I still have some predictable aches and pains - in particular, certain t-spine movements will set off my costochondritis. My question: what threshold should I reach before trying to start Fundamentals? I know that rest is key, but too much inactivity will lead to problems as well. Thanks! (For anyone else dealing with pain, I found http://painscience.com to be a nice resource. I'm a nerd and love that he cites all his primary research sources.)

Hi all, Executive Summary: I'm returning to training after concluding my issues have to deal with tight and knotted tissues, and I want to know how to train for strength while continuing my bodywork. For those who want the full story, I've been out for 2 years with costochondritis (probably initiated from missing a muscle up and landing with my sternum on the bar). The 2nd year I also was troubleshooting knee pain. After ruling out everything clinical, I hunted around until I found a sports massage person who has actually been able to make real change. It took a month to get my knees back to pain-free, and I'm starting on the ribs. From my masseuse's reaction, my understanding is I have the worst tissue quality she's seen, and basically all of my muscles are similar. I'm rolling myself out with barbells and lacrosse balls daily, and I think I'm on a good track to full recovery, but I want to make sure I am training sustainably. I have a few questions for the community: 1) How can I train without being counterproductive to improving my tissue quality? 2) What have people found that works for self release / mobilization of the ribs, specifically 2-5, near the sternum? 3) What factors can create this kind of global tissue crappiness? 4) Who are good people, coaches, books, forums, or other resources that would be good for me to consult? Thanks!