The Olympics is upon us and I am again struck with the childhood dream of being an Olympic gymnast. Alas, I have yet again missed my chance at actually competing in the Olympics, but I can still fulfill my dreams right inside my own home (and so can you).

1. Practice walking across the top of your couch like it’s a balance beam.

When you get good at that, you can try doing a somersault across the top.

2. If you get really good at that, move to your stair railing and walk across that.

I would suggest not starting too high.

3. Use your couch as a vault and try flipping over it.

Use the cushions as a spring board and flip yourself over the back.

4. When you get good at that, add a twist.

Or, if you’re feeling really fancy, try it backwards.

5. Find a sturdy door jamb that you can hold on to and swing from it like a bar.

Warning: This will not feel good on your hands. Olympic tip: Use chalk.

6. If you start to get a good swing on the door jamb, try flipping off of it.

Olympic tip #2: use a crash mat.

7. Clear space in your living room and play some pump-up instrumental music.

Warm up with some fierce jumps.

8. Add in some somersaults, cartwheels and whatever you feel comfortable with.

Advanced: throw your best tumbling pass.

9. Don’t tell your parents you did any of this.

Make sure everything’s back where it was when you started. If anything’s broken, hide it.

10. Give yourself a gold medal.

Or a snack.