Summer Camp Offer- Buy in Bulk and Save Big!
Members- Book 10 days of camp for $200. A $50 savings! Individual camp days are $25 each for members. 10 days DO NOT have to be consecutive. For example you could book 10 days in a row, or one day a week for all 10 weeks, or any combination in between. However, all 10 days must be booked at same time. And all 10 days must be for one child. Call gym at 256-883-9484 for more details and to reserve now! Non-members- individual days of camp may be purchased at $30 a day. Or you can get a family membership for $30 a year and then take advantage of member offer!
Learning from Grace

This is a blog post about Grace. Not grace in a theological sense, but rather this is a blog about an incredible girl called Grace.

This blog post is also about dedication, hard work, and overcoming fears. And those words are meant in the traditional sense. Although that would have been cool if Grace had friends named dedication, hard work and overcoming fears…

The Little Gym in Huntsville located in Jones Valley opened on November 5, 2007. Grace’s family became members on November 6, 2007. Her younger sister and mom started in a Parent/Child class. That sister is now in Aerials! And they have a 3 year-old brother who has literally grown up before our eyes at the gym. He is a funny bug. And the whole family is pretty awesome.

But back to Grace. When she was 5, she fell off a balance beam in another gymnastics facility. She broke her arm. It was a pretty severe break at the elbow and also injured her shoulder. This might have been enough to scare her from gymnastics for life. But a year and half later, she asked her mom if she could take gymnastics again. Luckily for us, her mom said yes, and brought her to a newly opened The Little Gym.

Grace started our program in Flips. She was flexible beyond belief, even in the beginning. She was also a little hesitant on the beam. Understandably so. But she never let her fear stop her from trying. Pretty impressive for a 7-year-old. Well, pretty impressive for any age actually.

Grace continued to progress her skills and confidence as our program grew. She was in our first Aerials class. Later she was in our first Jets class. And now she is about to turn 12 in a few weeks. She completed her last class with us a few days ago. And on the high beam, she showed me a back walk over, front walk over, and a back handspring that day. Yep. On the high beam. Skills many of us (myself included!) can't do on the floor.

I have to admit, I feel a little pride when I watch Grace. As the owner of the gym, I feel like I played a small part in her journey. And she has played a large part in the history of our location. Until now, there has never been a The Little Gym in Huntsville without Grace enrolled in one (some years two) classes. It honestly was a sad day for me on her last day. I sat down and talked to her about her thoughts and memories from the gym and her goals for the future. Here is a little of what I learned:

She loves the beam. In fact, she told me it was her favorite apparatus which she said was "strange since I was so scared of it". She described to me how her early teachers, especially Miss Felicia, helped make her feel safe which enabled her to keep trying. And you know what? Miss Felicia was only 15 years old when she started coaching Grace. That's a story for another blog. How poised and confident that young teenager was....

But again, back to Grace. When I asked her what she loved about The Little Gym, she talked about the friends that she made and her teachers. She also said her favorite memory was being on WAAY-TV 31 with us. She said it was "cool watching myself on tv".

Grace is going to switch her focus now to dance. She made company at the Valley Dance Theatre. Her goal is to get on point. I have no doubt she will accomplish that goal and many more. And I have no doubt she will have opportunities to watch herself on tv in the future too. I asked how she thought the gymnastics background would help her dance career, and she said she "is the most flexible in her dance class."

Grace has a lot of blessings: a family that supports and encourages her, a natural "grace" as defined as "elegance and beauty of movement or expression", and opportunity to do what she loves. But she also works hard on her skills and on conquering her fears. Something we can all learn from.

And finally, I asked Grace if she ever thought she would get back into gymnastics, and she answered, "well I'm going to work here in a few years, so I'll get back into it then."

Excellent answer. And I can't wait to see a 15-year-old Grace coaching the next generation of The Little Gymers. Instilling in them the same confidence Miss Felicia once gave her. It's the circle of life really...

-Angel Hundley, Gym Owner

What makes The Little Gym different from competitive gymnastics?
I have been asked many times while working at The Little Gym of Jones Valley, “What makes this program different?” For the longest time, my response was, “We are non-competitive. We are all about fun.” Which is true, but I started thinking there was more to it than that.
     The answer that I had been telling people does not even begin to cover what makes The Little Gym’s program different from other gymnastics facilities. I have been involved with competitive cheerleading and gymnastics for about 14 years. Competitive sports are all I was introduced to and involved in as a child. And honestly, I loved the competition.
     It was not until my daughter Brystol was born that I realized there might be an alternative to the competitive route. My 9-month-old energetic climber needed an outlet. I found The Little Gym. It was perfect.
     I came in early to her first Birds class to meet her teacher Angel. At the time, I had no idea that she was owner. She was very interested in learning about Brystol and our family. I felt like we were getting some kind of special treatment because we were new, but I soon learned that this was just the way The Little Gym treated all of their families!
     Brystol had been enrolled for almost a year when I received a call from Angel. She wanted to know if I was interested in joining her staff and teaching classes at The Little Gym…
                     HOW COULD I SAY NO?!
     I have been employed with The Little Gym for almost a year. And now my answer to “What makes this program different?” is a little different; The Little Gym teaches children so much more than just gymnastics. The program helps shape children into young citizens. It also helps kids discover their muscles and learn how their body works. And while those aspects are awesome, my favorite part is watching the confidence grow. It is so rewarding to hear how excited the students get when they achieve a new skill whether it is a gallop, monkey jump or a standing back tuck. The Little Gym of Jones Valley is quite simply Serious Fun.
           -Nicole Reynolds, Instructor
Celebrating Developmental Milestones
Remember your child’s first step? Or the first time they went to the potty? Remember the joy that surrounded those moments? The pride you both felt?
 
Despite the fact that billions of people who came before took a step and went to the potty, we still celebrate those moments with our own children with a level of enthusiasm usually reserved for winning some great award or honor. And we should. We should clap and praise and make them feel like they have done something great. They peed in the potty after all. That IS awesome. No one questions that.
 
And yet when those same children get a little older, we stop celebrating milestones with them. Worse, we sometimes even stop noticing or encouraging. Children are constantly saying, “watch this” or “look at me.” And they think they are doing amazing things. Amazing things as great as peeing in the potty. And when they are craving our attention and positive feedback, how many of us just give a half-hearted “yeah, great” without even really looking? In our busy lives, we forget the pride and joy of accomplishing simple things that billions of people who came before have already done. We stop celebrating the things that make us human.
 
There is a game we play often at The Little Gym called “Slam the Cheese.” We stand a “cheese mat” (an incline mat for rolling down) up on its end and the kids just run right in to it and knock it down. That’s the whole game. And kids love it. And you can see the pride and joy in their faces when they stand up from knocking it over. They simply knocked down a mat with the help of momentum and gravity. And they feel like winners. And they should. Like the 2-year-old who peed in the potty.
 
Did I mention that in this Slam the Cheese game, there are no angry birds, no zombies, no bells, no fancy graphics. Just forces of nature, the human spirit, and a rush of adrenaline. And watch a young child walk across a balance beam unassisted for the first time. Even one a few inches off the ground. The child will shout, “hey, watch me!” and they will be proud. Forget the fact that if one can walk in a straight line on the ground, one can walk on a balance beam. Just celebrate with them.
 
 Now, I’m not a psychologist, or an expert on anything really, but I think that maybe if we all start really celebrating and encouraging moments of fun that revolve around forces of nature, the human spirit, and a little adrenaline, maybe kids won’t rely so much on electronics for fun. Let them feel real pride when they walk on a ledge at a park. Not artificial pride for killing a zombie. Give them sticks and a rubber band and help them build a real sling-shot and celebrate when they hit a tree with a rock. Not a virtual pig with an angry bird. Play like the billions of people who have come before…
 
Angel Hundley, Gym Owner
Raising kids to not be bullies: A story of friendship
There have been a lot of stories on blogs and in the media recently about bullying. Stories that make me sad for our children. Well, I’d like to share a story with you now about friendship and inclusion. A story that makes me hopeful for our children.
 
It begins with a beautiful girl named Eden. Eden was adopted from China. She is 3 years old. She laughs and jumps and loves her parents. In those ways, she is like most other 3 year olds. But Eden also has some developmental issues. Her speech is slurred and sometimes difficult to understand, and most of the time she wears a helmet and padding on her hands to prevent her from hitting herself. These are not issues easily hidden.
 
Now I could tell a story about how patient and dedicated Eden’s parents are. I could describe the joy in her mom’s face when they brought her to a parent/child class at our The Little Gym and Eden climbed up on the trap and let me launch her over the donut in a giant forward roll.
 
I could tell a story about Eden’s determination. I could describe her efforts and how they inspire me. I could tell about her contagious laugh. Or about the way she reminds me of Tigger when she bounces. I could describe the incredible feeling of watching Eden walk on the beam by herself for the first time.
 
But instead, I’d like to tell you a story about friendship and inclusion. A few weeks ago we decided to try and move Eden up to an age appropriate class from the parent/child class they had been attending. Her mom was nervous, but she agreed to try. The first few moments were kind of heartbreaking. I’m not going to lie. As I tried to take Eden away from her mom, she arched her whole body towards her and continually called, “mama, mama.” So we adjusted. Her mom and Eden and I sat by the wall and began to watch the class.
 
As we sat by the wall, without exception, every girl in the class (ages 3-5 and for some reason all girls) came over to Eden and invited her to join in the activity. Several girls came over repeatedly that first day. By the end of that first class I was able to walk Eden through some of the station. Despite Eden’s obvious differences, all the girls were sweet to her and tried to help her. They played hide and seek for the game, and Eden hid too. And laughed when the instructor found her.
 
The second week Eden stood on the red mat right next to her mom and I and participated a little in the opening. Again the girls in the class spoke to her, smiled at her, and tried to help her get involved. For the second activity, a classmate took Eden’s padded hand and led her around the mat. Another girl in the class said, “I love her, and I love her helmet.” At the stations, the girls were patient waiting for Eden if she took a little longer doing something. They encouraged her, modeled for her and celebrated with her.
 
By the third week, Eden’s mom was able to sit out in the lobby with the other parents. And watching Eden be part of the group was priceless. My favorite moment from that third week of class was when Eden started laughing uncontrollably while the instructor was giving the station demo. The other girls were mesmerized and laughing with her. Even the instructors just gave into the laughter and ended the demo.
 
I’m smiling now as I think about it. I am certain being part of the Funny Bugs class is good for Eden. I know it will help build her motor skills and her confidence. It really is serious fun for her. But I am also certain that having Eden in the class is good for every other student in there.
 
Learning at a young age to include and accept others despite differences is an important life lesson. And I have no idea what causes children to become bullies. But I can’t help but think that finding opportunities for young children to laugh and bond through a game of hide and seek with children that might be different from them is a step in the right direction to prevent them from becoming a bully. We should all be so lucky at 3 years old to find a friend that we can help. To experience at a young age the joy of taking a friend by a padded hand to help ease her fear. What a blessing.
-Angel Hundley, Gym Owner
Protecting our children from bridge jumping...
If everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?!? That is a popular theme with parents of teenagers. We all want our young adult children to be confident and self- assured and make their own choices. And yet for some reason, when they are toddlers, many parents seem to get stressed out if their children exhibit those same behaviors. They apologize because their two- year- old won’t stay with the group. Or worse, they express frustration or anger with their young child when they don’t follow all the instructions.
 
Let me let you in on a little secret. The confidence and self-assurance they are exhibiting at 2 when they walk away from the group and do their own thing, is the same confidence and self-assurance they’ll need to not jump off the bridge when they are a teen! Every time they walk away from their mother’s leg and make their own choice, they are practicing independence. And that’s a good thing. At least for a two-year-old. Of course there comes a point when a child needs to learn to sit in a group and conform; I’m not advocating total anarchy for 5-year-olds or anything. But for young toddlers, I am advocating that we celebrate and foster their independence and risk-taking. And leaving the safety of their parent’s side, or of the group, is risk-taking for a 1-year-old.
 
Now I don’t mean if they run off from you in the store you should smile and say, “there goes my little risk-taker.” But I am saying that in safe environments, like The Little Gym parent/child classes, you could say that. And be proud. Roll your eyes at the parent with the child who NEVER leaves the group. Goody-goody. Wait, no, that’s not right either. (I was a goody-goody, so I feel a kinship that allows me to tease)
 
Anyway, some children love learning from a teacher. And even at a young age, they want to soak up everything they can that way. While others learn best by running around and exploring. Either way, if their learning style is allowed to flourish and their strengths and talents are encouraged, they will be a lot less likely to jump off that bridge later in life. The goody-goody because the teacher told them not to and the risk-taker because they don’t want to jump. Either way, they will be safe! -Angel Hundley, Gym Owner
Specific Positive Feedback
Scene: Attempt at forward roll: child climbs onto cheese mat, stands up straight with hands held high in the air, then drops to his knees, throws his shoulder down and sort of falls over himself and off the side of the mat. Resembles more of a wrestling move in a slapstick comedy than a gymnastics stunt. Cut to the instructor who says, “Good Job!” Really?!? Good job? To that instructor I want to say, what was good about that?!?
 
There is an increasing amount of criticism these days for non-competitive sports leagues and the like where they don’t keep score and everyone receives a participation trophy. Blogs are circulating claiming that these practices don’t prepare kids for real life. Here’s what I think. Kids don’t need competition at a young age to prepare them for anything. But they do need, and deserve, meaningful, honest feedback. Specific feedback that is meant to highlight the behaviors that should be repeated.
 
At The Little Gym we call this SPF, specific positive feedback, and it is what we train our instructors to use when teaching. So if we go back to our scene above, the instructor could have said, “The way you stood up straight and held your hands high in the air was a perfect start. Let’s try it again now and this time…” That is much more meaningful and instructive than just saying good job. And there is always something that can be said. Even if the whole skill looked a mess. Sometimes the SPF is simply, “I LOVED the enthusiasm you brought to that attempt!” If a child leaves feeling good about being enthusiastic and keeps that up, great! Better than leaving with a false sense of confidence for being told they did a great forward roll if they didn’t.
 
And the practice can certainly be used outside of the gym as well. I’m not saying using SPF is easy. You actually have to PAY ATTENTION closely enough to behaviors to be specific. Much easier to multi-task while watching our kids and look up occasionally and offer a “good job” as encouragement. But I challenge you to see the results if you begin to be more specific in your praise.
 
And as for the soccer league that doesn’t keep score and yet gives all players a trophy, I think that does kind of send the wrong message. At least as far as a child who is an incredible soccer player and yet gets the same reward and recognition as a child who barely knows a game is going on most of the time. But I do believe every child on the team deserves a reward and recognition. But a reward specific to an actual skill each child possesses and exhibited during the season. How much more powerful and meaningful would that trophy be then? And honestly, the trophies could all look exactly the same. Just be presented for different reasons. Maybe a child gets a trophy for being super fast. No one has to point out he ran so fast he overtook the ball and never stopped. Might not have kicked a ball once, but he ran like the wind! So maybe when he is old enough for competitive sports, he remembers his trophy for being fast and chooses track. And maybe he wins State. And then the Olympics. Instead of thinking he had a soccer trophy, so he must be good at soccer, and therefore joins a soccer team and is just mediocre.
 
So let’s make kids feel like winners by pointing out actual winning skills in them regardless of the score. And oh, by the way, I love the way you read all the way to the end of my blog… -Angel Hundley, Gym Owner
No batteries required: powered by imagination
Ever read the Robert Fulghum book and title essay All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten? If not, you might want to get it and read it. I love it. In it Fulghum provided us with a list of all the simple life lessons learned in Kindergarten. Well in that spirit, for this blog, I’d like to start a series of an undetermined number (determined of course when I exhaust the topic) of lessons learned in The Little Gym that apply to life.
 
The Little Gym is an enchanted, colorful place where magic happens everyday. And in that spirit, I’m going to start with the power behind the magic: imagination. If you look through the windows into the gym you might only see plain old gymnastics equipment and kids exercising and having fun.
 
What the kids see and feel however is something quite different. Each week their teachers guide them through obstacles of all sorts using just their imaginations. Take the balance beam for example. Some weeks it is a bridge from one land to another. Some weeks it is a dragon’s back. And we all know you should tip-toe carefully if walking across a dragon’s back. Although Miss Erica reports that one 4-year-old assured her that “it was a friendly dragon, so it won’t eat us!” And for manner’s week it was a “burping beam” so the kids burped at the end of the beam then jumped off and said excuse me.
 
Some weeks it is not the beam that is changed, but the kids walking across that are transformed. Last week they were butterflies on the beam. And the kids really get into the spirit of things too. On Friday, Miss Kristin told her students the magic word (word to signal time to go-changes at every station every week) was “butterflies.” One of the 3-year-old girls said, “no. It is gonna be butterfly Mickey Mouse wings sparkle toes!” And so it was. And one day when the beam was a dragon, one of Miss Julie’s 5-year-old students went across yelling “yeehaw!” like she was riding it. How much fun does that sound?!?
 
And that’s my point really. The lesson I’d like to focus on for this entry: even what is essentially a long board you walk across can be transformed into something magical and cool powered by imagination. And we can all engage our children in the world around them this way a little more. Turn off the toys that talk and blink and buzz. Put up the battery powered games and turn off the TV. At least occasionally.
 
Cause I suspect that when we exercise our minds finding fun things to call simple objects, we are preparing pathways in our brain for more complex problem solving later. After all, thinking outside the box, is all about imagination. So go boost brain power by being creative: yours and theirs. And find a dragon of your own to ride or perhaps even tickle. -Angel Hundley Gym Owner
Embrace the Odd
Between the two Huntsville TLG locations, I have met and interacted with thousands of kids over the last 4 years. And let me tell you a little secret I’ve learned: there is no such thing as a “typical” kid. Or I guess there may be one somewhere, but if so, then there is no other kid exactly like that typical child, so we are back to where we started.
 
And I don’t mean this in a “every one is special and unique” kind of way. I mean, that’s certainly true, but that is not my point here. My point is in contrast to the way “typical” is used to describe children who have no diagnosis of anything.
 
Wonderful, hard-working parents will frequently come in to the gym and feel they need to describe some behavior their child exhibits and almost apologize for them. And what I would like ALL parents to understand is that many, many parents feel this. Even ones with “typical” children. You are not alone. And we can all laugh together at the odd behavior that our beautiful, creative children sometimes exhibit.
 
I would like to describe now some of the wonderfully unique behaviors I’ve seen over the years. These examples come from all kinds of children. One of my favorites was a 4 or 5 year old (typical) little girl who insisted on walking, or rather traveling, everywhere in a bear –crawl for months. Still makes me laugh. (because I wasn’t her mom!) Another 4-year-old boy brought a mermaid with him to every class and insisted she sit on the ledge and watch. Some kids talk non-stop. Some insist on having a blue ball. Some make you call them a different name each week. Some will only respond if you treat them like an animal. One 5-year-old boy come to class dressed as Spiderman. His Dad shook his head and apologized. Said he couldn’t convince him not to wear the costume. I still smile just thinking about it years later.
 
One little boy was obsessed with vacuum cleaners. Would actually talk about them all the time. My own daughter when she was about 5 went through a phase where she would only wear khaki pants for about 6 months. I had to buy like 5 pair. Some kids will only wear a certain color. One 2-year-old in my class last week was as happy as I’ve ever seen a kid, smiling and laughing, until I pulled out the parachute. And then he started screaming like he was in a horror film and did not stop until I put the parachute away. At which point he began smiling and laughing like a switch had been flipped. Speaking of switches, some kids love them. Keep turning the lights on and off. Some kids insist on doing the same apparatus the whole class. Then the next week they move on to something else. Some kids don’t like to be touched.You get the picture.
 
 
And my point is this, every one of these behaviors (even the screamer) made me laugh. Well except when it was my daughter because as parents we sometimes miss the humor in our own situation. I’ll admit, with her I was a little frustrated on occasion. When all the khaki pants were dirty and she would refuse to leave the house. I wondered what on earth was wrong with her. But you know what, she wears all colors and kinds of clothes now. And the bear-crawler eventually stood up and walked in class. And I think that screamer will one day play with a parachute. But if not, that’s ok too.
 
I say embrace the odd. It really is the norm. Laugh and see the beauty in the uniqueness of these behaviors. Don’t feel embarrassed by them. Be proud. Shake your head and think, “only MY child would...”
-Angel Hundley Gym Owner
Joy Moments
What does joy look like? I’ll tell you what I think. I think it looks like a 5 –year-old slamming into a cheese mat and knocking it down. It looks like a 1-year-old hanging from a bar. It looks like a 3-year-old walking across a balance beam unassisted. And it looks like a 37-year-old teaching a parent/child class.
 
A mom in one of my classes the other day actually said to me, “wow. It really looks like you love your job.” I doubt anyone would say that if they saw the look on my face when I’m locked up in my office paying bills or working on budgets, but when I’m just playing with the kids, yes, I love it. How could I not? My job allows me to actually witness moments of pure joy on a daily basis.
 
When a child is smiling like they’ve won the lottery just because they are swinging on the rings by themselves, I remember what real joy looks like. When I turn on the music and the toddlers start dancing on the spot, I couldn’t stop myself from smiling if I wanted to. And don’t even get me started about bubble time!
 
My hope for you, my friends, is that you too can find these moments of joy to watch and to experience. And they are everywhere. They are not just happening in The Little Gym. Watching my 7-year-old daughter play in the hose today I saw one. Yesterday I saw joy on the face of a boy in an elevator who was thrilled that the elevator was glass so he could see out. Children tend to find these moments. They make their own joy. Adults, not so much. We tend to take ourselves a bit more seriously. Or we let the threat of embarrassment stop us from dancing when the music starts. I say no more.
 
Let’s seize fleeting moments of real joy when we can. Not just do activities we enjoy, or participate in things we think we should, let’s challenge ourselves to find moments where our hearts are pumping and we couldn’t stop smiling if someone paid us to. Maybe for you that means buying a pack of Big League Chew Grape Gum and eating the whole package. Maybe it means doing a cartwheel on your front lawn. Maybe it means doing the Robot in the middle of the grocery store. Whatever your joy moment is, I wish it for you. And if you need inspiration, stop by The Little Gym and watch a 5-year-old slam into a cheese mat, or a 1-year old hang from a bar, or a 3-year-old walk across the balance beam…

-Angel Hundley Gym Owner

P.S. Minutes after posting this entry, I went on a walk with my dog. Usually I sing along to my ipod in my head. Today I decided to follow my own advice, and I sang out loud. It was glorious fun. And after getting my jam on to 1986 Madonna, I caught a firefly just because they were flying around. And I screamed a little, not gonna lie. And my heart was beating fast, and I was smiling. It was a moment of joy to be sure. Now get off your computer, and go catch your own firefly! (metaphorically speaking of course!)

Did your child throw a fit?!?
Your heart is beating fast. You start to sweat. You can’t concentrate on anything around you. It’s like you have tunnel vision. Don’t worry; you are not having a heart attack. You are simply a loving parent watching your child behave in a way you find totally inappropriate. And you are sure everyone in the room is watching your child and horrified. This magnifies your anxiety, and you just want to run. Fight or flight your body is saying. Scoop up that child and flee! And on your way out, you are thinking, apologize to anyone listening…
 
I can’t tell you how many times a parent has approached me after a class at The Little Gym to apologize for their child “having a fit.” My response is almost always the same, “did your child have a fit? I really hadn’t noticed.” And I’m not saying that to be nice. Anyone who knows me will tell you I am direct and honest sometimes to a fault. Ask my staff…
 
But anyway, back to you and your experience. When your child acts age appropriate in a child centered, nurturing place like The Little Gym, it is barely registered by anyone but you. Even when they do the cutest thing in the world, guess what? No one likely saw that either. They were watching their own future star. And ‘fits’ are appropriate too my friend. Children have bad days. And unless they are bullying, biting, pushing or in any other way acting inappropriate, if another parent or the teacher notices the ‘fit’ at all, the emotion felt is more likely empathy for you the parent than horror at your child’s behavior. 9 times out of 10 the other adult is having their own post traumatic flash back to when their child embarrassed them nearly to death in public!
 
So the next time you find yourself sure that everyone wants you to take your child and leave, relax, take a deep breath, and laugh. Look around. Really look and see that it’s ok. This too shall pass.
 
And I know you want to teach your child the ‘right’ way to behave. But I promise you, if you are the kind of parent that notices these ‘fits’ then you are modeling the right behavior. And your child will get it. And if you are at The Little Gym in a Parent/Child class during one of these ‘fits’ leave them sitting on the red mat, walk right over to the cheese mat and do a forward roll. Might shock your child enough to take them out of their fit, and at the very least your heart will then be pumping fast for a positive reason! So hands high touch the sky, hands down touch the ground, look at your belly and roll!
-Angel Hundley Gym Owner
True Confession: I cannot do a cartwheel
True Confession: My name is Angel Hundley; I own a franchise location of The Little Gym, and I cannot do a cartwheel. Yes, that’s right. No cartwheel ability at all. A fact my 7 –year- old daughter reminds me of frequently, “mom, you REALLY need to learn to do a cartwheel because you are the ONLY TLG teacher that can’t do one.” True. And I have been practicing.
 
My program director recently worked with me on them. I screamed a few times and fell more than once. Not gonna lie. I lack grace. Let’s put it that way. She used the same patient tone of voice and face I’ve seen her use with some of her more challenging students, “ok. That was a good try. Now watch me. See where I put my hands…” I think I see, and then I fall unceremoniously again.
 
So how does someone who couldn’t even do a cartwheel end up owning gymnastics based children’s facility? Good question. One I’m asked a lot by parents new to the gym, “so were you a gymnast growing up?” Nope. Not at all. I just hire them.
 
So I thought for this first entry of our cool new Blog, I’d answer the question of how and why I ended up here…
 
The year was 2006. Not only could I NOT do a cartwheel, I had never even done a forward roll. I HAVE mastered those since. Not to brag. But put me at the top of an inclined mat, and I can tuck my head and roll with the best of them. Even standing up now without pushing with my hands! But anyway, back to my story.
 
Growing up I liked to think of myself as fragile. Not weak. Truthfully though, I was uncoordinated and honestly a little fearful of most physical situations. I hated playing sports and PE class with a passion. Avoided both at all costs. I had no confidence in my physical capabilities and instead thrived in intellectual areas. Never really saw my fear or lack of sport’s ability as a problem until I had my first daughter. Like so many things, I started to want more for her than I had. In this case, I wanted confidence for her. I didn’t want to see her miss out on opportunities because she was scared of trying and not being the best or looking silly.
 
And so when I saw a commercial for The Little Gym on national TV, I knew that the non-competitive environment they were describing would be the perfect place for my then toddler to learn some physical skills and create a foundation of confidence. To my dismay, when I looked online, I found there was no franchise even in the state. So long story short, I opened one. And I hired gymnasts, cheerleaders and athletes. But ones with a real love for children and who share my belief that they should be encouraged and nurtured as they are given opportunities to try physical skills in a safe environment. And I’m more proud honestly of the climate we’ve created than I am my forward rolls!
 
And I feel joy from the confidence I see being cultivated daily not only in my child, but in many, many others. Here are two of my favorite joy moments: The first occurred in a Super Beast class. We were doing ‘Scarf Dancing’ which of course involves dancing around with a scarf to directive music. And one of the 2 ½ year old boys in the class suddenly throws down his scarf and announces loudly, “I’m going to do the Robot!” And he danced his little Robot heart out. Still makes me smile.
 
The second is the story of a beautiful not-quite 2 year old in one of my Beasts class. This little girl threw her hands up in the air and shouted ‘Ta-Da” after EVERYTHING she did. Even walking off mats. One day she was trying to roll over a hotdog (circle mat thing) and she rolled off the side, it rolled over her like a steam roller and she climbed out from underneath and shouted with pride, “Ta-Da!” I applauded of course.
 
So the next time I am practicing my cartwheels, when I fall down, I am going to jump up, dance the Robot, then throw my hands in the air and shout “Ta-Da” and then try a cartwheel again. Because that is The Little Gym way…
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