Our Mission
We're more than just a gym for kids: we're a community that focuses on enhancing children’s lives through the exploration of joyful movement.
Our mission is to bring quality movement programming to our community’s children and teach them the joys of challenging themselves physically and mentally.
We look at the work that we do at Gymies as a stepping stone toward learning valuable life skills: it’s about building grit, self worth, resilience, trust in our bodies, and so many other essential skills that help our students thrive both at their current stage of life and beyond.
Our Story
It all started in a classroom.
The year was 2007 and I, Coach Sarah Chani, was working as a full-time math teacher. Day after day, I watched as the little ones crunched their numbers. Many of my students were vivacious, clever, and sharp, but when it came to math and schoolwork, they struggled.
“But they’re so bright,” I puzzled. “Why are they having a hard time in school?”
At the time, I was practicing circus arts alongside my teaching job, studying the Ido Portal movement method and eventually becoming an instructor at the Trapeze School of New York. I noticed how my mood lifted whenever I practiced my gymnastics, and how my mind was clearer after each session.
“You know what these children really need?” I realized one day, after a particularly rejuvenating circus class. “An outlet for their energy. They need to move.”
I began incorporating sports sessions into my math classes and the transformation was immediate. Suddenly, my students perked up. They were energized, passionate, and ready to learn.
I had always known what movement could do. As a gymnast, I had experienced the joys and benefits of consistent exercise firsthand. Now, I was determined to create a place where children could experience that joy, too.
And thus, Gymies was born.
On a wintry December day in 2008, Gymies opened its shiny new doors for the first time, welcoming some thirty students to our gymnastics program.
Now, over 12 years later, we’ve long since outgrown our old location and have moved to a new, much larger facility, opened a sister branch in Boro Park, and expanded our programming to include dozens of different arts, events, and services. But most importantly, we’ve become a second home for hundreds of happy little members who are learning to love physical activity and having a good time while they’re at it.
We’re proud to serve the frum communities of Brooklyn and beyond by providing a space where all are welcome to practice, perform, and learn in a nurturing and accepting environment.
That’s what Gymies is all about: teaching children a lifelong joy of movement, while instilling valuable life skills and lessons along the way.
Healthy Habits from the Start
At Gymies, we believe that healthy children become healthy adults. It’s not about that once-a-week, one-hour long martial arts or ballet class; it’s about building a lifelong love for physical activity and healthy living. Thus, our programming is designed with two primary goals in mind:
Our first goal is to encourage the growth and development of little bones and muscles while improving coordination and balance.
Second, but no less important, we instill children with positive learning attitudes during their most formative years and set the stage for a lifelong love of movement.
With their coaches’ support and encouragement, our students are taught to not only embrace challenges, but to actively seek them out. We teach kids that trying new things is fun and exciting as we foster their curiosity and encourage them to expand their horizons.
Reaching New Heights Every Day
We’re big believers in consistency, and our progressive approach enables kids to taste success at every turn. In each class, our students learn the satisfaction of going just a little bit farther than they did yesterday – jumping a little higher, holding on for just a bit longer, and getting a tad stronger.
Through specific praise and encouragement, kids learn to tackle challenges, overcome fears, and express themselves confidently.
You can’t put a price tag on that.
Achievement Booklets
Nothing motivates our students quite like seeing their progress. That’s why we’ve created achievement booklets that allow them to track their growth and set goals within their personal movement journeys.
Each sport features between 10 and 15 levels that challenge students to strive toward the next big thing. By choosing goals from the achievement booklet, our students expand their gymnastics vocabulary, take accountability for their practice, and gain awareness of their individual strengths and weaknesses. As they hit their flexibility and strength milestones, they take pride in their growth and gain motivation to continue working on new skills.
COVID-19 Protocols
At Gymies, we work diligently to uphold safety and sanitation protocols that keep your child safe while in classes. All equipment is thoroughly sanitized between classes and high-touch surfaces are cleaned at regular intervals throughout the day.
Our staff and our members are encouraged to stay home when unwell and our team is responsible for monitoring their health regularly. We stay up to date on the latest in sanitation and health protocols so that we can continue to keep our members and our team safe.
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