Gymnastics Clubs in New York

Gymnastics Clubs in New York
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Gymnastics is an effective way for children and adults to gain strength, flexibility, energy, coordination, balance and agility. Children can learn discipline, how to focus their energy in a specialized manner and teamwork. Adults can refine rusty skills, improve their health and strengthen muscles. Gymnastics is a healthy and fun sport for all ages.

Brooklyn

Brooklyn Gymnastics Center, or BGC, boasts a program director, Peter Hristov, who is a world silver medalist. BGC offers classes for children ages 1 through 17 and a step by step curriculum that advances gymnasts to the next level. Children can begin as early as 1 year old, and will progress as they age, learning to work with regulation gymnastics equipment. After age 5, children's classes are lengthened and they begin more precise training. BGC also has a pre-team which prepares athletes for competitive gymnastics. BGC's team gymnasts consist of Level V to Elite gymnastics teams and participate in local, state, regional, national and invitational competitions. BGC also offers adult classes.

Bronx

Uptown Sports Complex in the Bronx has a free trial class for prospective students. Their program follows the USA Gymnastics guidelines and focuses on building healthy bodies and minds. Additionally, the Uptown Sports Complex Gymnastics Instructors are USA Gymnastics certified. Classes include beginner gymnastics class for children 3-5 years of age, Intermediate and Advanced classes for children ages 5-13 years of age and Open Tumbling where teens and young adults are able to have fun while practicing their tumbling skills. Uptown Sports Complex also offers private lessons for gymnasts.

Long Island

Lynbrook Recreational Society in Long Island has a gymnastics program for children during the winter months. When children are itching to bounce around outside but cannot due to the cold weather, parents can take them to a gymnastics program every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon from December through April. Lynbrook Recreational Societies Gymnastics Program offers trained Instructors, fun activities, such as obstacle courses to gain coordination, rope climbing for youngsters to increase strength and a full gym with competitive apparatus. The program culminates in a show where students perform their skills to music. Gymnasts also receive trophies.

Manhattan

The 92nd Street Y is part of the YMCA family and offers gymnastics for children from 18 months to 15 years of age. All instructors are USA Gymnastics safety certified. Classes include boys and girls Pre-Team, Tiny Tumblers, Junior Tumblers, Super Tumblers and they even have a gymnastics team for children 7-14 years of age called GymStars. The 92nd Street Y also offers a recreational gymnastics program for gymnasts from intermediate to advanced. Many of the 92nd Street Y's gymnastics classes include other activities such as swimming and dancing to enhance a gymnast's body and strength. The 92nd Street Y also offers a Summer Gymnastics Camp for children 6-14 years of age.

The Field House at Chelsea Piers is a huge complex that is located off the West Side Highway in New York City. They have a state of the art gymnastics facility that offers several classes that combine gymnastics with other sports. Flip-n-Kick teaches children 3 to 5 years of age the fundamentals of gymnastics and soccer while their Flip-n-Twirl classes teach gymnastics and ballet. The Field House at Chelsea Piers also offer the CHAMPS Multi-Sport Preschool Program which combines gymnastics with rock climbing, basketball, dance, soccer and trampoline. They also have dedicated gymnastics classes, which include Tiny Tots Gym for ages 12 to 24 months, Tumblin' Tots for ages 12 to 40 months, Acro-Kats for 3 year olds, Gym Tigers for 4 to 5 year olds and Future Stars designed for children with previous gymnastics experience. This is an invite only class by the Chelsea Piers senior coaching staff. Chelsea Piers offers adult gymnastics classes as well.

Queens

Lana's Gymnastics Club has a 10,000 square foot facility located in Flushing, Queens. The gym has a Parents' Lounge that offers a view of the entire gym as well as a retail shop with gymnastics apparel and paraphernalia, such as leotards and hand grips. Lana's Gymnastics Club offers a Mommy and Me class in their baby gym, a Tiny Tots class with equipment made especially for pre-schoolers, a Kinder Gym class which has a specifically designed program for pre-school age children and Beginners and Progressive classes. Lana's Gymnastics Club also has their own team, Little Stars Pre-Team, which is their main team for students who meet required commitments.

Staten Island

JW Tumblers is located in Staten Island and caters to children from 4 months to 9 years of age. Their Growth Development classes are divided into two categories which include Parent Participation for the tiny tots and Independent programs for the older children from 3-9 years of age. Parent Participation classes include the Squeakers, where children learn to crawl, manipulate objects and improve their understanding of speech and sense of trust. The Wee Wiggle Giggle classes under the Parent Participation umbrella allows children to enjoy exercise games, toys, books and a musician that encourages children to dance. Independent classes include Stompers where children learn headstands, swinging, balance, coordination, how to follow directions and teamwork. The Winners participate in other sports such as tennis, football and baseball while learning cartwheels, round-offs, balance, agility and muscle control. Both the Parent Participation and the Independent programs offer several other fun classes for children.

Upstate

The Gymnastics Training Center of Rochester, or GTC, has a 22,000-square-foot facility located in Upstate New York. The facility was founded by Sarah Jane Bernhardt-Clifford, a gymnast turned instructor and President of the New York State Officials for Girls Gymnastics. GTC has a school year session that runs from September to June, as well as a session for the summer months. State, regional and national gymnasts train at GTC, as well as junior high and high school competitors. They offer levels 1-10 USAG Competitive Gymnastics Teams, Special Olympics training, a prime time nursery program and cheerleading. GTC services ages 1 through adults.

References

Article reviewed by Mary E. Cook Last updated on: Mar 28, 2011

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