Ninja Challenge

You've seen the obstacle course TV shows right? Well, now you can get your kids involved in learning what it takes to do those types of challenges!

Every Saturday this season Sept 2015-May 2016) Gonyons Gymnastics is holding the Ninja Challenge Obstacle Course Training. Ages 6-11 Sat. 1pm-2pm. $7 per class. Ages 12-17  and Intermediates by invitation Sat 2pm-3:pm $7 per class.

Some of our new and featured equipment for this class are the Rock Wall, Cargo Net, and Rope Climb.

Our new instructor has years of Parkour Training and he's excited to bring this program to our gym.

Cartwheels Again???

One of the most frequent complaints I hear from parents is "They're (the class) working on cartwheels again and my kid can do cartwheels so I need to move them to a different class." While it may LOOK like your child isn't learning anything new, trust me LOOKS are VERY deceiving! And 9 times out of 10 your child really doesn't need to be moved.

There are so many different components to this one skill. The coaches are looking to see if ALL parts of the cartwheel have been mastered. Are your feet and hands pointed in the right direction when beginning and ending the skill? Are the hips square? Are the toes pointed...the whole time? Are the legs straight? Did you end with your arms up in the air? Was there length in the cartwheel? Did it start with a hurdle? Was the hurdle correct? Etc...

Coaches know how to work on all the different areas with different drills. And Coaches know how to make a cartwheel easier for beginners and harder for those who need to be challenged. Adding length, one handed cartwheels, and wrong handed cartwheels (cartwheels done with the far arm)  add a lot of difficultly to the skill. Even the easiest skills take 800 repetitions to master so your child is going to have to work on the same skills for a significant amount of time.

If you feel your child is not being pushed enough, I suggest that before you ask to have them moved to a different class, that you first talk to your Coach. An open dialect with your teacher will help you understand how your child is progressing. We want your child to excel just as much as you!

So, YES, the class is doing cartwheels...again. And it's not bad a thing!

Summer 2015 New Features

As our summer classes kick off today we are excited to highlight a few new classes: Tuesdays Coaching Class and Wristband Wednesdays.

Tuesdays Coaching Class is for those who are interested in becoming an assistant or gymnastics coach. This class is free to current staff and current students ages 13 and up. Non students is $5 per class. Each week will cover spotting techniques, class organization, drills & skills, safety, and so much more. Bring a 3 ring binder as there will be handouts each week. Dress in comfortable clothing, you will be moving! This class will run for the full summer sessions, Tuesdays 4-5pm.

Wristband Wednesdays is an open workout class for ages 8 and up. It is $10 per student. No friends, No parents! Every student must have a signed Parent Consent Form on file in order to participate. Wristbands will be sold at the door prior to class time. No wristband = No participation (you will not be allowed into the gyms). Coaches will be on hand to supervised students, set up drills, and supervise use of equipment. Class time is 4:30-6pm

For more information on our summer programs visit our Website or Facebook page.
www.gonyonsgymnastics.com
https://www.facebook.com/GonyonsGymnastics?ref=hl

If you have any questions, please send me an email through our Website or direct message on Facebook.

Farewell Miss Lisa

Our dance teacher, Miss Lisa joined our gymnastics family 2 short years ago and sadly we now have to say goodbye. Miss Lisa and her family are moving to Chicago and we wish her the best of luck in her new endeavors. We are going to miss her infectious smile,  her positive attitude, and her kind heart. Below is her goodbye post and pictures of her students that will miss her the most.

In September 2013 I pulled out of the Gurnee parking lot thinking what have I done I just quit my dream job. Little did I know two weeks later I would be standing in my little pink dance studio with a whole new group of kids. The past 22 months at Gonyons has been amazing the staff welcomed me with open arms, the kids skipped into their class eager to dance, and the parents always greeted me with smiles. I am truly going to miss my Michigan Dance family. I was thanked today by many parents for teaching their kids. Now it is my turn to thank you. Thank you for opening your studio to me and thank you for helping me realize that no matter where i am as long as I a teaching I am working at my dream job. I cannot wait to see these kids grow in dance and in their life. and yes trips to Chicago are required!!!

Brenda celebrates 30 years of service

Many people in our community know the name Gonyons. They know that about the two businesses, Gonyons Well Drilling and Gonyons Gymnastics. They recognize that these are family run small business - and good ones that the community supports. What most people don't know is that Brenda, the gym manager, didn't start out working there. She had went to college, got her degree, and was employed at a job with long hours, little pay, and too much responsibility. She was not happy and needed a change.

At that time the gym was expanding and Grace, the owner and Brenda's mother, needed to hire more help. Grace was able to give Brenda a job that was exactly what they both needed.

Back in the day, Brenda was a gymnastics coach. And through the years has learned every aspect of the business. Today she manages the gym full time and often works at the Well Drilling office as well. She's a woman of many talents. Through her keen business sense and strong leadership, the gym has continued to grow.

In recognition of her 30 years of excellence, family and staff gathered to celebrate a job well done.

Twas the Show before Christmas

Twas the Show before Christmas
And all through the gym
All the coaches were jolly
Singing yuletide hymns.

The lights were all hung
Round the building with care
In excitement the families
Would all soon be there.

The children worked hard
On routines and dance
Excited as reindeer
They began to prance.

The kids in their leos
And me in my hat
We all worked together
On moving gym mats.

When out from the bleachers
There arose such a clatter
All the parents were cheering
With smiles and laughter.

Away to the judges
I saluted and winked
And sprang to my event
Me and the music in sync.

Glowing with pride
Like Rudolphs red nose
Tumbling through the air
Til I hit my end pose.

When what to my surprise
Should I happen to receive
An award with my name
Oh it's hard to believe.

Thanks to Chevonne, and Lisa
And Kayleigh Bea
Your encouraging words
Meant the world to me.

Also to Courtney, Heather,
Bethany, and Paige
I owe it to you
For this trail I blaze.

Now Santa knows
How good I've been this year
It won't be too long
Til I finally hear.

His sleigh bells ringing
Flying through the moonlight
Shouting "Merry Christmas to all,
And to all a good night."

Safe Gymnastics at Home

Guest blog by Coach Heather

It’s back-to-school season … better yet, it’s time for a new season of classes at Gonyon’s Gymnastics! At Gonyon’s we are all aware of how difficult it is to stop gymnasts from doing gymnastics at home, outside in the grass or just about anywhere for that matter. While we encourage our students to practice on their own, we want them to be safe. Here are some tips and reminders for making sure your gymnasts stay safe outside of the gym. The Gym is Padded, Your Home is Not Gymnastics is a naturally fun activity and children enjoy it in both in the gym and outside of the gym. Gymnasts think they can make anything into a piece of gymnastics equipment. The difference between the gym and at home is that the gym is fully matted. At Gonyon’s we have mats everywhere, making the gym a much safer place to play and practice gymnastics. If You Are Not Absolutely Sure, Don’t Do the Skill To be safe at home, gymnasts need to lower the level of skill difficulty that they attempt to do at home. Although, it may be tempting to practice a skill they almost have in the gym, gymnasts should think carefully before attempting any skill they are not sure they can do safely. Never Try To Learn a New Skill at Home Gymnasts should never try learning a new skill at home. They first need to be taught by a professional coach with the correct mats and equipment. Only Do Skills at Home that Have Already Been Mastered Never do skills at home without proper gym matting that you have not safely mastered already in the gym. Mastering a skill means that you can do the skill EVERY time you attempt it. Watch Out for Hazards The gym is set up for our students’ safety. Gyms have wide-open padded areas that have been carefully cleared of obstructions. Your house is full of unsafe obstacles for gymnasts. Watch out for hazards including things like glass, mirrors, obstacles, and heavy furniture. Don’t Spot Others and Don’t Let Others Spot You Gymnasts should never spot other children while playing, nor should parents ever attempt to spot children. Spotting is more difficult than it looks and serious injuries can occur if a spotting error is made. Spotting is for professional coaches who have the training and experience to avoid any type of accident. Don’t Try This at Home Often friends, younger brothers and sisters, even older sisters and brothers want to try the skills that our gymnasts seem to do easily. Don’t allow or encourage your friends to try skills that you have spent many hours practicing and mastering. Other children and non-gymnasts do not have the skill and experience you do and may get seriously injured. Have Fun, but Stay Safe We love watching our students progress and learn new skills, but be careful. Follow the rules, use common sense and listen to that little voice inside your head. If it tells you not to try something, pay attention and wait to try it with a coach!