When One Gymnastics Class Changed Everything: A Guest Blog From Gyminny Kids Special Needs VIP Director
Guest Contributor: Coach Trisha
Coach Trisha leads the Special Needs VIP and Exploring Movement programs at North County Gymnastics & The Gyminny Kids. She brings decades of coaching experience and the unique perspective of being both a gymnastics coach and a mother of children with complex special needs. Her work focuses on helping families discover that gymnastics can be a place of belonging, growth, and joy for every child.
"Try My Class"
This week, my daughter tried a Little Hoppers parent-and-tot class. I was shocked at how well she did. Let me start with a bit of background, and then you will see why.
Hi, I’m Trisha. While I have coached gymnastics for many years, I now focus primarily on Exploring Movement classes and my family, who happen to be an amazing cure for boredom, not that I ever needed one.
My husband and I have five kids. Two have severe special needs. A couple of the others have things like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD. We also have two dogs who would probably fall under some random diagnosis if that were an option.
The older dog is convinced the mafia is constantly trying to invade our home. She is very confident that the mafia works closely with Amazon delivery drivers, but a single sniff grants official clearance to anyone seeking entry past the sacred threshold.
The giant Bernedoodle believes every potential intruder is actually her best friend in the whole wide world who has arrived to throw tennis balls in the backyard for eternity.
Have I painted a picture yet?
Beautiful, organized chaos both inside and outside the gym.
What Exploring Movement Is All About
Exploring Movement is a program designed for children with special needs and their families to experience gymnastics in a format that works for them.
We adapt the environment so every child can participate comfortably. Sometimes that means keeping music off or very low. Sometimes it means holding classes at unusual times so we can have the entire gym available for whatever ruckus might be necessary that day.
Structure is a nice idea. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it does not. That is okay.
Exploring Movement began in honor of my son Malachi. On July 3, 2020, he drowned and now lives with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy caused by HIE, which stands for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
He may never walk.
But that kid can absolutely fly in the bungee system.
At Gyminny Kids, the motto is simple.
Fun and Fitness for All.
The special needs world is something you cannot learn from a textbook. Nothing prepares you for the maze of therapies, appointments, and unexpected challenges. But we do not have to do it alone. And we do not have to hide.
Whatever the need, we can walk alongside one another, turning struggles into camaraderie, connection, and sometimes even comedy.
If you have ever spent time on hold with insurance companies, you know the soundtrack well.
"Representative… you are next in line… your wait time is 48 hours."
Anyone up for a conversation about diaper explosions or constipation solutions?
Parents in the special needs world understand.
Exploring Movement meets kids exactly where they are, even if that means nobody laughs at my jokes. Autism tends to be very honest. I can handle it. The looks these kids give me sometimes say more than words ever could.
Meet Penelope
Penelope is my 4½-year-old daughter. She is the one who tried the Little Hoppers class.
If you are doing the math on the timeline, yes, she joined our family after Malachi's accident.
At that point, I had become what I like to call a medical ninja mom. I could simultaneously manage a feeding tube, wait on hold with insurance, fill out paperwork, and occasionally sleep somewhere in between.
So when an adorable 10-month-old baby with a feeding tube needed a home, we said yes.
Penelope's progress has come one step at a time.
First, she learned to hold her head up.
Then she rolled over. That small victory changed everything, because tube feedings could finally happen during the day instead of one-hour meals every three hours around the clock.
She sat independently at eighteen months.
She crawled at two years old.
She took her first steps at three years and three months.
She figured out her own version of running at four.
At the beginning, we did not know if any of those milestones would ever happen, even with physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, ABA, and countless medical professionals.
But one by one, the seemingly impossible became normal.
For Penelope, each milestone feels less like stepping over a developmental marker and more like climbing Mount Everest. Every step a typical child takes involves thousands of repetitions for her.
"Try My Class"
Then her big sister, Coach Nevaeh, had an idea.
She said, "Try my class."
Penelope has been attending Exploring Movement since she was a 10-month-old baby, sometimes just watching from her car seat because her mom happened to be the coach.
Often, she stared in awe at everything happening around her. Her participation improved over time, but it was still limited.
So honestly, I did not expect much from the Little Hoppers class. This kid has an iron will, and her opinions do not always match reality.
But we tried it.
And she did phenomenal.
She completed every obstacle course.
At first, I carried her through each station with lots of encouragement. Within seconds, it turned into willing participation, smiles, following simple instructions, and trying brand new skills.
Then something incredible happened.
She tracked and popped a bubble for the first time in her life.
Penelope had five spoken words before that day.
The next day, she added a new one.
Bubble.
Now she has six words.
Why Gymnastics Made a Difference
Penelope accomplished more in that 45-minute class than she had in years of therapy.
That is not a criticism of therapists. They do incredible work, and we are grateful for them.
But sometimes something magical happens when learning takes place in an environment built around joy, exploration, and play.
I have coached gymnastics for decades. I started in the sport when I was eleven years old. I have worked with kids my entire life.
This breakthrough was not because of me.
It happened because her big sister said, "Try my class."
We may soon be in the gym all week long, one step at a time.
Compared to therapy sessions that can cost around $150 an hour and are often not covered by insurance, gymnastics becomes an incredibly powerful and accessible tool for development.
And it is fun!
Stepping Stones
One of the goals of Exploring Movement has always been to provide stepping stones for children who need a few more to cross the creek.
Some children, like Malachi, may remain part of the Exploring Movement family for life.
Some children, like Penelope, may participate in both adaptive classes and traditional gymnastics classes as they grow.
Others may begin in Exploring Movement and eventually move into recreational gymnastics or even competitive sports.
Every path is different.
But I have learned something important along the way.
Mountains are meant to be climbed.
One step conquered.
Millions left.
Let's go!
The Gyminny Kids Special Needs VIP Program
At North County Gymnastics & The Gyminny Kids, our Special Needs VIP and Exploring Movement programs are designed to give every child the opportunity to experience physical activity, build confidence, and find joy in the gym.
Our programs adapt to each child's needs by adjusting:
• sensory environment
• class structure
• pacing
• equipment use
• communication style
Many families find that gymnastics helps children develop:
• balance and coordination
• motor skills
• body awareness
• confidence
• social interaction
Most importantly, it gives children a place where they are celebrated for who they are.
Gymnastics can truly be the foundation for all sports, and for many children, it also becomes the foundation for confidence.
Start with gymnastics, go anywhere!
Parent Reviews About Gyminny Kids
Parents frequently share how meaningful these programs are for their families.
One Google review reads:
"Our son has special needs, and Gyminny Kids has been incredible. The coaches are patient, kind, and truly understand how to work with kids who need a little extra support."
Another parent shared on Yelp:
"This gym goes above and beyond to make every child feel included. The adaptive classes are amazing, and the coaches genuinely care."
Stories like these are why programs like Exploring Movement exist.
Proudly Serving Families In:
Quick Links
•Register for a free trial class today→]
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FAQs
What is the Gyminny Kids Special Needs VIP program?
The Special Needs VIP program provides adaptive gymnastics classes designed for children with physical, cognitive, sensory, or developmental differences. Classes are structured to meet each child at their level.
What ages can participate?
Children can begin as young as 9 months old in parent-and-tot classes, and adaptive programs are available for many age ranges.
Does my child need gymnastics experience?
No experience is required. Our programs are designed to help children build skills at their own pace.
Can adaptive gymnastics help with developmental delays?
Many families report improvements in balance, coordination, confidence, and social interaction when children participate in structured physical activity, such as gymnastics.
