Mackenzie starts gymnastics

Last week I made a trip over to Bismarck Gymnastics Academy to sign Mackenzie up for gymnastics (obviously). Anyway, what interested me was the fact that they offered two separate homeschool sessions on Tuesday afternoons. Well, as it turned out one class had already been removed from the schedule and they explained they hadn't been able (in previous sessions) to fill the class with the required three students so the class would more than likely get cancelled. Well, as it turns out, BGA only offers the homeschool classes on the same day that homeschoolers go over to the Mandan Community Center for group phys-ed classes.

So, I got her signed up and she went to her first class the other night. I was a little worried how she would be because she had taken gymnastics at Fitness & Fun in Pickerington until they closed and then we tried Columbus Gymnastics Academy and she didn't enjoy it as much. The thing Mackenzie loved, well all of us loved, about Fitness & Fun was the equipment was welcoming and the teachers were there to have fun and teach the kids. Unfortunately, our experience at CGA, as others we met that had come from F&F, was not a positive one. The equipment seemed too big and the teachers weren't helpful. So, it's been over a year since Mackenzie has gotten any structured gymnastics teaching.

The BGA gym is big and I was worried that Mackenzie would feel intimidated by the large equipment. When you walk in - it just seems like a very big place with a lot of equipment. Above the gym floor is a bleacher seating area for parents to observe while instruction is going on.

When we arrived the other night, the gym was full of competitive gymnasts practicing. They were neat to watch but they had already been there for at least an hour before we got there and you could tell they were tired. So they were rotating on all the larger equipment. They have two additional areas with equipment for preschoolers and elementary age children.













Mackenzie had a GREAT time and she liked her teacher. She was very excited to tell her dad what she did in class and today she got out the gymnastics mat in the basement and worked on some of the things she learned.

By the way the competitive gymnasts were still there when we left and they just rotated areas, again!! Competitive level - NO thank you.