Galaxy Gymnastics Academy brings gymnastics to Midvale youth

Gymnastics are Rennly Williams’s passion. For more than a decade she’s been teaching gymnastics at the Copperview Recreation Center through her Galaxy Gymnastics Academy. Williams said she likes teaching recreation gymnastics because it gives children the chance to have the best instruction at a reasonable price.

“Copperview is a great location because I can have a quality program with all the best equipment while catering to a population that might otherwise not be able to afford it,” she said.

The Galaxy classes run for seven weeks and start at different points throughout the year. Williams said the classes slow down slightly during the summer but once school starts, they tend to fill up quickly. The cost for each seven week session is $60 and the next one begins on Aug. 29 and runs through Oct. 20.

Williams does similar programs at the Fairmont Aquatics Center in Sugar House and at Dimple Dell Recreation Center in Sandy. This isn’t a competitive program but Williams said she does hold a friendly competition at Copperview for the three programs to give the participants the chance to test their skills.

“The children learn routines and get the chance to compete against others. Everyone gets a trophy and has some fun,” she said. “Some don’t like that approach, but in my opinion at this level, it’s more important for everyone to enjoy themselves.”

The program is broken up into three different levels, a beginning level for children 3-5 years old, a beginning level for children 6 years and up, and an advanced level that is by invitation only. Williams said there is a class for every experience level.

Each week the classes focus on the floor routine and tumbling in addition to one other event like the uneven bars, balance beam and vault. Williams said most of the kids like the bars the best but they work to help the children develop on all the events.

Unlike other gyms, that use the most experienced coaches for the more advanced classes, Galaxy uses those coaches with the younger classes. Williams said giving the beginning classes the best coaching ensures they develop the foundation they will need to continue in gymnastics. But all of the coaches at Galaxy are experienced and know how to teach at all levels.

“This program takes the gymnasts to the level they need to be in to enter a competitive program,” she said. “We also help them find the right gym to accomplish the gymnast’s goals.”

Two of the most important things the Galaxy classes stress are flexibility and strength. Williams said once a gymnast is strong, he or she can keep adding the tricks necessary for each of the events. Developing these skills can be difficult for some children but the coaches work hard to help gymnasts right from the start.