Photo by Sydney Cromwell
Sara Beth Gilbert teaches a student to walk across a low balance beam. Gilbert opened Sara Beth’s Gymnasts at the Chelsea Community Center in January and moved in September to a new location on Old Highway 280.
What began as a small class at the Chelsea Community Center has grown into a rising business for Sara Beth Gilbert. Gilbert started teaching gymnastics at the community center in January, having taught since she was 12 and coached professionally throughout college.
In September, she moved to her own location at 10699 Old Highway 280, Building 1, Suite 1, in Chelsea.
“Part of the reason I moved was not only to have a permanent set up, but to be able to welcome more gymnasts,” she said.
Gilbert said that when teaching at the community center, she would teach an average of 40 students. On opening day at Sara Beth’s Gymnasts in September, she had 42 students and that number has since grown to 62.
The classes are open to kids ages 14 months to 12 years. There are “Mommy and Me” classes for younger students, where the parent is present and takes part in the lesson, as well as preschool gymnastics and beginner, intermediate and advanced classes for ages four and up.
Additionally, there is an “open gym” option where “Mommy and Me” students and parents, intermediate students, teens and adults can come and practice.
“It tends to give them more confidence,” Gilbert said about kids practicing gymnastics. “They become more independent, and oftentimes they become leaders because of all the skills they acquire in gymnastics learning how to motivate themselves, help themselves and improve upon their own health and wellness.”
For the moment, her practice is strictly recreational gymnastics, but the prospect of having her students participate in competitions isn’t too far off in the future.
Rates for Gilbert’s classes range from $50-$70 a month, with the sessions meeting on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Visit sarabethgymnasts.com for more details.
