By MOLLIE BROWN / Community Columnist

NXS Gym, located at 5262 Alabama 70 in Calera, builds more than physical strength in young athletes. NXS teaches cheer, tumbling, gymnastics and stunting, but most importantly character.

Co-owner Micah Collins said the business began in January 2006.

“Our company began in order to allow my wife, Christel, and her sisters, Christina Comer and Ashley Marsalis, the opportunity to use their talent to teach young people with the heart of the Lord Jesus. Their mother, Donita McCraven, began the journey with them in a small strip mall. The Lord expanded their vision in 2007 when they purchased Steel City Gymnastics and, again, when we moved into this facility a year ago. We currently utilize 15,000 square feet of our 35,000 square foot facility.”

NXS, with a staff of 13 instructors, has many options to help athletes meet their goals: Xtreme Cheer (ages 4 and up), a competitive cheerleading program; cheernastics (ages 6 and up) which focuses on tumbling, jumps and cheer motions; gymnastics (ages 6 and up) which focuses on bars, beams, floor and vault; tumbling (ages 6 and up) which focuses on back handsprings, back walk-over, front walk-over, tuck, round off, running and standing tumbling; classes for 4 and 5 year olds which focus on bars, beams, floor/tumbling and vault.

Classes for 2 and 3 year olds teach coordination, obedience and body awareness. Participants learn forward rolls, jumping techniques, stretching positions and other developmental skills. These classes use a dedicated room that has everything needed without the distraction of the large gym. The climate controlled gym contains a standard full gymnastic spring floor, full regulation cheerleading spring floor and tumbling floor, two 40-inch ground tumble tramps, spring boards, vaults, balance beams, parallel bars, uneven bars, strap bar/pit bar, 550 square foot foam pit and rock wall. Parents are invited to watch their children from the viewing room overlooking the gym.

NXS loves to celebrate birthdays. Birthday guests enjoy one hour in the gym and 30 minutes for cake and ice cream. A blow-up bouncer/slide is added to the gym, two coaches help with the event.

For general information, visit nxsgym.com or email info@nxsgym.com. Call 668-2003 Mon-Thurs, 2-9:30 p.m. to schedule a class.

 

Mollie Brown can be reached at dmjhb1@bellsouth.net.