University of Gymnastics

 

A few months ago, Em contacted me for a portrait session.  She had decided that a portrait session could be an opportunity to help her overcome some camera anxiety and give her a confidence boost.  We had a great session and her photos are stunning!  When delivering her beautiful album to her at her business, University of Gymnastics in Sherman, I was blown away.  I knew that she ran a gymnastics academy for kids, but seeing it in person was an eye opener.  Sometimes in small towns like Sherman, it is hard to find all the services you want or need and may end up driving to larger cities to fill those gaps.  Many of our own clients make the  drive down 75 to our McKinney studio from Pottsboro, Sherman, and Van Alstyne, so we know this can be an issue.  What a blessing it is that parents in the Sherman area have such a top notch athletics facility for their kids so close by.

 

Through the process of getting to know Em, she has really impressed me as such a positive and professional person who cares for others.  She is a great communicator with a respectful and caring manner.  There is no doubt in my mind that she gives her young clients and their families great service and a quality experience.  When I entered the gym, I was impressed by how clean it is, how courteous and helpful everyone was, and how happy all the kids I saw seemed to be.  I did not catch them with a class going on, but I did see kids arriving for class and some going home from their time in preschool, which is a sister business run in conjunction with University of Gymnastics in the same location.

 

When I asked Em about what she loves about teaching gymnastics and why she feels having this gym for Sherman and surrounding communities is so important, here is what she said:

 

“Building self esteem in kids through physical activity.  I’ve always struggled with body image issues and I think it’s important for kids to see a variety of shapes and sizes being successful in sports.  We aren’t trying to train the one in a million Olympic champion - we are trying to positively impact every little girl who wants to learn a cartwheel and every little boy that wants to turn flips.”

 

I love this.  The goal is to build confidence.  That’s something we strive for in our studio, as well.  I commend Em and University of Gymnastics in Sherman for this noble mission.

 

Here are a few details about Em and UOG:

 

Em Johnson Hanley is a Texas native born and raised in Lamar County. She was involved in cheer, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, and tennis as a child and throughout high school.  Her strong motivation  and love for sports led her to begin coaching gymnastics and cheer at age 14.  She graduated Valedictorian of Roxton High School in 2002 and Suma Cum Laude from TAMUC in 2005, studying Speech and Health.  At TAMUC, she served as President of Kappa Delta Sorority.  

 

In 2006 she began working as gym director for a gym in Plano, TX.  She opened University of Gymnastics as the General Manager in 2008.  She bought the gym from her mentor in 2011 and built a new facility in 2013 where they are currently located.  University of Gymnastics now serves about 450 kids per week.  They offer artistic gymnastics, tumbling I, cheerleading, competitive teams, birthday parties, special events and a state licensed preschool.

 

If you have kids and live in the Texoma area, I highly recommend you check out University of Gymnastics in Sherman.  You can find them on the web at uofgsherman.com