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Now that ASI Gymnastics has begun taking over Houston, we are thrilled to introduce you to some of the newest members of our amazing coaching staff! One incredible coach we are so excited to welcome to the ASI Family is Alex Thomas. Coach Alex is a truly gifted educator who will be coaching all kinds of classes, but her specialty is power tumbling. When we say it’s her specialty, we mean it… she’s a former national champion! Coach Alex attributes a lot of her personal growth to her time as a gymnast, so she is very passionate about sharing her love of gymnastics and tumbling with kids. Alex shares our philosophy that gymnastics is the best athletic development for every child, regardless of their age or ability!

Quote from Alex

“I am extremely passionate about teaching students power tumbling. Power tumbling has had a major role in shaping myself, and I love being able to impact a child’s life through a sport I love. My students gain self-confidence, perseverance, and strength through tumbling, which then helps them succeed outside the gym. Gymnastics and power tumbling helps make a child well-rounded in all physical and mental aspects. Gymnastics tests balance, coordination, strength, air awareness, and mental focus. All children at any age or athletic ability can learn the sport of power tumbling and gymnastics and build a solid foundation in fitness that can help in any other sport later in life.”

Alex has been around the gymnastics industry for years, and she has worked at different gyms around the country, but she says there’s nothing out there quite like ASI! She is really enjoying the team atmosphere among the coaches, because the staff and management work together to give our kids the best possible experience at ASI. She also loves and shares our commitment to make every child we coach feel valuable and unique. Kids are funny and sweet and never boring, but the best part of coaching is watching them gain confidence and believe in themselves, hands down! As a mother herself, Alex knows that kids thrive in a fun, safe, positive environment, and that’s what she loves about ASI!

Quote from Alex

“ASI is unlike any other gym I have had the honor at working or training at. ASI focuses on teaching the best gymnastics possible to any student at his or her level. ASI focuses on teaching correct gymnastics while also ensuring every child is having fun. The gyms are very bright and cheerful, and have a positive environment surrounding the students. The gym as a whole, works together to make every athlete that comes through our doors feel special and important.”

If you’ve ever been to ASI Allen, chances are you recognize Coach Cris Saenz. He’s been there since it opened in 2005! Cris is an institution at ASI Gymnastics, and he has been fortunate enough to make an impact in the lives of thousands of kids during his 10 YEAR career at ASI. He started while he was in college back in 2004, because his sister worked for us and he needed a job. After he started coaching, he realized that working with kids was his passion, and he’s since built an incredible career doing what he loves. Cris is a man of many talents, so he coaches kids in our Tiny Tots and Kidz Gym classes through the highest levels of Power Tumbling, and he’s an incredibly successful Boys Team coach! Cris also sees the importance of exposing kids to fitness at a young age. He knows after a decade of coaching gymnastics that it truly is the best athletic development for children.

Quote from Cris

“Gymnastics is the ultimate sport! No other sport requires as much strength, balance, flexibility, courage, and determination. Gymnastics allows athletes to move in ways no other sport can. This early exposure to fitness is extremely important for kids. It keeps them healthy and active. If a child develops healthy habits in their youth, they can easily be carried over into adulthood. Sports and fitness build confidence and character, and instill work ethic and determination that can last a lifetime.”

Cris loves the bonds he’s built at ASI. He’s been able to watch hundreds of kids grow into incredible athletes and amazing young people during his time at ASI. It’s also where he met some of his best friends, and even the best man at his wedding! Cris said he will never forget that when his father passed away, many of his coworkers, his supervisors, and even the owner of ASI Gymnastics attended the funeral and supported him, even though he didn’t ask them to. Our full-time benefits like health insurance, educational assistance, tuition credits, a flexible schedule and a killer fitness plan are certainly nice, but it’s these unforgettable relationships that make a career at ASI so rewarding. The only people more fun to work with than your coworkers at ASI is the kids!

Quote from Cris

“I just love the kids. It’s the daily interaction with them that keeps me coming back. They keep me young and always make me smile. Teaching a child a new skill is better than gold, in my opinion!”