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Coaches Corner

Coaches Corner: Cris Saenz

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!”

CRIS SAENZ

ASI ALLEN

Coaches

  • Tiny Tots
  • Kidz Gym
  • Girls classes
  • Boys classes
  • Boys Team, Levels 1-4
  • Birthday Parties

High School

  • Roswell High School

College

  • NMSU, Collin College

How he stays fit

  • Weight lifting, running, yoga, coaching

Favorite healthy snack

  • Almonds, kale chips

MORE COACH’S CORNERS

News

ASI Gymnastics location now open in Cypress, TX!

ASI Gymnastics is so excited to announce the opening of our brand new facility in Cypress, TX. This is our second gym in the Houston area, and we are jumping for joy! With the addition of our tenth gym, we have the opportunity to impact even more kids’ lives with all of the positive benefits of gymnastics. Even though we just opened our doors on Monday, the high quality gymnastics instruction and over-the-top fun events are already in full swing!

Mike Barnack really has a heart for kids and their love for gymnastics.

Quote from Mike Barnack, ASI Property Development

“When I’m given the opportunity to build a new gym, I work hard and fast because I have a purpose. There is a reason that I accept the challenge; and that’s because I know that the world will be a better place because of ASI Gymnastics. There is another ASI where kids get to fall in love with gymnastics and be so very loved…what could be better than that!”

We want to make sure that all of our new students in Cypress get a warm welcome into the ASI Family, so the first 250 students to enroll will receive an awesome ASI Gift Bag full of ASI goodies including an ASI T-Shirt. You will also receive coupons to our fun weekly Open Gym and monthly Parents’ Night Out events! If you are interested in enrolling in classes, or you would like to schedule a free placement evaluation, click below! Don’t forget, if you refer a friend and they sign up for a class, you’ll both receive a $30 credit, so spread the love!

ENROLL NOW IN A CLASS

Monday was the first day of our Survivor Camp program, where kids can come blow off steam and make new friends while running around and competing in fun and physical “Survivor Challenges” each day. Camp sessions run from 8am-1pm and 1pm-6pm, so bring your friends and have a blast! Click here for information.

News

Come Join Us This Summer for Girls Team Camp

Girls Team Camp will be held at ASI Firewheel only, but it is open to all current team gymnasts from any of our Dallas/Fort Worth ASI locations. Team Camp is a great opportunity for each child to get extra time in the gym, work with our amazing coaches and learn new skills for the next level. Each gymnast will work with a master trainer on each event, as well as other amazing coaches from different locations.

Quote from Nick Pierce, ASI Lake Highlands Team Coach

“Sometimes, hearing a skill explained in a different way, from a new coach’s perspective, can be just what it takes to master that tricky skill that has given your athlete trouble all season! I cannot wait to see all the new skills and improvements our gymnasts will achieve during these camps. I’m so excited to be a part of that process!”

Summer is a very important time for gymnasts in their training cycle. It is a crucial time, when athletes can either get ahead for the next season, or fall behind. These camps offer a time to perfect their skills and/or learn new skills that could promote them to the next level. We hope you take advantage of this excellent training opportunity!

Quote from Isis Pochciol, ASI Team Director

“We are so excited about our very first ASI Girls Team Camp! This is an opportunity for all of our amazing coaches to share their expertise and coaching strategies with each other, and to work with and develop each other’s athletes as well. The gymnasts from each gym will get to know each other better too, and hopefully make some fun new friends they can catch up with at the meets all season long!”

Click here for more information and to enroll for summer sessions!

Coaches Corner

Kallie FITzpatrick: The Perfect Fitness Role Model! #ASIfitzpatrick

Kallie Fitzpatrick is an incredible coach and #ASIfit role model at ASI The Woodlands. She coaches kids of all ages and abilities, including preschool classes, boys and girls recreational classes, and even our competitive boys team! Just ask the boys on Kallie’s team how important fitness is to her, and they’ll tell you she puts them through quite a workout each practice! Kallie started working at ASI almost 3 years ago, and if you ask her about her position at ASI, guess what she says? “BEST. JOB. EVER.” That’s a direct quote, folks! Kallie loves working at ASI because she loves helping kids be active and learn exciting new skills that can truly help them for the rest of their lives.

Kallie instills the importance of fitness with her son

Quote from Kallie

“There are so many reasons why fitness is important for kids! It promotes good habits for the rest of their lives. It helps prevent diseases and boosts their confidence. Kids’ brains are like little sponges, itching to make neurological connections. These connections in the brain are made in response to stimuli. The more kids can be exposed to activities and exercise such as gymnastics when they are young, the more connections and capacities they develop and retain for the rest of their lives.”

Kallie’s commitment to fitness reaches outside of ASI as well. She loves exercising, and Crossfit is her go-to workout. She even competes! Kallie loves bridging the gap between her love of Crossfit and her love of gymnastics. She has noticed that her form on the gymnastics skills incorporated into Crossfit has greatly improved since she’s been coaching. She really enjoys showing her gymnastics students creative drills and exercises that she learns at Crossfit. As an athlete, a coach and a mother to two boys, Kallie knows that gymnastics is an amazing sport for kids.

Kallie enjoys bringing Crossfit skills and exercises to her classes

Quote from Kallie

“Gymnastics is one of the BEST sports for any child to do!! Gymnastics helps build gnarly core and upper body strength, coordination, discipline and confidence! Plus it’s pretty cool when you can show off all your awesome skills to your friends.”

Kallie’s son is always #ASIfit

Kallie’s favorite thing about ASI is that we’re so family oriented. The coaches, kids, and parents build amazing relationships, and it’s like a home away from home. If you’re interested in joining the ASI Family, check out our careers page and apply today!

Kallie with The Woodlands coaches being #ASIfit

KALLIE FITZPATRICK

ASI THE WOODLANDS

Coaches

  • Tiny Tots
  • Kidz Gym
  • Girls classes
  • Boys classes
  • Boys Team, Levels 1-3

High School

  • Parkway Christian School

How she stays fit

  • Crossfit (Olympic Lift, Powerlift, Gymnastics, endurance) & she loves to run

Favorite healthy snack

  • Apples with almond butter and kale chips

MORE COACH’S CORNERS

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Student Spotlight

Student Spotlight: Skylar Wicks, ASI Plano West

If you come to ASI Plano West on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, or any day during the summer, you might be lucky enough to meet Skylar Wicks! Skylar is in Coach Brittney’s Girls Silver class on Wednesday nights, and she is learning so many cool new gymnastics skills. She really enjoys doing Back hip circles on the bars, because she LOVES going upside down!

Quote from Skylar

“I love learning new things!”

Gymnastics is the perfect balance of fitness and fun!

Skylar has been coming to ASI for fun and fitness for over 4 years! She started in a Tiny Tots class, then moved to KidzGym, and now she continues to progress through our Girls Gymnastics Program. She also gets to run around and play with her friends at Open Gym on Friday nights, and she loves coming to our themed Parents’ Night Out events each month. Skylar is already excited for Survivor Camp this summer. Just like us, she is counting down the days!

Look at those biceps! Gymnastics is the best physical development for kids.

Skylar is pretty fit for a 1st grader. In addition to her gymnastics class, she plays ice hockey and rollerblades. She also gets exercise riding bikes with her dad, and walking her dog, Bella. Her favorite thing about ASI is learning new skills from Coach Brittney. Who wouldn’t love learning gymnastics from such a fun, fit, positive role model?

SKYLAR WICKS

ASI PLANO WEST

Age

  • 6

School

  • Jamie Stark Elementary

Grade

  • 1st Grade

Favorite Gymnastics Skill

  • Back hip circles on the bars

Favorite healthy snack

  • Strawberries, veggie straws, blueberries

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