★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

My 11 year old daughter has been with this gym since she started gymnastics at age 6. I have a gym minutes from my home and would never consider switching.

The coaches are thoughtful about the girls physical progression as well as their emotional and mental progression. They don't push although they certainly encourage. My daughter has overcome fears of certain skills in her time with that constant care and consideration. It's not easy to figure out when a kiddo needs to be strongly encouraged or when to ease up. No one is going to get that right 100% of the time but for my daughter, they are darn close.

At meets, these girls are smiling and cheering on their team as well as the girls on other teams. When I look around and see other teams expressionless or looking stressed, I'm so very happy these coaches are getting it right.

I see another parent commented on the gyms cleanliness. We have not found that to be an issue.

My child is rarely if ever sick and we do receive notifications reminding us to keep sick kiddos home.

The coaches are mindful of progression and doing so in a manner that helps reduce the risk of injuries. They have also communicated with me and followed my child's PT recommendations regarding specific exercises and certain activities that she should avoid while healing.

I see another reviewer mentioned that this gym is all about the boys. That could not be further from our personal experience.

Not every gym is going to be the right fit for your child. I'd really recommend observations and discussions with the coaches and a trial session or two before jumping into a gym. Managing your expectations becomes easier with open communication. There are different styles and approaches to coaching. That's true of any sport. It's not a one size fits all situation.

For our family, Empowered Athletics has been a blessing and a positive experience. I will continue to recommend this gym when I hear of others with kids interested in gymnastics.

Source: Google

★ 1

Empowered Athletics: Where Your Gymnast Dreams Go to Die

If you’re looking for a gym where your athlete can thrive, stay safe, and fall in love with their sport, keep looking—Empowered Athletics is not it. This gym is the antithesis of what a great training environment should be.

We were initially drawn in by the promise of small coach-to-athlete ratios, innovative training methods, and the excitement of an up-and-coming program. Spoiler alert: We made a huge mistake.

Over three seasons, we watched our daughters regress physically, mentally, and emotionally. Our oldest, who started with a solid foundation from her previous gym, initially excelled—she even won every event at her first state meet. But the cracks quickly showed. Mental blocks developed, progress stalled, and her confidence took a nosedive. Our middle daughter was repeatedly pushed to compete skills she had barely learned, let alone mastered. These were high-risk skills with poor form that set her up for injury. Safety? Not a priority here.

And the boys’ program? Oh, it’s definitely the main focus. But since they can’t get enough boys to pay the bills, the girls’ program is the financial afterthought keeping the lights on. The coaching staff isn’t qualified to coach at high levels (or even medium ones). Most have no competitive or high-level coaching experience. The advertised small ratios? Those vanished as soon as the post-COVID gym boom brought in more athletes/cash.

Let’s talk about meets. Instead of attending convenient, high-quality competitions like Grand Rapids on the Grand, they’ll send you 5-6 hours away (or out of state!) for small meets because they have drama with other local gyms. The meet schedule is a logistical nightmare, entirely built around their boys’ team and Empowered’s tiny coaching staff. Practices are often canceled during meet weekends, leaving your athlete in an “open gym” free-for-all that’s about as safe as a toddler with a chainsaw.

And practices? Wow. A masterclass in inefficiency. Coaches wander around glued to their phones, only occasionally spotting or giving feedback. The “training” time is padded with wasted minutes, leaving your athlete doing less and risking more. Hygiene is apparently optional for both the staff and the gym itself—rat traps scattered around the facility don’t exactly scream “elite training environment.”

Despite training 20 hours a week, the girls compete XCEL—a program geared toward recreational athletes who train half as much. Even then, their athletes struggle at meets because form and fundamentals are ignored in the rush to push athletes into higher levels prematurely. Scores in the 6s and 7s, you ask? All part of the plan! “Eventually it will all come together” (It won’t, bc your kid doesn’t have the right foundation).

Let’s not forget the blatant favoritism. Daytime homeschool athletes, who get nearly 1-on-1 coaching, pay the same fees as the evening girls but receive vastly better training. Want a detailed plan for your child? Good luck. There are no meetings, no check-ins, and no communication with parents.

The whole operation is a mess. Competition Warm-ups designed for boys that make the girls look like a middle school basketball team? Check. No front desk or admin? Check. A coach literally sleeping in the gym and waking up right before practice? Oh, yes. Dust-covered equipment, chaotic practices, and no cleaning service to speak of? Absolutely.

Empowered Athletics is a textbook example of what happens when a gym values growth over quality. The glowing Google reviews from years ago? Those were written by people who fell for the same promises we did, before reality set in. Don’t make the same mistake.

Save your time, money, and child’s well-being. Stay as far away from this gym as humanly possible.

Source: Google

★ 1

After waiting 8 months to reflect on our experience, I feel compelled to share a review based on three seasons with my three daughters on the competitive team. I also served as secretary for the boosters during our last year. While I initially overlooked some red flags, over time, my concerns grew, and I wish I had listened to my instincts sooner.
1. Cleanliness... it's just not clean. My middle child was sick ALL the time. Upper respiratory infections over and over again. Tested for asthma (didn't have asthma). Was on an antibiotic and steroid once a month. I always thought it was the gym, but couldn't figure it out. She has not been sick since we left.
2. Not safe: from coach to athlete ratio, to lack of proper progression with skills. I was always afraid to leave my girls at practice. My older girls telling me that they were frequently told to "just chuck it" (I was asked to leave the gym over and over again during practice time, even after covid, with my 5 maybe 6 year old crying (3 hour practice ahead) to make room for rec parents. We were not allowed to stay at the practices. This made me very uncomfortable, and it was clearly NOT FOLLOWING USAG SAFE SPORT RULES.
3. No front desk: The gym has no front desk, which made communication extremely difficult. Parents were often left to text the owner or main coach directly, which distracted from practice time. This setup resulted in frequent interruptions during practice.
Zero circulation in the gym: The owner refused on several occasions to open the garage doors when it was 90 degrees outside. One of my daughters even complaining during practice that she couldn't breathe.
Culture of the gym: Lots of favoritism, spending a lot more time with certain athletes. Sometimes not even rotating stations to see others.
This gym is mainly focused on the boys program. If you have a daughter who is serious about gymnastics I would take her elsewhere. I truly wouldn't recommend this gym to anyone.

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 1

This gym has poor communication, especially for families with kids new to Competing.
They are not in compliance of USAG Safe-Sport rules concerning parents having access to the gym during practice hours, they claim to be in compliance by providing “specific times parents can watch practice.” But this is false, that doesn’t exist. We have connections high up in USA Gymnastics and they have confirmed all this.
Empowered “removed” my child from the team after he won 1st place over all at his first competition ever, won many medals at every competition, won a trophy, and a plaque. He placed at every single competition the whole season. They removed him, as soon as I brought up the fact that they are in violation of Safe Sport. This should raise parents suspicions and make you think twice about if this is the gym for your kids. Their practice time lengths are not age appropriate, and they avoided having an in-person meeting with me and my husband about our concerns for over a month. Empowered then “removed my son from the team” once I got tired of waiting and brought up the safe sport violation.
They don’t include fun with the young kids who are competing, barely ever. One of the owners refuses to meet in person, avoids phone calls as much as possible and tells you to only text or email her. On top of this, she’s never at the Team gatherings ex: the Christmas party or end of the year picnic. So the kids experience her being intense and stern at practice and don’t have a relationship with her that cultivates a desire for longevity in the sport.
Lastly they don’t have a front desk person, so it’s hard to get questions answered and they act annoyed when you need clarification or explanation of anything. Our family had a poor experience and it has emotionally affected our child. We do not recommend Empowered Athletics.

Source: Google

★ 1

I went there and no one was their

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Coaches seem nice from a parent interaction point of view. My daughters enjoy coming here and seem to learn a lot

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Awesome place! Our little guy loved getting all of his energy out here! Tons for kids to do and very clean/safe.

Source: Google

★ 5

Great place with amazing coaches! They work tremendously with the kids to reach their full potential. Highly recommend for any gymnast who wants the best coaching and to have fun.

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Great coaches who instill great character and integrity into your children whilst teaching them gymnastics. Joe and Emily are so kind and great coaches and it shows through the love that is given back to them via the gymnastics community and families. Parents from other gyms have come up to me at meets and told us how great our gym is for supporting others and staying until the last gymnast has finished their routine.

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

My preschooler came to this gymnastics training center from another center in town and I am so impressed by the differences I've seen in just the two sessions she's had with Coach Joe. It's just unbelievable really, the personal attention she has received from someone who is so passionate about gymnastics and about his athletes. He has talked to me in person extensively about my daughter, he has texted me, he has gone to the gym specifically just to meet with her and test her abilities, he has talked with my mom about my daughter's abilities when my mom took my daughter to one of the sessions, and in our talks he is so detailed about my daughter's abilities and strengths. He truly seems to care about my daughter and her ability to reach her fullest potential. There was nowhere near the level of personal attention at the previous place we went to. This place is definitely more intense than the previous place but that's what I love about it. I feel it will teach my daughter so much discipline and work ethic and self-confidence and self-respect. This is the real deal if your child is into gymnastics and wants to improve on their skills and if you as a parent want to give your child exposure to challenges and what it feels like to overcome those challenges.

Source: Google

★ 5

With two daughters in gymnastics at two very different stages, we are so pleased with the coaching and facility.

Source: Google

★ 5

My daughter moved to Empowered Athletics a few months ago and it was the best decision we made. The confidence Emily and Joe have given her in incredible to see. You can tell the minute you walk in that they love what they do and create an environment for all gymnasts to be their best.

Source: Google

★ 5

Amazing gym and coaching!

Source: Google

★ 5

What a great place! The coaches at EA are knowledgeable and easy to work with. My daughter has been a competitive gymnast for 8 years, and we love these coaches and this gym! They work with the gymnasts to improve skills, pushing them to be their very best. The facility is nice, with great recreational classes and open gym times. This is the place to be!

Source: Google

★ 5

It's only been a couple months but we are very pleased with the coaching. Our kids love going to practice and working with their coaches! The progress has been amazing and we look forward to many more years with Empowered Athletics!

Source: Google

★ 5

We love Empowered Athletics! I have three children 10, 7, and 3. All three of them can do gymnastics in a safe and structured environment. They have classes for my younger two and my oldest is on the competitive team.

Source: Google

★ 5

Love Emily and Joe!! Great coaches and nice facility.

Source: Google

★ 5

My daughter loves Empowered Athletics. Great coaches and a very encouraging, supportive environment. Can’t say enough good things about coaches Emily and Joe, they are the best!

Source: Google

★ 5

We love this gym. The coaches are amazing!!
Just by watching them work with the kids you can see that the LOVE what they do.
And you can tell the the kids in this gym enjoy the coaches and their gym as well!!

Source: Google

★ 5

We have only been with Empowered Athletics for a few months and my son has grown SO MUCH in his abilities and confidence. Coaches and kids are all amazing. 5 stars for sure!

Source: Google

★ 5

We love Empowered Athletics! The coaching staff is incredible! They are very dedicated and caring, fostering an environment that “empowers” each athlete to achieve his or her best both in and out of the gym. The competitive team athletes are well disciplined, hardworking, welcoming to new teammates, and supportive of one another. I would highly recommend this gym!

Source: Google

★ 5

The coaches are amazing and wonderful with the kids. Great mentors!

Source: Google

★ 5

We recently joined Empowered Athletics we absolutely love it here and the coaches Emily and Joe are phenomenal!!

Source: Google