WHY Jodi's Gym?

Why Jodi’s Gym?

For 45 years, Jodi’s Gym has been helping children  build strength, confidence, coordination, and a lifelong love of movement through gymnastics. Located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, our children’s gymnastics programs serve babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children in a warm, supportive, non-competitive environment.

Founded by former competitive gymnast Jodi Levine, Jodi’s Gym combines expert gymnastics instruction with an understanding of how children learn and develop. Our experienced coaches focus on age-appropriate skill progression while keeping classes active, engaging, and fun.

With programs for children from 6 months to 12 years old, including parent-and-child classes, preschool gymnastics, recreational gymnastics, ninja challenge, advanced gymnastics, and camps, Jodi’s Gym provides a strong foundation for all types of movement and athletics.

Families choose Jodi’s Gym for our small class sizes, experienced instructors, individualized attention, thoughtfully designed curriculum, and welcoming community. Whether a child is taking their very first gymnastics class or progressing to more advanced skills, our goal is the same: to help every child feel successful, confident, and excited to keep learning.

How we are different?

  • Expertise that starts at the top: Jodi, a national-level competitive gymnast, founded Jodi’s Gym 45 years ago. A trailblazer in children’s gymnastics, she remains the owner and guiding force behind our program today.
  • We believe children learn best when they’re having fun: We combine purposeful gymnastics instruction with fun, engaging activities that keep children excited to learn and try new things.
  • We create a warm, nurturing environment: We believe every child should feel comfortable, supported, and excited to participate. Our approach allows children to build real skills and confidence, without pressure.
  • We grow with your child: From their first gymnastics experience through age 12, Jodi’s Gym offers developmentally appropriate instruction designed to meet children at every stage. As they grow stronger, more confident, and more independent, our programs grow with them—building skills progressively year after year.
  • Our coaches are second to none! Our seasoned, caring coaches bring both gymnastics expertise and years of experience working with children.
  • We’re celebrating our 45th season on the UES: Generations of NYC families have trusted Jodi’s Gym. While a lot has changed over the years, our mission has remained the same: to share our love of gymnastics while helping children grow stronger, more confident, and excited to learn.

Why gymnastics?

  • A foundation for all movement: Gymnastics builds strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, and body awareness—skills that translate to nearly every sport and physical activity.
  • Confidence from an early age: Learning a new skill takes courage and practice. Every accomplishment is an opportunity for your child to experience the pride that comes from working towards a goal.
  • Healthy brain and body development: Jumping, climbing, balancing, swinging, rolling, and moving through space help develop gross motor skills, spatial awareness, coordination, and body control.
  • Skills that extend into the classroom: Listening, focusing, following directions, taking turns, and remembering sequences are all part of gymnastics class!

Our Team

We are a group of people who absolutely love children, are passionate about fitness and are dedicated to providing you with the best experiences possible. You truly won’t find a more attentive, caring, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable staff anywhere!

Our teachers are carefully selected based on their knowledge in both child development and gymnastics, and go through an extensive Jodi’s Gym training program that is unmatched.

What will your child gain by participating in our program?

  • A love of movement
  • A “can do” attitude
  • A foundation for all physical movement that will last a lifetime
  • Strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility, and focus
  • Perseverance and resilience

Our Story

A New York City Gymnastics Tradition Since 1982

Jodi’s Gym began in 1982, when Jodi saw something missing in New York City: a high-quality, non-competitive gymnastics program created specifically for young children.

A former competitive gymnast with a background in psychology, Jodi was a trailblazer in the space. She created a program where children could build strength, coordination, balance, confidence, and a love of movement in a warm, encouraging environment where learning is fun.

More than four decades later, Jodi’s Gym continues that mission on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, offering children’s gymnastics classes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. Our progressive, age-appropriate programs are designed to help every child develop at their own pace while building skills that extend far beyond the gym.

Now celebrating our 45th year, some of the children who once learned to tumble, swing, and cartwheel with us are returning with children of their own. Welcoming a second generation of Jodi’s Gym families is one of the greatest honors of our story.

Since 1982, our philosophy has remained simple: children learn best when they’re having fun.

We Believe

  • Gymnastics builds a strong mind-body connection, helping children feel comfortable in their own bodies
  • An early movement foundation helps children grow up to be healthy, active adults.
  • A child who is having fun will be excited to learn.
  • We are making a difference in the health and fitness of children everyday.
  • Every child learns differently.