the esprit way
our philosophy
At Esprit, our philosophy is simple: we want children to love gymnastics as much as we do, while building skills that will stay with them for life.
Gymnastics teaches far more than rolls, jumps, swings and handstands. It helps children develop confidence, resilience, strength, flexibility, balance, courage and self-belief.
And those qualities matter far beyond the gym.
At Esprit, fun is at the heart of everything we do, because children learn best when they feel happy, safe and excited to try.
A child who enjoys learning will keep learning.
A child who feels encouraged will keep growing.
Not every child will become an Olympic champion, but every child can achieve something extraordinary. That might be
• Learning a new skill.
• Trying again after a fall.
• Standing a little taller.
• Believing in themselves for the first time.
That is why we treat every child as an individual. We do not believe in pressure, favourites or one narrow version of success.
We believe in helping each child discover the champion within themselves, whether that is in gymnastics, on the playground, in the classroom, or in life.
At Esprit, the child comes first.
The gymnast can come when they are ready.
our disciplines
We are a recognised centre of excellence, and have had gymnasts compete at the highest levels, including the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and the Olympics.
But that’s NOT why we exist, our medals simply came as a happy by-product of our philosophy.
The gymnastics myth says children must start early and specialise early and win early.
The evidence says something very different.
Research into junior and senior athletes shows that 98% of successful juniors do not become successful seniors!
“But gymnastics is different…”
We hear this a lot and yes, gymnastics is different.
It is technical, demanding physically challenging and usually undertaken by CHILDREN. That is exactly why they need to be coached with patience, care and long-term thinking.
In women’s artistic gymnastics, they are classed as a senior in the year they turns 16. That means a gymnast may still be 15 when competing as a “senior”.
So when people talk about “adult” success in women’s gymnastics, we should remember that the sport’s definition of senior is not the same as adulthood.
British Gymnastics linked research has also shown that the majority of children drop out by age nine.
So maybe the question is not, “How do we make children serious earlier?”
It should be, “How do we help more children stay happy, confident and active for longer?”
That's why, at Esprit, we believe the child comes first.
The gymnast can come when they are ready.
Artistic gymnastics
What gymnastics gives children is strong bodies, brave minds and confidence for life.
It develops strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, body control and spatial awareness, while also teaching patience, focus, resilience and self-belief.
At Esprit, gymnastics is about far more than learning skills. It is about
• The child who keeps trying after a fall.
• The child who becomes braver each week.
• The child who discovers they are stronger and more capable than they thought.
We do not believe in pressure, ego or rushing children before they are ready.
We believe in great coaching, encouragement and helping every child grow at their own pace.
Whether they continue in gymnastics, move into another sport, or simply carry those lessons into life, gymnastics helps children build confidence, courage and gives them skills for life.
Rhythmic gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics helps children move with confidence, creativity and control.
Blending dance, music, coordination and expression, it develops flexibility, balance, rhythm, body awareness and self-belief.
Using ribbons, hoops, balls, ropes and clubs, children learn to move with grace and confidence while building focus, patience and resilience.
At Esprit, rhythmic gymnastics is not about pressure, ego or perfection at all costs.
It is about helping every child feel seen, supported and proud of what they can do.
Whether they train for fun, enjoy performing, or simply love moving to music, rhythmic gymnastics helps children build confidence, coordination and skills for life.
Display gymnastics
Display gymnastics is one of the most joyful and inclusive ways to experience the sport.
Open to children from age 7 and above, it brings gymnasts together to perform exciting group routines built around teamwork, movement, music and creativity.
At Esprit, our Display Team gives children the chance to enjoy multiple gymnastic disciplines while still learning commitment, confidence, discipline and performance skills.
It is about
• The child who loves being part of a team.
• The child who wants to perform, travel and make memories.
• The child who may not want medals, but still wants to belong to something special.
Our display gymnasts take part in non-competitive festivals across the UK and Europe, including Disneyland Paris.
For many children, display gymnastics becomes the perfect place to grow, perform, make friends, enjoy the magic of gymnastics together and learn skills for life.
our building
We have one of the biggest and best-equipped gymnastics facilities in the country.
With two fully equipped gymnastic halls catering for Olympic disciplines such as Artistic, Rhythmic, Rhythmic Group gymnastics, as well as Esprit’s renowned Display Team.
We cater for all ages, from babies only 6 months old through pre-school to after-school classes, and even have our own coach education programme, where we teach the next generation of exceptional coaches.
We also have several fully equipped dance/performance studios, a fitness/weights gym, function rooms, changing/shower facilities, disabled access, an on-site Sports Therapist and clean, comfortable waiting rooms with free WiFi.
