By Melissa Wagoner
Celia and Todd Storey had never been to Silverton, or to Oregon for that matter, but in November 2016 they saw an ad on Facebook and within weeks they were new residents.
The ad was for the Silverton Gymnastics Academy and the Storeys, who had been collecting equipment in order to one day open their own gym, couldn’t pass up the opportunity to check it out.
“I had managed a gym in my home town for quite some time, but had never really given much thought about owning our own gym,” Celia said.
“I was reading a book by Lara Casey entitled Make It Happen: Surrender your Fear. Take the Leap. Live on Purpose and suddenly it hit me, we could actually do this.”
The Storeys grew up in Canton, Texas where they met, married and had spent most of their lives. The couple has two daughters; Justice who is 20 and attending school in Texas and Ella, 11.
“Both of our children took up gymnastics as soon as they were old enough to get in the gym and have never left the sport,” Celia said.
Celia’s love of gymnastics began at the age of four, transitioning to cheerleading in high school and coaching 15 years ago.
“I want to be able to make a positive, hopefully life changing, impact on every child I come in contact with,” she said.
Her long experience with gymnastics has taught her that coaching is one of the best ways to make this kind of impact.
“[Coaches] either made a good impact or a bad impact on you, but either way, you always remember them,” she said.
Silverton Gymnastics Academy offers classes to children ages 18 months, for My Kid N Me class, to 18 years in Beginner Cheer. These classes are designed not only to teach children gymnastics and cheerleading fundamentals, but also flexibility, strength, coordination and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
“Many gymnasts hold all of their school records in gym class for push-ups, sit ups, and flexed arm hangs,” Celia said.
The benefits aren’t just physical, however, and Celia also observes her students learning social skills, confidence, work ethic and character development.
“The best part is seeing a child perform a brand new skill for the first time,” she said.
“The smiles on their faces and excitement in their eyes are worth every back ache, tired night, and sore muscle.”
