Meet Stayc Simpson | Gymnastics teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stayc Simpson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stayc, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I became a business owner with a partner in 1996. As a junior owner, I was required to do the in person running of our business and my partner handled the bookkeeping and payroll from home. Many weeks I would work as many as 80 hours a week. About 6 months into ownership, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Sept 11, 1996. I was told I would need to quit working. I told the dr that I had just bought into a business and couldn’t quit. My partner also told me that if I took time off i would need to pay anyone that filled in for me, so I kept working. Luckily, I over came the cancer and still worked at a crazy 60-80 hour work pace until Sept 11, 2001. That was the moment when everything changed.
My 5 year survivor date was the day that change the US history forever. It also was the wake up call I needed. About 6 weeks later, I sold my part of the business for $10 and laptop and moved to Texas to work for someone else.
That only lasted about 2 years. Working 40-50 hours a week was way less than I had as an owner, but I knew there had to be a way to be an owner and have work/life balance.
One day a 3 year old boy walked into my class and said. “Ms Stayc, are we going yo use our Gymagination today?” And I replied “yes, yes we are as soon as I write that name down.” A month later, in March 2003, I quit my job and opened Gymagination as a part time gymnastics program at a local recreation center in North Texas. I taught 6-15 hours a week and made a great salary, part time. The program moved to Miami in 2010, same idea, part time inside of recreation programs. Until the pandemic, when most city parks closed. We moved into our first retail space in June 2020. We have tripled in size of enrollments but still keep the entire staff at less than 20 hours a week with a high salary so that everyone of us can have work/life balance and a liveable wage.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am so proud of the fact that we focus on the whole child when we teach gymnastics. My motto is “we want to raise great children, and if they learn great gymnastics, that’s a bonus”. We want children to love movement and fun and gymnastics without the pressure of competition, so our program will never have a team. I additionally proud of the fact that we can train over 350 students a week in just 1500 sq feet and only being open 26 hours a week. While also keeping class sizes small and our teacher:child ratio to below 1;4 Our program has been called “boutique gymnastics” by other gymnastics programs in the area, but I believe that is what has allowed us to survive the pandemic with a 3-6 month waitlist.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Love Virginia Key Beach. Probably would have to go to South Beach just to look. Food at many different restaurants in Coral Gables on Miracle Mile. Maybe a boat charter for the day from Coconut Grove.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Could not do this without my husband. Michael Simpson, my business partner, Christen McKenna and our awesome teachers, Isabella, Francine, Mia and Isabella. Also my in laws, Fred, Jean and Debi and my friends Scot, Dario, Meili and Rich Ramos. And none of this would be possible without our amazing Gymagination families and their children.

Website: Gymagination.co

Instagram: Gymagination

Twitter: Gymagination

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gymaginationmiami/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Gymagination

Image Credits
Blue and red dress Rich Ramos The perfect touch Photography