About St. Louis Spirits

When gymnastics coach Rod Rogers founded St. Louis Spirits in 1976, it consisted of a vault, two sets of bars, two beams, and a floor mat in a local church gymnasium. Now, he and his wife and fellow coach, Kris, lay claim to an air-conditioned 10,000-square-foot space equipped with everything from a loose foam pit and in-ground trampolines to a huge spring floor. There, flippers and tumblers from preschool on up learn the fundamentals of gymnastics—and, eventually, maybe even to compete. In the summer, themed camps pair fitness with fun stuff such as pirate-themed adventures, Broadway music, or cheerleading chants.