Laws of Motion Tumbling (LOM)
/The springy floor stretches out from end to end in the massive gym space; I can hear it squeak as gymnasts, parkour athletes, and instructors clamber over and bounce across it in all directions. Aerial silks in bright colours hang from the vaulted ceiling. A giant rig of rings, bars and climbing pegs decorates one entire corner.
And in the center, doing a front flip off a padded box, is my 12 year old daughter, who is here for the very first time.
Wait…hold on a minute - doing a front flip?
It’s not that M isn’t athletic, per se. She runs fast, she moves well, and we’ve lifted weights together before. But an “athlete”? A “sports-kid”? I’ve never used those words to describe her.
But she’s smiling tentatively and heading up to try it again, and I take this as a good sign that we might be in the right place.
The goal when we decided to try Laws of Motion Tumbling (LOM) was to get some physical activity, gain some movement skills, and put a dent in the boredom that overwhelms the pre-teen existence come summertime.
Last summer, when M was eleven-going-on-twelve, we attempted some City of Ottawa camps. Nothing against city camps, but they are clearly geared for the younger set, and M was pretty miserable. This summer we needed a new game plan.
We arrived to a friendly sea of parents watching their children from the seating area. A young instructor named Denzel greeted us, sensing we were new to the gym.
He immediately called M by name and guided her to her class, setting her at ease. As a non-athlete myself growing up, this move immediately gave me a great impression of LOM, which is going on the ten year mark in business in Ottawa.
After asking me a few questions and getting me to sign a waiver, Denzel gave me some more info about what to expect from the spring session of Tumbling and Trampoline.
“This is a recreational facility, meaning we don’t have competitive-level athletes,” he said, “but we treat all our athletes as athletes: this isn’t an expensive daycare.”
The gym itself smells like a combination of sweat and high-end vinyl. The walls are spartan, save for the giant Laws of Motion insignia and tagline, ‘Anyone Can Flip’.
The space is clean, the instructors are vigilant, and the athletes all seem to be having a great time.
And what did the tween-in-question think of her first class?
Aside from the relative bashfulness at being the least experienced, M enjoyed herself. She said she was pushed gently to try some things she hadn’t done before, but didn’t feel pressured or embarrassed if she couldn’t do it. She collected enough wins during the 1.5 hour time slot that she decided she’d stick out the session, which lasts 8 weeks.
TL/DR
LOM Tumbling seems to be a great recreational spot for aspiring gymnasts, parkour runners, and tumblers. Lots of helpful, qualified instructors. Safe, spacious, and also fun. Would definitely come here again for open gym or an 8 week course.
Age range: 5 up to adult (we tried the 13-17 Trampoline & Tumbling)
Experience level: None needed, all experience levels welcome
Cost: $150-$285 for 8 weeks. $15 drop-in open gym.
Location: East Ottawa (2215 Gladwin Cr, unit 130) - near the Museum of Science and Technology
Class types: Trampoline & Tumbling, Urban Gymnastics (parkour), open gym
For parents: Free parking, lots of seats to hang out and watch your kid. No water fountain - bring a big water
Bonus points: Bring your kids for a class and come on back to try the Adult Trampoline and Tumbling yourself!
Jen is a Mum of 4 and an Ottawa business owner living in the National Capital. She received a complimentary six-week class pass, but all views are her own.
