Please spare yourself from going to this gym. I am sure the programming is excellent. That said, we received a confusing and aggressive set of emails from them today. See my review on google with the email exchange. We received not about payment for classes, which I missed (and I admit to be scatterbrained) and this happened previously; so, I understand. They then sent an email saying that we needed to "pay or be banned", and I emailed back that I was confused as we have never been to their gym (so, how could we be banned). And then they decided to note when we last visited their website (2 weeks ago). I asked for clarification again - saying if we pay we are but if we don't we are banned or we were just banned. When my husband chimed in to ask if we could pay immediately, we received another baffling email. read more

The gym is big and conveniently located, so we really wanted to love it. However, the front desk persons are cold and unhelpful, you never get to meet the coach in the introductory classes (my daughter has been in class for a year and a half - once a week after school - and we have never met the coach - even after requesting to do so). They told us you could pay a large fee for an hour of private coaching - we said ok - they never got back to us. But they are one of the only gyms in town, so the waitlist is long and they don't have to treat the parents decently (especially the parents of kids who are there to improve skills, coordination, balance, etc. but not be actual gymnasts), because there are always other new families waiting to get in. read more

My daughter is 5. We love going here but from observation, it's not for everyone. If your child needs a relationship with a teacher to feel comfortable, this is is not the place for you. For my little one, it's not that important but her 2 friends dropped out after begging week after week not to return. The instruction is great- there is just zero teacher - child relationship. My daughter works with about 5 staff weekly. None know her name and she doesn't know theirs. It's run like a factory and these kids rotate from station to station to learn skills. My daughter has learned a lot so we are fine with keeping her enrolled here. On another note, the birthday parties are fun but the staff are not at all helpful to the parents of the party during the food/ cake time in the lobby. Kind of an outga to see the 3 staff gossiping in the gym while the party parents are passing out food, supplies to 20 little ones. I have to add 2 stars My daughter really loves this place and the instruction there. It is her favorite activity of her week. They seem to have fixed my previous complaint with the classes and they now have 1 teacher assigned to her leveled group. When she said " mommy, said if our trip this summer gets canceled due to the coronavirus than I can go to Ik gymnastics camp for a whole week!" I knew this place deserved a higher rating. 5 stars IK. My daughter wouldn't give you anything less. read more

Favoritism, prejudice and lacking all things fair. Teachers have their favorites and if your nit one the instruction is lacking. Not what you want your kids to experience. read more

Overpriced Gym, does not give any courtesy or make ups for missing classes. There are plenty of other gyms that charge half the price, if you're willing to travel a little out of city limits. This place charges high because it's the only Northside gym within the city. If you plan to join the USAG team, you are indirectly asked to join the IK School which the tuition is about 16k along with the gymnastics tuition of 6k. Otherwise you will not even be considered a spot on the USAG team. This gym is first about business/$ then about the sport. No team building or integrity. "Gymnastics is for people with tons of $$$ that want to fly, otherwise they can walk" read more

Our family has been at IK for a year (camps, team, and weekly classes) and we are so happy with it! It is always so organized and my kids have loved all their coaches! read more

My kid loves it here. Plenty of different options starting 3year olds. Staff and couches are friendly read more

IK Gymnastics - Gymnastics Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is awful. They have lice on the regular + management has an air about them that is unbecoming. I have interacted with both managers now and customer service is lacking all around. I've asked to speak with the owner vial email to provide feedback, but management said she wasn't interested. Never will send my kid there again and IK should clean house - literally and figuritavely. read more

After a spring of indoor soccer classes with our eldest, we decided to look for a gymnastics class for him. The gymnastics class coincided with the birth of other son, so most of the classes were attended by husband while I took care of the newborn at home. We found IK Gymnastics because it's in the same Bradley Place location as Lil Kickers and Goldfish Swim School. Since we knew the area and liked the other offerings, we picked it out. They built a bigger studio behind the original one, so that threw us off on the first day. The new facility is gorgeous and bright. There's a big lobby with ample seating for parents to watch their kids while they participate in activities. My husband did all of the physical stuff with our son and said it was more intensive than soccer was. They both came home exhausted from a class. Overall, it's a great place for a toddler energy burn and to do an introduction to gymnastics without committing a lot of money and time to something your little one might or might not be interested in later. read more

My daughter is IK she is 3. She LOVES it. I feel like it is a little pricey for her age, but this is the northside of Chicago, so what are you going to do? Kids activities are pricey. So that isn't really just IK. Onto the class, if you want a run around go crazy, jump, bounce etc class. This is not the class for you. Try lil gym. They are great too, but it is a different thing. This class actually teaches kids the fundamentals of gymnastics. They really practice technique, and everyone has to take turns. Sure there is some just fun running and bouncing, but this is more serious gymnastics. Onto the staff, everyone I have encountered is top-notch. After a minor issue last week, I called today and spoke with Holly (who is awesome). She cleared up the confusion and was smart, responsive, and helpful. What a difference good people make! This has also been my encounter with every person there from the manager who signed us up to my daughter's instructor. Clearly they are drinking the right kool-aid. I am going to stick with this place long-term. I will enroll my son when he is old enough 2 is the minimum age I think. I am obviously not the only person who feels this way. Almost every class is full. I think they MIGHT do birthday parties too. Bonus! But those are probably expensive and it doesn't strike me as a cake and ice cream type place, but I haven't fully investigated that yet. All and all really good stuff, even for the price---I am pretty cheap, so that says a lot. :) read more

Impersonal and disappointing. My 4 year old has been begging to go to gymnastics and I was happy to give IK a shot as they are close by and had a spot just open up. They have the occasional waitlist spot open up and we felt lucky, but on the phone I had asked the woman how IK deals with new kids dropping in mid-year. She said it was no worry at all, the teachers take some time to help the kids acquaint themselves with the gym and the material. However, we were bummed to learn that the teachers didn't even learn my daughter's name, she sure did not know theirs as they didn't take the time to introduce themselves and make her feel comfortable. She started crying early on in the lesson and spent the rest of the class with me, looking in at the kids having fun. She was clearly having an issue with class but instead of taking the time and making sure this new (4 year old!) child feels comfortable to the point that she is part of this already ongoing class, they just let her stand there and cry and then just let her come out to me and not come get her back in. My child is not difficult, she goes to full day school, has been taking ballet and swim lessons and is ok with them. Every kid gets spooked sometimes the first time they try something new and it's on the teacher to make them feel comfortable and empower them to stick around and have fun. When I brought my concerns to the teacher she said that maybe if there were more teachers she could do more - if that is the case, IK has to make sure to have an extra teacher every time a new kid starts class mid-session. To me that sounded like a sad excuse, and honestly not very trust instilling. When I went over to the front desk to learn how one discontinues the classes, I learned that I had 2 days to decide, and was given a form to fill. No one thought to ask me why it was that I was considering leaving even before we started. Very impersonal and distant, not trustworthy. Now I understand why my friends preferred the competition, but still, something in me was hoping i'd be proven wrong. I mean, all I really wanted was a personal touch, not too much to ask when your student is 4 years old. read more

Very clean and maintained. Great instructors for the younger ones of 3 years old. Fair pricing also

Great staff! The trainers are consistently working to improve students at their developmental level. Our 5year old son leaves each session with a sense of pride and accomplishment. It is amazing to see the strides he has made in the past 2 months in terms of his strength and discipline. Previously our son participated in gymnastics through the Chicago Park District. IK Gymnastics' equiptment and gym spaces are impressive and professional. The gym is clean and students are taught to respect themselves and others. The IK Gymnastics program spends much more time with students individually to differentiate instruction which we did not see happening in the park district setting. If your child is serious about gymnastics and willing to put in the work IK is the place for you. read more

Their number one concern probably is less about the skills they are teaching, and more about the money they are making. I say this because this is a business that caters mostly to children, right? And kids are getting sick all the time. So tell me why they require 24 notice to schedule a make up class? I understand limiting the number of makeups allowed per month for people who consistently miss classes, but that is ridiculous. When I called 6.5 hours before my daughters scheduled class to see if I could reschedule I was told no, their policy is 24 hours (Which I did know beforehand, and thought I'd try my luck) When I asked what they do for sick kids, I was told a doctors note was needed. I said, so they were fine if my kid had the stomach flu but wanted to come to class? To which the reply was yes. So they'd rather get every other kid sick? To be fair, the girl on the phone seemed new, and unsure of her answer, and said something about being fair to other parents to make up classes, but the main reason a kid will have to make up a class would be because of illness, and kids don't often give you 24 hours notice! There is a very "better than you" attitude here. At the beginning of our year here, IK charged me twice for the month by accident. When I caught their mistake and asked for a refund, they refused, and said they wouldn't charge me for the next month. So YOU made a mistake, and want ME to pay an extra $125 this month?! I told the owner (I assume) who I was having this conversation with that I could afford it, but there were probably others who couldn't, so they may want to rethink that policy. I was met with pretty much a shrug. For me, after this second time, this perfectly sums up IK. There are a lot of people with money who take their kids here, and who paying $25 for a class their kid misses due to illness, or paying a double month in one week doesn't break them. It's clear IK doesn't really care if having your kid come makes things tight for you, so again, their number one concern probably is less about the gymnastics they are teaching, and more about the money they are making. Two stars because the gym is new, nice and clean, and the teachers are friendly. read more

I love this place, I'm taking adults tumbling class. I was looking for a place like this and I found it at last! Alex is a great instructor, just awesome! He knows how to work with new students. We do warm ups, basics and learn a new desired skill. He deserves these 5 stars! Hopefully he's gonna return to us in fall. I learned a lot here, my arms and shoulders became stronger and more flexible. Alex well done! read more

My daughter has been a gymnast at IK since she was 4. She started in a recreational class and then moved onto the USAG competitive team. She doesn't attend the school, although we have considered it and like knowing that it could be an option. Competitive gymnastics requires a lot of time and commitment, and yes, money, but when your kid finds the thing that lights them up inside, you do what you can to find the best place to help them pursue it. Over the last seven years the coaches have helped my daughter grow as a gymnast but also as a person. They've helped her confidence grow, they have taught her about sportsmanship, leadership, and perseverance. They have encouraged her to set goals and work hard, to pick herself up when she falls and to let her heart shine through in all she does. The IK coaches and her USAG teammates are a second family for my daughter, and I'm so grateful that she has them. read more

My daughter has been with IK Gymnastics for a year now. Prior to this, she had taken many Park District classes. We needed to find a more convenient location, and IK has been the perfect place for us. Over this past year, Laura has acquired and developed many new skills. She looks forward to going to class every time. We love how talented and caring the coaches and staff have been, and how sweet her fellow gymnasts are. We receive clear and precise emails about the Gym and all events. They listened to our feedback, and have seriously evaluated a few situations that we reported. I am confident that they are doing what is right for the kids. I would also like to mention that the facility is kept clean and well-maintained at all times. read more

We love IK Gym! The staff is very organized, dedicated. My daughters were so happy with their week of IK summer camp. And I was so glad to be able to work quietly at home knowing they were in good hands and having a good time too! read more

Ik teaches the kids gymnastics BUT we never have the same teacher and the kids feel like they are starting new every class because it is a new teacher every other week who doesn't know their skill set. I have never spoken to my daughter's teacher. I do not know the teacher except for what my child tells me about them. I drop my daughter off and sometimes IK staff members are waiting outside to check her in and then I come back at the end of the class and try to get a glimpse into the gym. She comes into the reception area from a side door so I never ever see or hear from the teacher. They could be teaching her to knit for the whole class for all I know! ...but they charge my credit card every month without ever offering an update or progress report. It's also very expensive and they are very strict with rules and limited make up classes....if you can ever schedule a makeup class you are very lucky. Also, if your child is "good" they get "invited" to an exclusive invite class which means... they are moved into a class that meets at the 7-8pm time slot during the week for 8 years! Sounds like a great way to fill a very unpopular time slot in order to open up coveted earlier time slots for new students and new auto credit card payments. Sorry for the truth but that is what happens when you know you are the only game in town. read more

Employees are RUDE RUDE RUDE and not helpful. We've been going there for two years and anytime i call they are TERRIBLE. They ALWAYS refer you to the website as they don't want to physically sign your child up for classes- even though they can. Once they accidentally charged my CC for classes we weren't enrolled in. I called to speak to a manger and had to argue with the person on the phone as they wouldn't let me speak to a manager. I called repeatedly and finally got it resolved after MUCH frustration. I'm taking my business to Lakeshore Academy as every time i call they are kind and helpful. I will not pay to have consistent rude and not helpful service when I'm paying almost $3,000 a year. Go somewhere else where customers are appreciated!!! read more

We have been taking class at IK for a year now and it has been really enjoyable. Pros: -Good teachers -Amazing space -Phenomenal equipment Cons: -cost -amount of people in the afternoon classes -teacher consistency After our first session I moved my 3 year old to the early afternoon classes because later in the day there is a massive amount of kids and the little ones tend to get lost. We have had a different teacher each session which is disappointing because they have to start all over again getting to know the children. If they could just fix teacher consistency then I feel the like cost wouldn't be such a big deal. read more

This is definitely the premier place to take gymnastics in the city! We absolutely love. They have a formula that works and my kids are really leaning!! I have a 6 yo boy and 4 yo girl. Both struggle to leave me and engage in classes. Not at IK, the teachers no nonsense approach really works!! read more

Awful experience with this business I would not recommend. Lazy employees and poor customer service. Inspired no confidence.

Recently had our daughter's 7th birthday party. The staff was great. The kids had a lot of fun! The parents later told me how much fun their son and daughter had at the party. The activities and service exceeded our expectation. read more

I've known IK's owner Irina and her kids for over 15 years. She is such an inspirational and idealistic coach and business owner. My daughter has been training with Irina first at Lake Shore Academy then at IK gymnastics for 10 years. She truly puts the kids first. She is all about personal development and personal growth. She is not just a coach, she is my daughter's second mother. I love her and I love IK gymnastics. read more

My daughter very much enjoys training at IK. The staff are very friendly, the coaches are solid, and the facility is nice / comfortable for the parents watching their kids practice. The head coaches have a healthy mentality towards the kids, focusing on the long-term progression and engagement of the child first rather than just winning medals. It's been a very positive experience for us at IK. read more

IK gymnastics is top notch! There are two beautiful, clean facilities located half a block from one another. Both have plentiful, up to date equipment, good viewing space for parents and parking!! One is primarily used for a wide variety of recreational classes and the other gym is where the team kids practice. IK also has a trampoline program and classes for adults. My daughter is a long time competitive gymnast who recently moved to IK from another gym. I really appreciated Irina (the owner's) professionalism and honesty in evaluating my child and making sure she was the right fit for her USAG program. The coaching staff is excellent. Clearly, a lot of time and effort has been put into making IK one of the premier gymnastics facilities in Illinois and it shows! read more

IK Gymnastics - Gymnastics Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My daughter loves this place. Which is why I bring her back every month. The actual gymnastic coaches that teach behind the glass make you feel like you are watching zoo animals do tricks. I have never met any of the teachers. The man behind the counter in the cheap suit coat and rhinestone jeans, isn't what I would call "professional". He reminds me more of a security guard at a preschool that takes his job way to seriously. Make no mistake. This is a WONDERFUL facility. Beautiful equipment and the digs are nice. The brown vinyl couches look like they were bought on Harlem Ave between Higgins and Belmont. I don't know. It feels like for the money we pay my daughter gets to learn some gymnastic tricks. For the parents that can afford this place congrats. Your child will become a competitor if they can get invited into the "intermediate" level. (Insert some soap opera surprise music). These are my observations. This isn't a critique as much as a what I have seen. Oh! If you are thinking about bringing your child here make sure they are like 3-4 years old. That seems to be the average age to throw the kids into this sort of thing. read more

We started the parent-and-tot class at IK Gymnastics a couple of months ago. So far we love it. It was a great step up from Gymboree for us. There are two (very nice) coaches per class. The first 15 minutes children are doing an obstacle course, where they walk on a straight line, jump, doing forward and backward rolls with coach's help, climb, do balance beams etc. Then they have 10-min circle time with stretching and work on different gross motor skills. Then they move to a different area, where they have access to foam pit (everybody's favorite), awesome competition-grade trampoline, another obstacle course, trapeze, parallel bars etc. Children are allowed to move between areas and activities at their own pace. The class is NOT very structured, which is a great thing for toddlers with their very short attention spans. The coaches show different things to do on the equipment and gently guide the children who show interest in a particular thing. Depending on the coach, there might or might not be a parachute time towards the end (we don't care either way). As a side note, I have been observing the preschool class that is happening at the same time as our class, and I see that it gets a lot more structured and serious at that level, so I am happy my child gets a chance to run around and go crazy for now. My only (very minor) complaint would be that the front desk staff seems to be kind of unfriendly. I don't think I've ever been smiled at or even paid any attention to, unless I ask a question. They might be just stressed out or something, I am not sure :) read more

IK started out as a great addition to the neighborhood, but has become a complete rip-off. They have a lovely facility, but their prices are completely ridiculous. The summer camp is $70 a day for a 3 hour camp. If you want your child to stay the length of most other area summer camps (9-3 pm or 9-4 pm), the cost will be over $130 a day. The teaching seems fine for older kids, but not outstanding. My kids enjoy it, but I really don't think the quality justifies a price like this. This year, we've decided on other camp options. read more

This place is awful. My 8 year old daughter did the girls gymnastics and was stressed out since it was so serious. They also make you pay to be evaluated by the teachers which is ridiculous. They only let you do one make up per month. With kids schedules being so busy, this does not work. The employees are rude and completely unhelpful. My son did the boys gymnastics. It is better but the inflexibility of the place is insane. I have paid for so many classes that we could not attend. read more

My sons took lessons at Lakeshore, which was fine, but I didn't enjoy walking into that space and waiting for them--it had an old gym smell. And then I discovered IK. Shiny, new equipment, bright and airy. My daughter was identified as a potential team member, which they take very seriously, because they really are looking to train future collegiate (and wishfully thinking, Olympic) athletes. They seem to take it very seriously, but they also seem to care about the kids. They don't want to advance anyone who isn't ready for it, and they don't want to push anyone harder than they want to be pushed (ie: if you don't want to do it 5 days/week, there's another program for you at IK because there are a lot of programs, a lot of levels and a lot of ways to compete and really enjoy/learn gymnastics). We've been there two years. So far, so good. I've seen improvements in the way they communicate with parents, though I'd say this could still use a some work. Ultimately, though, if customer service suffers (because the business is run by real gymnastics coaches, not marketing PR wizards), I can deal with that as long as they are really teaching my kid gymnastics (which they are). read more

My daughter is 6 going on 7 and has enjoyed her lessons and learned a lot. She's had a consistent teacher who was awesome with the kids and encouraged them to push just enough to have courage to learn new things. Most importantly it's in a safe environment where they are always spotted. Every time. That's important to me along with progressing in skill. Staff provided good service so I highly recommend. read more

IK is the most incredible gym! Whether you have a son or daughter who is just starting out or is on the most competitve team, they cater to all ages and abilities. My daughter has been there since the week it opened (when she was 3) and we love the staff and coaches. We have had many fabulous birthday parties there and would recommend IK to anyone looking for a great gymnastics experience! read more

My daughter wants to be at IK all the time! She loves it!! She has been part of their program for over 4 years. She has always been treated with a positive, respectful attitude by the instructors while I have always been treated respectfully by front desk. I am impressed with the organization within the facility. IK has given my daughter confidence as she develops new skills. We are very happy with IK! read more

My daughter loves this place. The front desk staff is courteous and the coaches are very patient with the kids. It's been 2 years and so far I haven't had any bad experiences. My daughter is still as excited about going to gymnastics as she was on day one. The owner is constantly looking for ways to improve the gym. Most recently they've added Sunday classes, very convenient for working parents like myself. Keep up the good work IK!! read more

My daughter was a gymnast with IK from the beginning. She trained 6 days per week, spending more time at the gym than she did at home...and she loved it! Irina and all the coaches were supportive and helpful, and were especially good at guiding my daughter to her strengths. My daughter "retired" a few months ago, but gymnastics and IK remains an important foundation for her. I'm so grateful she was part of the IK team. read more

As the mother of two girls in the GIJO program for the past several years, I have many wonderful things to say about IK Gymnastics and its coaching staff. Prior to that, we spent several years at Lakeshore Academy, where we had a disorganized and lackluster experience due to lack of communication with staff and state of disrepair of the facility. Once at IK, I was immediately impressed by several aspects of the program, coaches and facility. Yes, it's clean and beautiful, but the founder of IK and her coaches are what make it really special. They all are highly experienced gymnasts who can personally demonstrate skills and spot your children in a safe environment. They are careful to assess your children fairly and place them in an age and ability appropriate class or team setting. As a physician, I am always concerned about safety in practice. Gymnastics can be stressful on your body and dangerous if not taught properly. This is a huge priority at IK. The coaches are always accessible, but you have to ask if you want information on your child's progress. The cost of classes is comparable to the other gyms in the Chicagoland area. I can recommend IK with the highest regards! read more

Let me start off with saying that IK has a great overall gymnastics program. Recreational classes: Pro's: *brand-new facility with amazing equipment *happy & friendly teachers Con's: *lack of communication between coaches/staff and parents *a common misconception is that if your daughter is invited to move up to the next level (beginner2, beginner3,intermediate,advanced) that she's on her way to being on a team. Not true. She may have a shot at GIJO but not USAG. Only the girls who are pulled out by a coach(the coach approaches the parent, not the other way around) to specifically be tested get that opportunity. And those girls train at the other gym. USAG/the other gym: Pro's: *challenging workouts & routines *receive great coaching and corrections if you are one of the favorites in the group *great student to coach ratio Con's: *must be a specific body type. The website says "Those who fit the tightly regimented proportions are chosen..." Translation, "If your child is 6yrs old but looks like she's 4yrs we will give her a shot. If your child has a body like Nastia Liukin we will love and dote on her and give her every opportunity possible. If your child is built like Shawn Johnson or Mary Lou Retton there is No Way she has a chance, despite her amazing ability and hard work ethic. If your daughter is "too big" whether IK considers her to be tall(average height for her age but not petite) or built anything bigger than a prima ballerina we won't consider you." *if by the end of the season you are considered to be "too big" you will be moved off USAG and placed in the XCEL program. *lack of communication or conflicting communication you receive about your daughter's progress/team level placement for summer training and competition season. *if you aren't the favorite among your level you receive less coaching/corrections than those who are. This my dear friends is a fact. Any outsider could come in and watch a practice and tell you who are the favorites and be completely correct. *there are only a handful of girls at the higher levels because of burn-out, injury, or at some point in their training they no longer possessed the correct body proportions. Talk about an eating disorder waiting to happen. The USAG program is intense. Be prepared for your 5yr old to train 15hrs a week in the summer and 9hrs a week during school. Think Russian gymnastics factory where coaches slap their hands together during warm-ups instead of using words to signal to the students a new body position. Children walk like little gymnastics robots from one apparatus to the next. The gymnastic style is very static and not fluid. If the above sounds appealing to you then I encourage you to sign your daughters up. Irina Kudina is building a brand and she's looking for buyers. read more

My daughter has been with this gym for over 5 years. She started in a recc class and was invited into the XCEL team program. It's a beautiful gym with excellent instruction. MOST important, they will NOT take advantage of our completely obsessed and unobjective sports parenting culture. Children are placed very carefully and appropriately so as not to waste people's time or money. The top USAG team is reserved for those kids whose potential, in IK's very experienced judgment, demonstrate that asking for that sort of commitment will not deprive kid's of their childhood or parents of their money for no reason other than parental delusion. They will not be bullied by parents and for this, one can feel very grateful. Their judgment is excellent and they are unique in caring enough about kids to exercise it judiciously and carefully. They will get the most out of your child, without taking advantage, or causing the very real damage of feeding false hopes. This puts some parents off, but mostly those parents are completely out of touch. read more