By Janet Wight
For the past 25 years, the owner of Spirit Gymnastics has been providing athletic training to youth in the St. Paul area.
Now, Doug Byrnes has moved his noncompetitive beginner classes for preschool to first grade students from Hamline University’s Walker Fieldhouse to a new facility at 1546 Como Ave. The move came in January 2024. (Byrnes continues to run his competitive gymnastics program for second grade through high school students out of Hamline.)
The Como Avenue site is ideal for the beginner program because “it offers convenient class times, nice equipment and free parking, all housed in a small, quaint neighborhood setting,” said Byrnes, also head women’s gymnastics coach at Hamline University.
These beginner classes provide participants with a positive sense of self and structured fun, Byrnes added.
“It can get them doing things people just love to do, play and romp and jump around, rolling, inverts, hanging, swinging, organized play,” he said. “Kids, in my experience, love doing it.”
Family members are always delighted to see these young gymnasts display their new skills during the spring show held at the Walker Fieldhouse, Byrnes added.
Gymnastics has been a big part of Byrnes’ life for many years.
A native of New Brighton, Byrnes attended Irondale High School. A self-described “fellow of smaller stature” in junior high, he decided to give gymnastics a try in seventh grade after being encouraged by his sister and his neighbor’s boyfriend.
“It seemed to fit,” he said, adding that his favorite events were floor and high bar. Byrnes took second place in the all-around at the 1984 Minnesota State High School League competition.
While studying civil engineering at the University of Minnesota, Byrnes accepted a part-time position in May 1989 to coach gymnastics at Hamline.
Although he expected to work there for just a few weeks, the role evolved and blossomed into a full-time vocation. Byrnes became an assistant coach for the women’s team in 1995 and was named head coach in 1999. Byrnes also worked as a structural engineer for eight years before accepting the head coaching position.
According to Byrnes, interest in women’s gymnastics is growing. Gymnastics was a thriving sport for both boys and girls in the 1980s. But middle and high schools have been cutting boys’ programs for the past three decades, he explained.
Byrnes said his biggest challenge is balancing his coaching duties at Hamline with the demands of running a club team. He relies heavily on Colleen Howard, director and jack of all trades at Spirit Gymnastics, including the Spirit North program.
Becoming involved with gymnastics is a “great way to get kids in tune and in touch with themselves. It is great for the emotional and physical health for these kids … in a safe environment that is a lot of fun,” Byrnes explained.
For additional information on beginner classes at Spirit North, visit spiritgym.com/spirit-north-fall-session.
Janet Wight is a regular freelance writer for the Bugle.
Photo cutlines:
Girls engaged in gymnastics activities. Photo by Colleen Howard.
Spirit North Gymnastics is designed to be a fun, active activity. Photo by Colleen Howard.
