Southaven, MS Health and Fitness

Experienced gymnasts twirl and flip at one end of Gymcats Gymnastics’ floor as they train for advanced events. At the other end, toddlers learn introductory rolls and coordination. That’s the studio’s philosophy at a glance: real gymnastics taught in classes designed to suit all students. Kids aged 3–4 learn the basics of tumbling while increasing attention spans, learning social skills, and practicing human pyramids to reach cookie jars. More-seasoned athletes can receive instruction on the vault, bars, balance beam, and floor. After they graduate, students can apply their skills toward other sports or practice to become a part of Gymcats’ competitive teams. The gym also caters to grownups by hosting parents’ nights out on select Fridays and overseeing birthday parties.

Lawrence Muruako is waging a full-on rebellion against the obesity epidemic. With a degree in exercise science from Ole Miss and a personal-trainer certification from the American Council of Exercise, he brings an extensive body of fitness knowledge to the battle.

Lawrence’s boot camps begin with an evaluation for each student, taking complex measurements that move beyond waist size, such as muscle to fat ratio. Armed with that knowledge, he leads sessions filled with plyometrics and cardio exercises, challenging students to negotiate obstacle courses and sweat through interval training. For guests with physical limitations, Lawrence tweaks the sessions, ensuring that his students can work safely toward their goals, whether they are to lose weight, build muscle, increase endurance, or finally get the confidence to ask the boss if casual Friday can include mascot costumes.