Today we’d like to introduce you to Ceevan Sherman.
Hi Ceevan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I feel like I have been blessed with the most amazing, rewarding, and purposeful work in the world. It all started with the first Van Nuys, CA My Gym location ever started in 1983 by my parents Susi and Yacov Sherman the founders of the company. With my mom’s background as a competing gymnast specializing in movement and youth development and my dad’s experience with movement and studying occupational therapy needs for children through dance therapy, they started their first My Gym.
My Gym has now grown as a franchise in over 30 countries with 600 locations worldwide. It wouldn’t be fair to mention my story without honoring my parents first and what they have started. It’s because of them, that’s how my journey got started with the company.
My Gym Thousand Oaks was established in 1986 by my dad as the 4th original Gym out of 600 worldwide.
After graduating from Sonoma State University in 2012 with a Business Marketing Degree I decided to go into the family business. I worked alongside my father for 11 years in Thousand Oaks, CA My Gym location. At My Gym we work with children of 4 months- 10 years of age and have classes that are age-appropriate by creating curriculum and equipment that help encourage all early childhood milestones (cognitively, emotionally, and physically).
From my 11 years of experience, I have learned that nothing can replace the power of “hands-on play” for children.
My Gym Children’s Fitness Center provides that platform for children to socialize, physically develop, learn healthy role model play, and create the confidence they need to successfully explore how their bodies move.
Seeing this age range of development, hands-on learning, and working under my father for 11 years has allowed me the experience to truly comprehend the power and value of what the program and facility provide as a foundational benchmark for earning learning and development.
In 2020 I’m thankful and honored to say I officially became the proud owner of The My Gym Thousand Oaks location and took over the legacy of my parent’s Corporation.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest struggle for me of course, as well as for many other small businesses, was taking over the family business the year when Covid had started. Starting the year with close to 400 children enrolled at our facility, we then went to 0. Trying to pivot quickly through Zoom classes, Youtube Content, and online content, I managed to keep 80 students online while struggling to survive. Reliant on Zoom classes, PPP funding, and private classes/sessions at the gym I continued to tread water.
Questioning everything and going through the biggest struggle of my life, I persevered, worked by myself for close to 2 years, and kept the business afloat. Starting this year 2022, this is our first year of business and it is thankfully thriving close back to pre-Covid levels. After the worst of Covid, I have noticed some patterns in children’s current development with delayed speech, social fears, delayed fine and gross motor and many other regressions in their early youth due to the lack of hands-on play opportunities that the pandemic provided. My Gym is needed for children now more than ever.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are the leaders in children’s fitness working with ages from 4 months- 10 years of age by providing gymnastic-based classes with age-appropriate curriculum, and equipment to help children accomplish foundational milestones physically, emotionally, and cognitively.
Our class programs go in memberships that are month to month and offer access to the facility and learning environment multiple times throughout the week.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are to open up two more gyms, one in Simi Valley and another in Agoura Hills. Covid has also inspired me to create an existing online YouTube class and content to help children learn and engage through exercise, active play, and imagination.
As a result , I am in the process of creating more original music and online content through my YouTube channel as well as working towards becoming the influencer for the company in hopes of brining more awareness to the services we provide in our facilities.
Contact Info:
- Website: mygym.com/thousandoaks
- Instagram: instagram.com/mygymthousandoaks
- Facebook: Facebook.com/mygymthousandoaks
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm0ofLZSRStf8QqQZusNzUQ
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/my-gym-thousand-oaks
