Bee Cave gymnastics center focuses on building physical education foundations

When John Mann and Joe Dondero were enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy, the duo knew they wanted to enter the workforce together. After a few years, however, they realized corporate America wasn't for them, Mann said.

"We knew we wanted to do something together, and in the '90s it was either going to be something with kids, pets or the elderly," Mann said.

Mann said he and Dondero have always loved fitness and physical education, and the structured environment at the Naval Academy led them to build a business around children. With the help of Alicia Drais-Parillo, an early childhood development specialist, and Martina Balke, a doctor of physical education curriculum development and training, the duo opened gymnastics center Rolly Pollies in Annapolis, Md., in 2002.

The success of the business was almost instant, with more than 600 children a week visiting the facility after six months of opening, Mann said.

In addition to structured classes the gym offers summer camps, preschool sessions, birthday parties and open gyms to provide flexibility to parents who might not be able to attend regularly scheduled classes, Mann said.

"Today it seems that everything revolves around sports," Mann said. "Here we are building the foundations for all sports. [Children] can get their confidence up, and then the sky is the limit. We get them out of their comfort zone because that is how we learn. We are showing kids that physical activity can be fun."

Mann and his family moved to Bee Cave in 2010 to open the only Texas location—one of six throughout the nation—in addition to one location operating worldwide.

"We were looking for warmer weather and somewhere that has a healthy atmosphere," Mann said on his decision to move to Bee Cave. "It's great. We get to meet all the people moving here, and everyone is focused on being healthy."

Mann said the demographics around Austin could lead to him opening more locations throughout the metro area and possibly other Texas locations, but it depends on finding the right people.

"This is a family business for us," he said. "We have a daughter on the Lake Travis cheer team and another that is a part of the Sassy Spurs singing group. We want to be part of the community, and you have to have those types of people running your business."

Vision testing

In addition to providing structured activities for children between the ages of 6 months and 12 years old, founders John Mann and Joe Dondero provide free vision screening for children.

Mann said the testing device is small enough to be able to take it to schools for use and powerful enough to catch a number of problems early.

"If children who have vision problems now were tested when they were younger, a lot of eye problems could be prevented," Mann said.

The gym performed 3,000 tests last year and referred 500 children to eye doctors, he said.

Rolly Pollies, 12700 Shops Parkway, Ste. 450, Bee Cave, 512-263-3777, www.rollypolliesaustin.com

• Mon.–Thu. 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
• Fri. 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Sat. 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Sun. 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m.