Gem of a gym for children

Area rug rats are turning into gym rats.

Fitwize 4 Kids, which opened July 1, is geared to kids and youth between the ages of 6 ½ and 15.

More than just a fitness center, it offers classes like yoga, hip hop and step aerobics, as well as nutrition classes where kids learn about what Fitwize calls “Go Foods,” “Slow Foods” and “Whoa Foods.”

Within the colorful, modern space, specially sized and calibrated workout machines are used in a circuit that is alternated with social activities like basketball and relay races.

“It’s not just a gym,” co-owner Sunder Mandayam said. “It’s a life-transformer.”

Frequent Kids’ Night Out events, included in the monthly membership fee, give parents the opportunity to have a date night while their kids are in a structured, safe environment.

Birthday parties are also available.

“We’ve tried lots of things — tae kwon do, karate, gymnastics. You never know what’s going to stick, and this one did,” parent Jill Allen said.

Allen signed up her son Josh when she was told he needed to develop his fine motor skills before kindergarten.

“I think this place is a hidden gem,” she said. “He loves what he does here.”

“My 8-year-old is a high-functioning autistic, and this is the only thing that worked for him,” Genie Rabano said.

In addition to her son’s having lost weight, she has noticed an increase in Benny’s coordination and socialization skills, she said.

“He likes all the nutrition classes, and he reads food labels now,” Rabano said.

Conspicuously, no scales are present in the room; the emphasis is on healthy living that will lead to a natural loss of weight, if needed.

“It’s nice because there are all sizes of kids here,” parent Pam Shrum said.

Sports conditioning is also available for student athletes.

After the circuit, kids can play on kinetic video games, including a dance pad and a biking game, and enjoy a healthy snack.

Shrum signed up with her friend, Cheryl Gomez.

“My kids love it,” Gomez said. “We came to the grand opening, and I signed them up that day.”

“When we bring the kids here together, they have such a great time,” Shrum said. “They usually work out for 45 minutes, then play on the bikes. It’s still a workout, but it’s a game. And the people who work here are really good with the kids.”

New members receive a multi-part fitness assessment, and are placed on a chart.

As they work their way up the chart, they can earn a trophy.

Another incentive for kids is the Fitwize Bucks program, where kids can earn the faux currency every time they work out or complete nutrition worksheets, and exchange it for items like stickers, Hot Wheels cars or Hannah Montana merchandise.

Sunder and his wife, Geetha, are Huntington Beach residents. Geetha, a social worker and university faculty member, wanted to own a business that meshed with her personal interest.

She said there was more to their decision to purchase a Fitwize franchise than money. Her family background emphasized volunteerism and a focus on bettering the world.

“She is the driving force,” said Sunder Mandayam, an engineer and former military officer. “She is always here.”

“Nowadays, kids spend most of their time in front of the television or playing video games,” Geetha Mandayam said.

“When we were kids, we used to play a lot. Now there’s no safe place for kids. And exercise shouldn’t be once a week; it should become a lifestyle.”

“It’s like fitness for the future — getting them prepared,” Shrum said.

Fitwize 4 Kids is at 19093 Beach Blvd. For more information, call (714) 848-KIDS or visit fitwize4kids.com.

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (714) 966-4631 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.