We Rock the Spectrum is a new children’s recreational gym in Rio Rancho. Owners Courtney Lewis and her husband, Jeff Utrata, say playing in the gym is an excellent way for children to meet other kids and interact. Lewis says, “It’s a gym where there are so many different ways to play. The gym has a variety of activities available, like swings, a trampoline, and climbing structures. There is also a special area for younger children to play.
Courtney Lewis is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. She and Utrata are excited to bring the We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym to the Westside. Lewis has provided specialized care to children and their families through her business, Small Steps Child Counseling. Utrata has worked for facilities, providing detailed organization and management.
Utrata feels the gym is a gift to his children and children in the community who think they don’t fit into ableist culture. Jeff identifies as neurodivergent and is committed to providing his children with opportunities that weren’t available when he was a child.
Lewis says, “Jeff has been instrumental in getting the gym off the ground and giving our family and this community resources he never had access to. We have had so many parents who found their kids don’t fit in or are overstimulated in other places because of their size or loudness. For some kids, it can be too much,” says Lewis. The couple says seeing happy repeat customers has been a big win. Lewis says, “Parents often thank us for providing a welcoming place and fun outlet where all children can play.”
She believes We Rock the Spectrum will be a new resource for children in the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho communities. The gym is open to the public and offers fun activities for children of all abilities. Open play is every day from 10 am to 6 pm.
In addition to the sensory gym equipment, We Rock the Spectrum has an art center, an imagination station for pretend play and dress-up, and a calming room. The calming room is a play area where kids can calm their bodies if they get overwhelmed. The sensory gym also offers a special toddler time from 10:30 to 11 am. The gym has storytime on Mondays, art on Wednesdays, and a Zumbini music and dance class on Saturdays.
Neurodivergent acceptance is a big goal for Lewis and Utrata. The owners’ children also benefit from using the gym to help them thrive. In the past, Lewis says, “You either fit into the mold being outgoing, friendly, chatty, or you were the shy kid. Now, that is no longer true. All of us have some level of neurodivergence… everyone’s brain is different.” Today, more social-emotional variations are identified in children.
The gym's activities are similar to those used by occupational therapists to help kids work on strength and developmental skills. The gym also allows children to work on their social-emotional skills, meet new friends, and receive the sensory input their bodies need to feel regulated. Lewis is most excited about the gym because children can play with their peers and feel safe.
We Rock the Spectrum also offers a new spin on birthday parties. Birthdays at the gym can be fun and social with plenty of exercise and activity, but they can also be “low-key.” Birthday guests can meet their sensory needs by playing with fidgets. They can also take a break from the sights and sounds of the party in the calming room.
Lewis says the gym has fun “sensory pockets” all around. Children can wear soundproof headphones or feel the different textures on the gym’s walls. These are just a few ways kids can regulate and calm their busy bodies.
Lewis's work as a children’s play therapist and mental health counselor has taught her a lot. She believes early intervention is important when it comes to helping children. She says, “Nobody moves hardly any more in our sedentary environment,” which can affect our mental health.
In today’s sedentary lifestyle, people need to work harder to give their bodies the nutrition and movement they once had. “Lack of movement affects everyone. The way your body gets rid of stress biologically is through movement, says Lewis.” Exercise also reduces Cortisol, which regulates the body's response to stress. “To cope with stress and anxiety, we need exercise, and we need to try to eat clean. Sugar, processed foods, or sleep deprivation can make it harder for kids’ brains to develop and focus.”
Lewis believes We Rock the Spectrum can be another useful resource for parents and kids. The gym “feels like a community hub, and parents keep coming back because they feel the same way.”
We Rock the Spectrum offers an after-school program, themed summer camps, and parents' night-out events. Lewis and Utrata plan to open a second fun and inclusive gym on the East side. Visit werockthespectrumwestsideabq.com for more information.
The gym feels like a community hub, and parents keep coming back because they feel the same way.
The gym's activities are similar to those used by occupational therapists to help kids work on strength and developmental skills.