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When the Komarnitsky family hopped off the plane that took them from their longtime Los Angeles home to their new life in Franklin, Tennessee, it was straight to work.
For husband and wife Steven and Samantha—co-owners of We Rock the Spectrum, Tennessee’s first indoor gym for kids of all abilities—their newfound business venture is just as personal as it is professional. Proud parents of eight-year-old son Nash and five-year-old daughter Colette (CoCo), the couple hit the ground running, eager to integrate themselves into their new community and to share with Middle Tennessee a franchise that has served as an oasis for their entire family.
“It’s a little bit personal because we want somewhere that our kids can go, but also knowing that we’re meeting an unmet need. This should have been here a long time ago and we’re just happy that we’re the ones to be able to bring it to fruition sooner rather than later,” Steven says.
As avid goers of the local We Rock near their California home for several years, the Komarnitsky family found saving grace in the gym more than ever during the pandemic: the franchise was deemed essential and permitted to stay open. For the Komarnitskys and so many other families working from home with children who were also at home, We Rock was nothing short of essential. And for their son Nash, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of four, We Rock helped to combat the isolation of Zoom classes and the regression that could have resulted without peer interaction.The first of its kind in Tennessee, We Rock the Spectrum Franklin will open later this fall with an array of activities for children of all abilities to enjoy. At the core of the We Rock model is open play, where parents or guardians can come with their children seven days a week to enjoy the gym and all its amenities including a zip line, trampoline, 30 different swinging apparatuses, and climbing structures, to name a few. In addition to a variety of sensory equipment, children can also participate in arts and crafts, along with classes such as music, dance, karate, and more. For children seeking a quieter environment, We Rock allocates designated low-capacity play hours weekly with no more than 12 children in the gym based on an RSVP first-come basis.
The gym can also be rented out for birthday parties and private events. For parents in need of a few kid-free hours, We Rock offers Rock Care in which parents can drop off their child to play while they tackle their to-do list. And parents can rest easy knowing their children are in good hands, as staffing and a hands-on approach are top priorities for the Komarnitskys.
“It’s really important to my wife and me that the community we’re servicing sees us, knows us, knows our kids, knows us by our first names, has our phone number in their cell phones. If you’re dropping your kids off, especially your special needs kids, or you’re bringing your family there, we want you to know that we’re part of the community as well,” Steven says. “We’re not coming from an hour away; we’re not part of some big corporate conglomerate that you never know who the employees are or who owns the place. We are a family-run, community-based business and it’s imperative for us that everybody knows who we are, and that they have the trust and the access.”
We Rock aims to help children with strength, movement, sensory processing, communication, positive behavior modification, social interactions, and self-care skills in an environment that’s as fun as it is motivational. But it’s not just for the neurodiverse; at We Rock the emphasis is on inclusivity so that children of all abilities can come together to enjoy the gym, as well as each other’s company.
“When we lived in LA, there were times when CoCo would go by herself. She had a 16-year-old friend who had Cerebral Palsy, she had a 10-year-old friend who had Down Syndrome, and not once did she come home and say, ‘Why does so-and-so walk and talk funny? Why does so-and-so look different than me?’ Not once,” Steven recalls. “That in itself is the vibe that we want. We don’t want anyone to point fingers. We want everyone to feel that they’re the same and to build that kind of integration so that the next generation adopts that; so, when they get older, they all look out for each other as opposed to dividing, segmenting, labeling, and classifying. We want that type of playing with purpose with both the neurotypical and neurodiverse kids coming together.”
The couple’s mission to help families across Middle Tennessee extends even beyond the gym through their nonprofit My Brother Rocks the Spectrum. By raising funds to sponsor and support families statewide, the nonprofit aims to eliminate obstacles preventing families from accessing We Rock and receiving the services and amenities they need. By partnering with ride share companies, nonprofits, and clinical professionals, My Brother Rocks the Spectrum works to help families in need year-round, and to raise awareness for other local nonprofits and likeminded businesses through such collaborations.The Komarnitsky family knows firsthand the importance of having a space where all are welcome and that the whole family can enjoy together, and they are elated to bring that sanctuary to their new home in Middle Tennessee.
“It’s a safe, fun, judgment-free, inclusive environment where the parents or the kids never have to say ‘I’m sorry’ for any reason. It’s an environment where I hope parents and guardians can interact with each other, ask questions, and feel comfortable doing so,” Steven says. “We really want to be that resource center where people feel comfortable asking any and every question because we know that we have so many different partners and resources that we will be that first line of education, in a sense, and also of referrals. We have this big duty to make sure that we know who’s doing what in the community— clinically, recreationally, for-profit, not-for-profit. All of these things are important to us.”
(Williamson Square, 1113 Murfreesboro Rd., Suite 203, Franklin; werockthespectrumfranklin.com)