4700 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22302, United States
About Our Program
The Whole Child
emPOWER kids is more than a fitness program. We are dedicated to building strong bodies, minds and hearts. Our curriculum focuses on overall physical well-being, mindfulness, and social-emotional connections with peers.
Positive Environment
We want every child to feel loved and welcome in class, free to be themselves. Our program respects every individual and encourages all participants to support peers in their personal growth. Instructors bring positive energy to class and use language that encourages a growth mindset.
Celebrate Genuine Wins
While we love to get excited when kids learn new skills, we celebrate the real wins during class - kids showing empathy, making friends, overcoming fears, sharing how they feel, taking turns, cheering on classmates, expressing gratitude and all the little moments in between.
Our Team
Jenni Hogan
Jenni started emPOWER kids in 2020, after the COVID-19 crisis changed our lives. Like so many others, she felt the call to give back to the community in a meaningful way. She recognized a void in extracurricular activities for kids, programs that focus on overall wellness. While fun and fitness are most common, mental and social-emotional health programs are rare. In bringing these wellness areas together, emPOWER kids was born. Jenni brings over a decade of experience coaching recreational and competitive gymnastics, and Elementary Ed background, and is currently pursuing her RYT 200 yoga certification. She lives in Arlington with her soccer-loving husband Jim, two kiddos Reese & Dylan, and their COVID-kitty Cobi.
Vanessa Olson
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Vanessa became a gymnast at age 3. After years of competition, she transitioned into weight lifting and coaching in high school, which sparked her interest in Kinesiology. For over a decade, she's explored the world of meditation, yoga and mind-body connection, and recently completed her Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from George Mason University. She is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from NSCA. When she's not coaching at the gym, you can find her personal training adults, spending as much time as possible outdoors with her pup Loki, or enjoying Mexican Food!
Shae Harris
ShaeLyn Harris, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with almost a decade of experience working with individuals with special needs. As a former gymnast, ShaeLyn understands the value of learning through active movement. With limited options for individuals who need additional support, ShaeLyn obtained her Certification in both nutrition and personal training to provide opportunities for all individuals to have access to healthier lifestyles. ShaeLyn provides group classes that aim towards fun and social skills, private classes for those looking to increase specific skills and goals, nutrition coaching, and educational workshops in nutrition, exercise and parenting.