A NEW centre for mums and youngsters to tone up, learn acrobatics and network has been launched by two former Belarusian athletes.

İrina Günal and Darya Kosmina, who have both settled in Didim with their respective partners, have opened AcroBallet Café, where there is space for gym sessions for mums and combined acrobatic training sessions for children.

The café is located off Inönü Boulevard – the road that runs between Didim Belediye and Didim Hospital and just by the basketball courts on Güllüdam Cad, in Cumhurriyet Mah, close to Saturday Market.

The mums are offering expert training for kids with gymnastics and stunt training. The sessions are for ages 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 years, every day from 3pm to 6pm.

The programmes include choreography, dance, acrobatics and trampoline. All disciplines improve bone and muscle strength, speed and power, and increase concentration and coordination

There is also an active Baby Group for parents with small children age between one and three years to do sport together on Wednesdays from 11am.

Didim mums can also take advantage of dedicated female-only training sessions which are on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am, and Wednesdays at 6pm.

İrina (39) and Darya (32), who both speak English, said Turkish and foreign mums had already been attracted to the Acroballet Café sessions for their youngsters. Irina has twins aged three and Darya has one child aged two.

“We’re passionate about keeping youngsters as active and fit as possible giving them the best start in life. It’s very important that we give them the building programs of a healthy lifestyle for our little ones so that they can get most out of their lives,” Irina added.

Irina is a former national champion in acrobatics who has won medals and represented her country at the European and world championships back in the 1990s. She also worked as a gymnast coach. Darya has also represented her country in the same disciplines.

The sessions have already attracted an international mix of mums and children from across Didim, mostly Europeans and former Soviet states. “We aim to be inclusive of all nationalities, whether they are Turkish, European or elsewhere,” said Darya.

“We also invite parents and their children up to three years to our Baby Group” added Irina (below, her medals and a picture of her permformance at the Euro Champs 1994).

Mum of four Gemma Bethel, who attends the gym sessions, said: “It is a fantastic way to tone up, meet mums and enable the children to have a bit of exercise and fun. I love it here and I have met some really nice people.

“Irina and Darya really put you through your paces but we prefer that.”