Maluhia Ma'a shakily shuffled along the balance beam, trying to keep her arms straight out, sneaking looks at her mother along the way.

After a month of classes, the 3 1/2-year-old is learning the basics of gymnastics, and having a blast.

Maluhia participates in the preschool class at the Hawaiian Island Twisters Gym, which also offers classes for parents and tots, beginners, intermediate and advanced gymnasts.

"For recreational students, at that point, it's all about developing their fine motor skills and body awareness," said Linda Leong, the HITS gym manager who facilitates all the programs.

"But they are having fun and they don't realize their bodies are growing in strength. It's a great foundation."

Maluhia's mother, Lisa Strand-Ma'a, a former volleyball player at the University of Hawai'i, sees Maluhia's improving socializing skills.

Maluhia recently started preschool at The Kamehameha Schools, and Strand-Ma'a said it is good for Maluhia to "see how others react to the instruction."

The youngest of four siblings, she has found an activity that she can claim as her own.

"She wakes up every morning asking, 'Is it gymnastics today?' " Strand-Ma'a said.

And she isn't only learning about how to play with others; she's learning how to play.

"Physically, they learn about stretching and their bodies, and spatial awareness," Strand-Ma'a said. "And flexibility. I can barely touch my toes. I should be in this class."

The students participate in exercises masked as fun activities, tricking them into stretching and warming up without even knowing about it.

They warm up with songs such as the "Hokey Pokey," "Itsy Bitsy Spider, and "Head and Shoulders," all the while using body motions to correspond with the song lyrics.

In a HITS version of circuit training, the students then make their way around a room with a low balance beam, small bars and a tumbling area.

"A lot of the preschool apparatus is geared toward exposing them to different levels of spatial relationships, learning gross and fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, and strength," said Leong, who added they also learn coordination and balance through the activities.

Three-year-old Tayvie Jennings said her favorite part about the class is, "to bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce." Her mother, Dawn, interpreted that as the trampoline, which is in another room, along with another balance beam and a foam pit, which the gymnasts jump into.

Tayvie, the smallest and most boisterous member of one Wednesday class two weeks ago, has been involved in gymnastics since just before she turned 2.

Dawn Jennings signed Tayvie up in gymnastics because "there's not really anything else for kids their age."

Christine Cobeen signed up her daughter, Kaiao, after winning a month's worth of free lessons at a silent auction.

"I needed something to give her extra activity so she would take a nap," Cobeen said of Kaiao, who turns 5 next month and insists on being called "Mr. Incredible," and her demand is carried out by the instructors.

Kaiao's younger brother, Kui, 2, watched his sister and mimicked the moves she and the other participants were doing.

"He can't wait until his chance," Cobeen said. "I wish that I had a chance to try when I was young like this."

Ignacio Sanchez signed up his daughter, Selena, to get her involved in an after-school activity.

He said there are many benefits for starting his daughter in gymnastics early, including improving her motor skills and learning how to stretch. She also learns depth perception and how to overcome fear of heights.

Sanchez said he notices her interest in the sport, especially when they are away from the gym.

"When we're at home, she always tries to do handstands and her gymnastics moves," he said.

He said she reminds him every Wednesday about her class.

"It's her time," he said. "She likes me to watch her."

Sanchez, who is stationed at Schofield Barracks, said the family is moving to Arizona next month, but he sees such an advantage in gymnastics that he plans to enroll Selena in a class once the family gets there.

Leong enrolled her two children, Matthew and Sarah, now 14 and 12 respectively, in a beginners class while living in Pittsburgh.

Her youngest, Michael, 8, started in the preschool class in Hawai'i.

"It just makes the kids excited that they can do things that aren't common," Leong said. "It's pretty exciting to be able to do a back flip. It builds up their self esteem.

"Not everybody is in it to be an Olympian, but it does offer a world of options."

For more information, call 839-4494 or go to www.hawaiianislandtwisters.com.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.