Struggling on those restless rainy days?

Have your couch and bed become full-time playgrounds?

Kids stuck to the ipad screen?

Then, let’s create a Sensory Gym in your home where your child can truly thrive!

Have a spare room? Playroom or basement? Great!

Live in the city with no extra space??

No Problem !

We can transform your child’s bedroom into the ultimate hybrid space—sensory gym by day, cozy bedroom by night

The ultimate therapeutic play space

What is a sensory gym?

A sensory gym is a thoughtfully designed therapeutic play space with a curated aesthetic and carefully selected equipment to support a child’s regulation, engagement, strength and movement, spatial awareness, attention, play and language, and overall development.

While sensory gyms are often found in commercial clinic settings, I specialize in designing them for families to use with their kids in the comfort of their own homes.

Who can benefit?
I design gyms tailored for:Sensory seekers who are always on the moveSensory avoiders who thrive in calming spacesKids needing to build strength and movement confidenceKids with visual impairments who benefit from LEDs and high-contrast visuals to guide movement and playANY AND ALL KIDS! Because what’s better than a personalized playroom at home?
Did you know that..

The Movement, problem solving,
and sequencing & spatial processes

Involved in motor planning within a
Sensory Gym

Are directly related to:

LanguageAttentionAcademics

My sensory gyms are not just for kids with special needs. They are enriching environments for all children!

Therapeutic Play Spaces

Gym Design

I offer fully customized Sensory Gyms tailored to the unique needs of your child, family and home. I can design these therapeutic play spaces into your spare room, playroom, backyard, or basement allowing your kiddo 24/7 access to movement, play and exploration. Live in the city or don’t have a square foot of extra space?? No problem! We can design around the bed and furniture and convert your kid’s bedroom into the ultimate hybrid space. They’ll be the happiest kid on earth.

Regardless of whether or not your child is neurodivergent or currently receives any therapy, daily sensory-motor play and explorative movement is essential for regulation, learning, and overall development for all children. An in-home Sensory Gym or therapeutic play space not only facilitates this enriching play but also gets them off of the screens - and instantly elevates any home-based therapy they may be receiving.

I also consult with sensory gyms, schools, etc. for new gym designs or existing gym modification, upgrades and fabrication of custom equipment

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‍I also consult with sensory gyms, schools, etc. for new gym designs or existing gym modification, upgrades and fabrication of custom equipment.

‍I also consult with sensory gyms, schools, etc. for new gym designs or existing gym modification, upgrades and fabrication of custom equipment.

Play
Artboard 31
Why sensory gym design?

Where it all Began

My design and fabrication journey began back when I was 12 years old building skateboard ramps. As I got older, I moved on to furniture and other creations, always appreciating a good home improvement project and problem solving with power tools. Where did it come from? I like to attribute it to my uncle Bernd, a master craftsman and my grandpa, Opa, who built sailboats in post-war Berlin using nothing but primitive tools and his own bare hands.

After nearly 20 years as an OT, I finally merged my clinical background with this love of fabrication and design. In 2017 a new passion was born, and I’ve been creating custom Sensory Gyms for families in the US and abroad ever since. I also began fabricating specialized equipment for local gyms here in NYC.

I love the challenge of designing therapeutic spaces that organize and inspire kids. A space should not only promote regulation and engagement, but also encourage dynamic movement out of upright and in all head and body positions, and offer a variety and interplay of features to enhance core strength, sequencing and motor planning, and overall sensory integration… while most importantly having fun!

Read More
arrow_downward

I absolutely love the challenge and process of designing unique spaces to meet the individual sensory, motor and emotional needs of a child

I absolutely love the challenge and process of designing unique spaces to meet the individual sensory, motor and emotional needs of a child

Play
Artboard 31
Latest Therapeutic Play Space

A tour of Luigi’s sensory gym

Step inside Luigi’s Sensory Gym, a space designed to support movement, play, and sensory integration. Built for a young boy with autism and visual challenges, this nature-themed gym encourages independent exploration while addressing his unique motor and spatial needs. From climbing trees to balancing on sand dunes, every element fosters skill development in a fun and engaging way.

‍I also consult with sensory gyms, schools, etc. for new gym designs or existing gym modification, upgrades and fabrication of custom equipment.

Click here for a tour!
Latest Therapeutic Play Space

A tour of Luigi’s sensory gym

Let’s take a tour of Luigi’s gym and see how a space can truly support a child

I designed this sensory gym in a basement for a young boy named Luigi who has autism and also presents with motor challenges and a cortical visual impairment. While he has some functional vision, high contrast and specific colors greatly help him to navigate his environment more safely and effectively. He deeply enjoys climbing and exploring, yet many typical obstacles and environments pose challenges for him.

A sensory gym case study

Let’s break it all down!

My goal was to create a safe and engaging play space for Luigi - one that would encourage independent movement, challenge his motor skills, and support him from both a sensory and visual perspective. Additionally, I wanted to incorporate a fun and exciting way to enhance his visual spatial skills, despite his visual impairment.To make the space more meaningful, I decided to design it all around a nature  theme. I tend to like nature themes as kids today are spending less and less time outdoors. Luigi’s parents, who are amazing and his biggest supporters, played an essential role in the process. They shared photos of playground equipment he enjoyed or showed interest in, which served as inspiration for some of the gym’s features.The result? A super fun curated space that he absolutely loves!

The features of Luigi’s gym:

A few examples of the types of features I design:

Volcano wallGrassy knollOrange treeApple treeMonkey in the skyTwisty vine stepsZig zag sand dunesMonkey traverseLily padsRain drop baseballTree swingCozy tree fort
How do we bring it all together?

The features of Luigi’s gym

1

st
Option

Swimming upstream

1

st
Option

Swimming upstream

Aproach:
You engage the child in tabletop activities for the duration of your session while providing verbal and tactile cues to correct his posture each time he slouches

Note: Remember, practice doesn’t make perfect and don’t simply treat the symptoms. There is a reason why he struggles with maintaining an upright posture and simply practicing sitting will not result in any fundamental change. In addition, this approach can be frustrating and disheartening for the child. We have to look deeper.

2

nd
Option

Getting warmer

2

nd
Option

Getting warmer

Approach:
You begin the session with the child lying on the floor in a superman prone position as you playfully roll a therapy ball that he pushes back to you using both hands. Two sets of 20 or until he fatigues, then transition to seated activities and prompt him to sit upright

Note: While this brings an element of play, the child struggles to jump right into a demanding prone position against gravity and fatigues quickly, demonstrating compensatory patterns (shoulder elevation, neck hyperextension, bending of the knees). Once compensations are present, there is little to no therapeutic value. Although a step in the right direction, this option still only addresses the symptoms and doesn’t provide the preparatory sensory activation needed for him to rise to the challenge and make fundamental change.

3

rd
Option

Now we're talking!

3

rd
Option

Now we're talking!

Setup:
Play quickshift tracks like Gravitational Grape or Agile Apricot (Vital Sounds) or any good, bass-driven music to get the rhythmic vibes flowing!

1. Begin with a tornado (Sheila Frick, Mary Kawar) for intense linear activation of the utricle to both organize and activate his postural system. He loves it! 

2. Transition to vigorous trampoline jumping with a weighted ball in both hands (can play catch if able while jumping) to engages scapulae and provides stacking compression around the spine.
‍
3. Follow with deep, alerting tactile brushing (or manual input) along both sides of the spine and neck to activate the deep postural extensor muscles.

4. Next, a fun bungee prone extension game in a hammock swing, à la Jane Ayres, for full range linear acceleration, deep extensor and glute activation and establishment of the center axis

5. Now that he’s cooking, have him lie prone in front of a wiffle ball hanging a foot off the ground. When you say “GO!”, he hits the ball with a bat to the beat of the music as you call out his rising score in an energetic voice. Each time he scores 20/30/50 points, you run and amusingly crash into mats to keep the activity funny and engaging! More utricle and deep extensor, glute activation and center axis work. We know vision guides movement so getting the target up a bit will help facilitate a more extended position.
‍
6. Finally, let’s take all that center axis and vestibular activation work and put it into a dynamic movement pattern. NDT Facilitations for trunk rotation basketball with lateral weight shifts and shoulder flexion beyond 90 degrees - ensuring oblique and transverse abdominal activation. Core core core!

Note: As sessions move along, you begin to spend a few minutes at the end playing a preferred tabletop game to apply the postural gains to the goal area, discussing his new strong muscles and how they help him sit tal. Bottom up meets top down.

1

st
Option

Swimming upstream

1

st
Option

Swimming upstream

Aproach:
You engage the child in tabletop activities for the duration of your session while providing verbal and tactile cues to correct his posture each time he slouches

Note: Remember, practice doesn’t make perfect and don’t simply treat the symptoms. There is a reason why he struggles with maintaining an upright posture and simply practicing sitting will not result in any fundamental change. In addition, this approach can be frustrating and disheartening for the child. We have to look deeper.

2

nd
Option

Getting warmer

2

nd
Option

Getting warmer

Approach:
You begin the session with the child lying on the floor in a superman prone position as you playfully roll a therapy ball that he pushes back to you using both hands. Two sets of 20 or until he fatigues, then transition to seated activities and prompt him to sit upright

Note: While this brings an element of play, the child struggles to jump right into a demanding prone position against gravity and fatigues quickly, demonstrating compensatory patterns (shoulder elevation, neck hyperextension, bending of the knees). Once compensations are present, there is little to no therapeutic value. Although a step in the right direction, this option still only addresses the symptoms and doesn’t provide the preparatory sensory activation needed for him to rise to the challenge and make fundamental change.

3

rd
Option

Now we're talking!

3

rd
Option

Now we're talking!

Setup:
Play quickshift tracks like Gravitational Grape or Agile Apricot (Vital Sounds) or any good, bass-driven music to get the rhythmic vibes flowing!

1. Begin with a tornado (Sheila Frick, Mary Kawar) for intense linear activation of the utricle to both organize and activate his postural system. He loves it! 

2. Transition to vigorous trampoline jumping with a weighted ball in both hands (can play catch if able while jumping) to engages scapulae and provides stacking compression around the spine.
‍
3. Follow with deep, alerting tactile brushing (or manual input) along both sides of the spine and neck to activate the deep postural extensor muscles.

4. Next, a fun bungee prone extension game in a hammock swing, à la Jane Ayres, for full range linear acceleration, deep extensor and glute activation and establishment of the center axis

5. Now that he’s cooking, have him lie prone in front of a wiffle ball hanging a foot off the ground. When you say “GO!”, he hits the ball with a bat to the beat of the music as you call out his rising score in an energetic voice. Each time he scores 20/30/50 points, you run and amusingly crash into mats to keep the activity funny and engaging! More utricle and deep extensor, glute activation and center axis work. We know vision guides movement so getting the target up a bit will help facilitate a more extended position.
‍
6. Finally, let’s take all that center axis and vestibular activation work and put it into a dynamic movement pattern. NDT Facilitations for trunk rotation basketball with lateral weight shifts and shoulder flexion beyond 90 degrees - ensuring oblique and transverse abdominal activation. Core core core!

Note: As sessions move along, you begin to spend a few minutes at the end playing a preferred tabletop game to apply the postural gains to the goal area, discussing his new strong muscles and how they help him sit tal. Bottom up meets top down.

1

Volcano wall

Luigi loves to climb and I knew that the visual spatial and motor planning aspects of rock climbing would be great for him. However, a traditional vertical wall would have been too challenging. Instead, I designed an angled climbing surface that provides just the right level of difficulty while allowing for success and confidence building. The felted board offers a soothing tactile experience to enhance touch feedback, while the fire-red “lava rocks” provide high contrast and key color support for his visual system. Additionally, the two sides of the pyramid are slightly steeper, creating a natural progression for a graded challenge.

2

Grassy knoll

A slanted pitch leading to an elevated platform offers incredible developmental benefits. Climbing up the slope on all fours promotes dynamic motor planning, strengthens the core and shoulder girdle, and reinforces toe push-off, engaging the entire extensor synergy. It also facilitates weight shifting, reciprocal movement patterns, and strong proprioceptive activation. The raised platform enhances visual spatial awareness by offering a new perspective and serves as a launch point for jumping or sliding down, both powerful, dynamic movements that further support coordination, strength, and confidence.

3

Orange tree

As a kid, all I wanted to do was skateboard and climb trees - the latter of which feels like a lost art these days, especially for suburban and city kids. I love helping to keep the spirit alive. This fun ladder tree climb encourages reciprocal, bilateral movements, strengthens flexion and extension patterns, and creates an exciting opportunity for imaginative play.

4

Apple tree

There was a playground feature that Luigi enjoyed so I adapted it to represent another tree in his forest. This version adds a challenge with alternating steps that require more coordination. Each step includes a hand grip for added security and at the top, the reward awaits… picking bright red apples with bells inside for a fun auditory surprise!

5

Monkey in the sky

Monkey bars offer incredible benefits - rhythm, timing, flow, reciprocal movement patterns, and intense shoulder girdle, arm, and core strengthening. However, they can be far too challenging for many of our kids. So, I designed a way to make them more accessible while still fostering the same critical skill areas. By suspending a slackline underneath at just the right height, children can engage in additional balance and spatial work while developing the movement patterns and foundational upper-body strength needed for success. A win win! And why not put them in some fluffy clouds?

6

Twisty vine steps

This cool little feature was inspired by a photo Luigi’s parents shared. The spiral steps switch things up from typical linear climbing and add rotation for a more dynamic, orbital movement and spatial challenge. It also leads right to Luigi’s favorite spot on the platform, where he likes to chill and take it all in. My friend and fabricator, Kip Jacobs, designed and welded this out of steel, making it both sturdy and super fun.

7

Zig zag sand dunes

This idea hit me during the phase 2 walk through. I originally had a Lycra setup in that corner but Luigi didn’t use it much. I wanted to create something more dynamic with balance and spatial challenges and something I had never seen before. Then it clicked. This feature provides a unique climbing and balancing experience with gentle, crisscrossing inclines that create a rich spatial challenge. The taut bungee ropes overhead for his hands add a cool twist on “closed chain.” They provide just enough support to stabilize him but not in the solid, predictable way a railing would. It’s an all around gem for strength, balance, coordination, and visual-spatial fun!

8

Monkey traverse

In general, it’s always a good idea to offer kids opportunities to explore movement beyond upright and linear. Rotational and sideways movements are more complex and enriching movement patterns and are often underdeveloped in our kids. Plus, walls with multiple doors usually get left alone since there’s not much you can do with them. But I saw an opportunity. I designed a fun obstacle where Luigi can traverse the entire wall and doorways using side-to-side movements and that ever so important lateral weight shift. Even better, it connects the lily pads to the tree forest, adding a complex motor planning and sequencing challenge. Now he can move between features without touching the ground… because, of course, the floor is lava!

9

Orange tree

As a kid, all I wanted to do was skateboard and climb trees - the latter of which feels like a lost art these days, especially for suburban and city kids. I love helping to keep the spirit alive. This fun ladder tree climb encourages reciprocal, bilateral movements, strengthens flexion and extension patterns, and creates an exciting opportunity for imaginative play.

10

Rain drop baseball

This simple little setup instantly became one of Luigi’s favorites. As we’ve talked about, high-contrast objects, bright colors, and lights can make a huge difference for kids with cortical visual impairment, helping them process visual information more easily. Hitting a hanging, moving target, whether with hands or a bat etc, is an incredibly rich visual-spatial activity. It challenges a child to judge the arc, speed, and trajectory of the object and then react with a motor response that meets it at just the right moment. That kind of integration is extraordinary for kids who struggle with these skills. And for many children with cortical visual impairment, opportunities to develop these abilities are limited because they don’t get enough visual information to successfully track the moving objects. But a simple LED modification made it more accessible to Luigi. So I created little satellite clouds and dropped blue cords to hang LED balls like glowing raindrops. And just like that, the visual-spatial play, and fun, began!

11

Tree swing

No sensory gym is complete without suspension equipment. As a kid, swings were always my favorite at the playground and I like to bring a variety of customized swing options to the spaces I design. Vestibular activation, regulation, spatial processing, postural activation… you name it and the right swing used the proper way can accomplish it. It’s so important to explore all planes of movement and different body and head positions, and what better way than in a therapeutic swing? In Luigi’s case, the bolster swing is by far his go-to. You can ride it like a horse and work on that rodeo balance or lay over it, hang under it, the skies the limit!

12

Cozy tree fort

Every kiddo needs a spot to tune things out and recharge, especially when their visual world can feel overwhelming. This little hideout is designed just for that. Soft pillows, a smooth felt-lined interior, and a motion-activated light that gently turns on when he climbs inside create the perfect cozy retreat. A place where he can just chill and hang out in peace.

arc
Interested in a Sensory Gym in your home for your child?

Whether it’s a full basement or a small bedroom, we’ll create a beautiful space perfectly tailored to your child. Whether they’re a sensory seeker with boundless energy or prone to withdrawal and feeling anxious, we’ll design a safe space that supports their unique sensory, motor, and emotional needs.

Let's get creative

The Sky's the Limit!

My clinical and design worlds come together to create innovative therapeutic spaces tailored to children of all ages and sensory-motor-emotional needs. With a fabrication team ready to make even my wildest ideas a reality, we can make you and your child’s dreams come true.

A few examples of the types of features I design:

A few examples of the types of features I design:

Custom themed rock wallsCustom Lycra environmentsCustom climbing wall systems / Monkey barsCustom suspension systems and SwingsCustom slack line and balance systemsCustom LED light systems and designsCustom Activity and LEGO walls / MuralsCustom crash mats
Not interested in a gym, but

want a particular piece of equipment fabricated?

Reach out !

Let's get started

Get in touch!

Every family, home, and design project is unique and the process ultimately varies with each one. Below you will find a general step-by-step guide to give you an idea of what to expect.

sensory gym by day, bedroom by night!

sensory gym by day, bedroom by night!

STEP 1 : Reach out STEP 1 : Measure / PlanSTEP 1 : 3D RenderingsSTEP 4 : Custom fabrication STEP 5 : InstallationSTEP 6 : Let the fun begin!

1

Reach out

Fill out the contact form for a free phone consultation to discuss your child, the space, and your general budget/vision

2

Measure / Plan

If local, we'll visit to measure and further discuss your child and the vision for the space. If not, you'll send a floor plan, photos, videos, and complete a child questionnaire followed by a call

3

3D Renderings

Relax while we create 3D renderings of your beautiful custom new Sensory Gym. When done, we’ll review the design and make any necessary adjustments via video call 

4

Custom fabrication

Custom fabrications and equipment ordering begins. If you aren’t local, my team can handle fabrication and ship everything or we can send plans for your team to build 

5

Installation

Finally, contractors will complete installation under my supervision. If you don’t have anyone, I can recommend someone. If you aren’t local, I can oversee in-person or via video call

6

Let the fun begin!

Watch your child enjoy their new space!

“Both of our children absolutely adore the gym, and we love that it enhances our home’s decor rather than detracting from it. It has been a fantastic addition to our lives, and we truly appreciate Markus’ expertise and creativity.”

Maya and Leela

“...he created a sensory gym in our home that met Christian’s needs and exceeded our expectations. It came out beautifully. I have a number of therapists, specializing in different areas that all compliment how amazing and functional our gym is. We couldn’t be happier.”

Roe and Christian

“…we’re so happy with the sensory gym that Markus designed and put together for us… our kiddo loves the space and is always so happy to play in there and… show it off to friends. We are so happy with the experience.”

AS and toddler

“Markus came to our home in NYC to set up a sensory gym and taught me how (and why) to use the swing, spinning board, and lots of exercises to improve his low muscle tone. This really helped before and after school to help him self regulate.”

Deanna and George

Feel the Love of Parents

I prioritize creating fun, dynamic and therapeutic play spaces that can adapt and be expanded over time to keep up with your child’s progress and keep them interested and coming back for more. Here’s what some parents have to say about our Sensory Gym designs

Learn more

Feel the Love of Parents

I prioritize creating fun, dynamic and therapeutic play spaces that can adapt and be expanded over time to keep up with your child’s progress and keep them interested and coming back for more. Here’s what some parents have to say about our Sensory Gym designs

Learn more

“Both of our children absolutely adore the gym, and we love that it enhances our home’s decor rather than detracting from it. It has been a fantastic addition to our lives, and we truly appreciate Markus’ expertise and creativity.”

Maya and Leela

“...he created a sensory gym in our home that met Christian’s needs and exceeded our expectations. It came out beautifully. I have a number of therapists, specializing in different areas that all compliment how amazing and functional our gym is. We couldn’t be happier.”

Roe and Christian

“…we’re so happy with the sensory gym that Markus designed and put together for us… our kiddo loves the space and is always so happy to play in there and… show it off to friends. We are so happy with the experience.”

AS and toddler

“Markus came to our home in NYC to set up a sensory gym and taught me how (and why) to use the swing, spinning board, and lots of exercises to improve his low muscle tone. This really helped before and after school to help him self regulate.”

Deanna and George
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