5 Reasons why I LOVE pilates

I adore Pilates for children! Not only is it amazing for kids but it is so relatable! So I have put together my top 5 reasons why I love Pilates for child development and life long health.

1. Its a Life long exercise

I don’t know many people in their 30s and 40s + that have not taken up Pilates, it is such an amazing exercise for ages, function and health. How wonderful to introduce it from a young age.

2. It is focussed around core strength.

Core strength is the foundation of all development. I say this because when we have endurance through the core we can focus on more intricate skills like fine motor skills, focus, language and the rest.

3. The technique takes care of itself. 

The exercises will naturally help muscle patterning and recruitment without having to focus so much on technique, which leads me to the next point.

4. It is a holistic approach to development.

There are literally so many opportunities to incorporate all key areas of development

Some examples being:

1.Vestibular system - by changing head & body position and position. Additionally there are so many balancing exercises.

2. Proprioceptive system - We move, strengthen and isolate body parts which

helps with body and spatial awareness

3.Speech and language - you can explore and experience concepts like fast and slow, up and down and big and small. The use of their receptive language skills is called upon through instructing them the through each exercise, I talk about how I do this in my Paediatric Prescription Formula in both Knowledge Corner and Pilates For Paeds courses.

4. Cognitive skills such as counting, imagination and storytelling can be so easily incorporated. Pilates literally couldn't be more appropriate for kids. Exercises are referred to as cat, puppy dog, swan, bird dog, dead bugs. These are all relatable to children and therefore effective in engaging children throughout prescription. Not to mention the complexity of the exercises making them cognitively engaging which triggers development in the frontal lobe, the part of the brain responsible for executive function. When we stimulate regions of the brain through exercise we promote activity and development in the skills of that region of the brain.

5. Motor skills - Pilates is a physical practice that will aid motor development through building skills, strength, agility, flexibility and mobility.

Finally, it's a science/evidence based approach. There is specific research on paediatric pilates which demonstrates that Pilates for children improves;

• Flexibility (n=6 )
• Muscle strength, power (n=3)
• Postural control /core stability, orientation and balance (n=3)
• Metabolic cost (n=1)
• Functional ability (n=1)
• Health related QOL (n=1)
• Pain reduction in children with musculoskeletal pathology (n=2)

Reference : Elizabeth Hornsby, Leanne M. Johnston, Effect of Pilates Intervention on Physical Function of Children and Youth: A Systematic Review, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,

Volume 101, Issue 2, 2020, Pages 317-328, ISSN 0003-9993, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2019.05.023.

(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003999319303831)