Pilates for young children and teenagers

Lifestyle issues in young children and teenagers

Can pilates for children be of benefit for today’s issues? Childhood and teenage health is increasingly being impacted by our culture of convenience and sedentary activity. Eating fast food, long hours studying, watching TV and time on the computer and mobile phones have resulted in ever-increasing numbers of young children and teenagers developing issues or conditions related to weight, posture, injuries, motor coordination, low tone or musculoskeletal development.

Play is the natural way of tackling these issues

Of course a great way of alleviating this growing problem is to encourage our children to do what they do best – run, jump, skip, climb and play freely in an unstructured way. Playing sport is another more structured activity with numerous benefits for children. Kids need to get in touch with their bodies through being active with everyday activities. However playing games and sports may not be sufficient or even possible for some children who are dealing with particular issues or conditions.

Pilates for young children through to teenagers

We know what pilates can do for our adult clients and it can also offer a range of benefits to young children and teenagers. For example: improved posture and spinal alignment; increased strength and flexibility; balanced musculature; pain relief and reduced potential for injury. For more on the benefits of pilates for children see the article Pilates & our children: fitness for the future by Ken Endelman of Balanced Body.

Twelve-year-olds Mia Blight and Alice Harries practise hand exercises with instructor Tarryn Byron which may be useful in preventing pain from overuse of mobile phones in the future. Picture: Tim Marsden

Pilates classes are not only for adults

Body Organics runs a range of private and semi-private pilates classes that are suitable for all ages, from teenagers through to adults.