As a studio owner, I am occasionally approached with the proposition of a mom bringing her eight or ten year-old child to class. I never say "no," but I do caution her that Pilates requires mental concentration and attention to details, and not all kids will maintain that for 55 minutes.So, my experiences in training young children have been less than stellar. But, then again, I have never put the time and effort into designing a Pilates program specifically for children.
Jennifer Morley has done exactly that in "Classical Pilates Kids & Young Adults," a DVD produced by Classical Pilates, Inc.
The DVD contains four major sections, each one targeting a specific age group: 5-7, 8-10, 10-12, and 12-17.
The first section, "Pilates & Imagination for Ages 5-7," presents two exercise routines that appeal to the imagination and natural play of children. In the "Fishing Hole," for instance, the young child paddles an imaginary canoe to a fishing hole, where he then casts for imaginary fish, and when finished, goes for an imaginary swim. Supplemental graphics and special effects add to the visual and audio interest of the activity. Throughout the adventure, the child works all the major muscle groups in movements that include forward and lateral flexion, rotation, and extension.
A parent or teacher with some Pilates knowledge and a little imagination of her own could easily design other imaginative journeys to hold the interest of the youngsters.
The second section, "Pilates & Education for Ages 8-10," presents two exercise routines that more closely resemble "real" Pilates. For these older children, the focus is on integrating the exercise with sharp thinking skills. In the "Memory Game," a child demonstrates six exercises and then the viewer is asked to perform each exercise from memory in a different order. In the "Opposites" routine, a child demonstrates five additional exercises and then the audience is quizzed as to what the oppositional movements are in each exercise.
The third section, "Pilates & Pre-Training for Ages 10-12," introduces the children to light weights, seated rowing, and the stability ball. These routines are challenging for adults but presented with age-specific cues. The exercises on the ball, especially, challenge the children to maintain concentration and stability. This is a routine that a parent could enjoy doing with his or her child, deriving the same benefits.
The last exercise section, "Pilates & Training for Ages 12-17," is essentially a non-modified intermediate mat workout expertly performed by two young teens.The section begins with "Glossary / Modifications," which explains key Pilates terms and principles using both live action and animation footage. The training section presents the workout in the same real-time, voice-over format for which the Classical Pilates Technique DVDs are well known.
An older teen may well prefer to view "The Complete Mat Workout Series" instead, as it is adult-oriented and offers a fuller syllabus of the mat work.
Parents, teachers, and even Pilates studio owners should find this DVD invaluable in inspiring children to do Pilates as well as providing them with effective tools in making the work accessible and fun in age-appropriate ways.
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Product Description:
Classical Pilates Inc., producer of the industry's most popular DVD reference collection of the historically accurate method, preserves another essential dimension of Joseph Pilates' original creation. We demonstrate a wonderful curriculum of safe and effective Classical Pilates exercises for children, and a full intermediate workout for young adults, which help improve:
(1) Personal Body Image
(2) Mental Concentration
(3) Injury Prevention
(4) Strength & Flexibility
(5) Weight Management
(6) Self-Esteem & Confidence
(7) Coordination & Balance
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