With our children’s ever increasing dependency on electronic gadgets, a solution is required to get them up and moving. Meet Malicah Eissa, a Pilates enthusiast trained in STOTT PILATES, who explains how the Junior Pilates program works

The Program
“The program was designed with the intention of developing body awareness at a young age and building a strong foundation to carry throughout their daily lives and future development. The goal is to teach students about the importance of posture and basic exercises that promote proper alignment and healthy joints, while building core muscle strength, stability, and coordination.”

Key Benefits
“Students will get to know their bodies and better understand its biomechanics. They will learn how to use their breathing to promote better movement and how to With our children’s ever increasing dependency on electronic gadgets, a solution is required to get them up and moving. Meet Malicah Eissa, a Pilates enthusiast trained in STOTT PILATES, who explains how the Junior Pilates program works. May/June 2017 66 connect mind to muscle. They will understand how the body and all of its facets are designed to move and become better attuned to it. Also, it provides children with the opportunity to channel their energy into a physical activity that requires them to continuously challenge themselves and not each other. Because exercises can be modified to meet personal needs and still be achievable, children will consistently feel motivated, providing them with a sense of empowerment and confidence.”

Age Group
“For a group setting, the target age is 7 to 11 years old. By this age, children have developed the fine motor and communication skills necessary to reap the full benefits of a class. I would advise a minimum of 1 to 2 sessions per week for at least 10 weeks: the more, the better. It would be great for children to embrace it as a part of their daily lifestyle.”

Why It’s Needed
“Children spend much of their day sitting and even moving in less than optimal positions, whether it is at school, carrying around heavy backpacks or glued to their screens. By exposing them to Pilates, they are not only moving, but are becoming more consciously aware of their movement and the necessity of good posture throughout their daily activity for longevity. With the types of gadgets children are constantly using, they have become conditioned to expect immediate gratification. As a result, become more prone to irritability and aggression. The nature of progression in Pilates is very much gradual and layered, providing a wonderful lesson for children to project patience, practice and commitment to achieve results. If anything, Pilates serves as great way to teach children to utilize their breathing to relax.”

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