Pilates for Children? You Bet!
By Donna Stark
You know what a sedentary lifestyle can do to your body so it's not too hard to imagine what it can do to your child's as well. It is recommended that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. For many kids, that's pretty easy to accomplish, but for some, it may feel extremely overwhelming. And if your child doesn't like exercise? Well, you've come to the right place! If you are looking for a low-impact workout that is different from the others but can still help your child maintain a healthy level of fitness, look no further than Pilates. Yes, you read that right! Pilates is for children too!
Pilates for Children
You may have heard talk about Pilates during your yoga class and never really looked into it, but now is the time to do so! Take a look at some of the benefits Pilates can provide to your child.
- Improves flexibility - Flexibility doesn't always come naturally and it may require a lot of effort and dedication to achieve it. Fortunately, Pilates can help. The slow, deliberate stretching involved with the poses in Pilates helps to lengthen the body's muscles and keep them limber.
- Increases muscle strength - Even though increased core strength and stability are at the top of the list for benefits, one can look forward to balanced muscle development and improved arm and leg strength with Pilates, too! In time, the body will be streamlined and toned with this type of workout.
- Corrects posture - The sedentary lifestyle can wreak havoc on your child's posture which can easily lead to serious health issues during adulthood, but you can reduce that risk with Pilates. With controlled poses, Pilates trains the body to develop core strength and move more efficiently. This helps encourage the spine to remain in correct alignment.
- Boosts energy levels - It's a simple equation. The more you exercise, the more energy you have. Pilates activates your muscles, improves circulation, and releases those feel-good chemicals in the body. It's the perfect exercise to get your children excited about fitness because it is easy to learn and so effective.
Pilates for Healthier Children
Pilates has been shown to deliver a number of health benefits including improved flexibility, strength, balance, posture, and even concentration, so what do you say? Are you ready to introduce your child to this popular, yet extremely safe and fun workout? And if so, do you think you may want to join in as well? It's an easy way to improve the health and wellness of everyone involved, so why not give it a try?
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at the Joint Chiropractic in Fitchburg, Wis.