Physical Therapy for Children

A new pediatric therapy group is in the works at Child and Family Development for the Spring/Summer 2010.  Preparations are being made for a Yoga & Pilates class for children of all ages to gear up- the class will be 60 minutes long and include learning individual and group poses with an interactive staff.

After completing a yoga course over the summer, I got really excited about the idea of holding a class for children.  Yoga & Pilates help strengthen the body, improve balance, increase coordination, and flexibility.  It teaches children how to control movements, time breathing appropriately, and engage core mucles to optimize their performance in daily life.  

Hatha yoga will be used during our classes and it is NOT a religion or based on any religion- this is a common misconception.  It is a system of techniques used to reach personal goals specifically related to health and wellness.  I have started using these poses and techniques in my regular physical therapy sessions and I find the children I serve begging to do yoga when they walk in my room.   A crowd favorite is the cobra pose- lying on the tummy and pushing up with the arms- a nice precursor to doing push ups.  There are so many poses that children remember and want to teach their siblings- not only are they gaining strength in weekly physical therapy sessions, but also at home which is the primary goal for any therapist!

In 2010 there will be more information about dates and times of the upcoming Yoga & Pilates class...Happy Holidays!