Pilates Youth Program

Under the direction of Dawn Marie - Ickes, the PMA launched it's school based health and wellness program, Pilates Youth Program: Healthy Movement for Life in 2003. During the pilot phase, the program operated under the name 'Pilates in the Schools'. The Pilates Youth Program is designed to educate and motivate students, teachers and families in developing physical, mental, emotional and social skills to handle the challenges students experience in their school, home and community environments. The program name is now abbreviated as "PYP". In 2008 the second phase of the program began which entails writing and publishing a Manual of Guidelines for Pilates teachers. Read more...

The motivation for the program comes directly from Joseph H. Pilates himself, the founder of the Pilates method. In his life’s work and writing he was known to speak about the need to first educate the child. In fact, he dedicated and titled Chapter 8 of his book Your Health, "First Educate the Child!". In this chapter Mr. Pilates argued that habits are easily formed in childhood, both good and bad. If we focus on forming only good habits at a young age there will be less need later in life for correction. He specifically spoke about the principles of developing both a balanced body and mind through correct breathing, mental control, and natural physical exercise. His method specified that “before any benefit can be derived from physical exercise, one must first learn how to breathe properly.”, (p.136) A Pilates Primer: The Millennium Edition. It is mental control that allows for full correct breath, and it is “companion” or "reciprocal movements” that allow for the normal, uniform development of the body.  If children learn Pilates at a young age, learn about their body mechanics, posture, breath, and the mental connection to each, they will grow with less wear and tear in general life activities and sport.

In Pilates, students learn physical skills while incorporating awareness of their body (focused awareness, concentration, coordination, healthy breathing, mindful movement and control of movement). Students strengthen the connections between building strength and flexibility while creating a strong connection to their body – with the intention of fostering greater mental fitness, emotional intelligence, physical well-being and social competence.