In our modern, fast-paced world, children face unique challenges that can impact their physical and mental well-being. At Connect Movement Therapy, we harness the power of Pilates to support children’s health and development. Pilates foster’s body and brain integration, somatic movement and addresses primitive reflexes, offering a holistic approach to enhance your child’s life.

Understanding the Pilates Method

Pilates is a form of exercise that emphasises controlled movements, core strength, flexibility, and mindfulness. While often associated with adults, Pilates is highly beneficial for children, especially when adapted to their developmental needs. The method helps children develop a strong foundation of physical fitness, promoting better posture, balance, and coordination. More importantly, it fosters a deeper connection between the body and the brain, which is crucial for overall growth and development.

Body and Brain Integration

One of the core principles of Pilates is the integration of body and mind. For children, this means learning to move with awareness, control, and precision. Through specific exercises, children can enhance their developmental coordination skills, including coordinated gait and running and jumping patterns. This improved proprioception—the sense of where their body is in space—boosts their ability to focus, concentrate, and participate in sports with greater ease and confidence.

At CMT, we integrate Pilates into our sessions to meet the unique needs of each child. By incorporating fun and engaging exercises, we help children develop a sense of achievement and self-confidence. This approach not only supports physical development but also nurtures mental and emotional well-being. A key aspect of our program is improving body coordination, which is essential for overall physical competency and participation in various activities.

Somatic Movement and Primitive Reflexes

Somatic movement, an essential aspect of Pilates, helps children become more attuned to their bodies, releasing tension and enhancing motor skills. While Pilates exercises complement the integration of primitive reflexes—automatic movements in infants that should naturally integrate as they grow—it’s important to note that primitive reflex exercises are distinct and specifically tailored for reflex integration. Retained reflexes can hinder learning and movement, and targeted Pilates exercises can support the overall process by improving coordination and cognitive function.

Fascia Release and Flexibility

Fascia is connective tissue that surrounds muscles, bones, and organs. In children, fascia can become tight or restricted due to growth spurts, injuries, or poor posture. Pilates exercises promote fascia release, enhancing flexibility and reducing the risk of injury. Children with high tone, or hypertonia, have muscles that are tough to move when attempting to stretch them, often due to premature birth or injuries to the brain or spinal cord. Conversely, low muscle tone presents as decreased endurance for activities and poor posture, with children feeling limp when lifted and having increased flexibility. Many children with neurological conditions exhibit a mix of high and low tone, making targeted Pilates exercises crucial for improving their movement and comfort.

Understanding Primitive Reflexes

Primitive reflexes are automatic movements that babies are born with, helping them survive and develop. These reflexes should disappear as the child grows and their nervous system matures. However, sometimes these reflexes do not integrate as they should, leading to challenges in movement, global developmental delays, learning, and behaviour.

Primitive Reflexes and Functional Neurology

Primitive reflexes help infants survive and develop but should integrate as they grow. Sometimes, these reflexes persist, affecting movement and learning. Functional neurology addresses nervous system inconsistencies through exercise, sensory input, and controlled movements. We integrate functional neurology into our Pilates-based therapy to support brain health and integrate retained reflexes.

The Pilates Approach for Children

Pilates exercises stimulate several key regions in the brain responsible for movement:

1. Cerebellum: This small yet critical part of the brain coordinates voluntary movements, balance, and posture. It fine-tunes motor activities to ensure smooth and accurate execution.

2. Motor Cortex: Located in the frontal lobe, the motor cortex is responsible for planning, controlling, and executing voluntary movements. Pilates exercises help activate and strengthen this area.

3. Basal Ganglia: This group of nuclei is involved in motor control, motor learning, and the regulation of voluntary movements. Pilates can enhance the function of the basal ganglia, leading to improved coordination and movement fluidity.

4. Vestibular System: Connected to the cerebellum, the vestibular system plays a crucial role in balance and spatial orientation. Pilates exercises often include balance components that stimulate this system, improving overall stability.

5. Sensory Cortex: This region processes sensory information and integrates it with motor functions. Pilates exercises that involve proprioceptive feedback (awareness of body position) help refine the sensory-motor integration.

Lou’s Teaching Methodology: Combining Joseph Pilates’ Vision with Neuroscience

At Connect Movement Therapy, we embody Joseph Pilates’s early work and his wise words: “First Educate the Child!” In his book YOUR HEALTH, Joseph Pilates emphasises the importance of teaching children his system of body-mind-spirit development. Lou is committed to making this vision a reality while maintaining the integrity of the Pilates Method and creatively adapting the exercises for young students.

Lou’s approach integrates Pilates with techniques to help resolve retained primitive reflexes. Here’s how:

Individual Assessments: Each child is assessed to identify which primitive reflexes are retained and how they are impacting the child’s movement and development.

Customised Therapy Programs: Based on the assessment, a personalised therapy program is created. This program includes specific exercises aimed at integrating retained reflexes and improving the child’s movement patterns.

Fun and Engaging Sessions: Our sessions are designed to be fun and engaging, ensuring that children stay motivated and interested. We use playful activities inspired by traditional therapies to help children feel connected to their bodies and enjoy their sessions.

Parental Involvement: Parents are encouraged to be part of the process, learning how to support their child’s progress at home. Lou provides guidance and exercises that parents can do with their children to reinforce what is learned in therapy.

Progress Tracking: Regular assessments are conducted to track the child’s progress and adjust the program as needed, ensuring that the therapy remains effective and continues to meet the child’s evolving needs.

Integrating Multisensory Input and Functional Neurology Protocols

We incorporate various multisensory activities into our movement sessions to support brain-body connections and regulation. Here are some key strategies:

Movement Activities: We use both structured and unstructured movement activities to reinforce brain-body connection and regulation. Activities like park play and nature walks are encouraged to reduce anxiety and improve mental health.

Breathing Exercises: Proper breathing techniques are critical to everything we do. We guide this through parent co-activation and build into more auditory-cued breathwork. Fun activities like blowing soap bubbles or practising “bumble bee” breaths help children feel grounded, enhance attention and affect regulation.

Co-regulation Strategies: During activities, we use calm vocal tones, trauma-sensitive touch, and enhanced facial expressions to create a sense of safety and connection. We stay attuned to each child’s needs, modifying activities to ensure they feel supported and engaged.

Functional Neurology Protocols: We weave functional neurology protocols into all movement tasks and games, including photobiomodulation and electro nerve impulse stimulation. Our approach enhances mitochondrial function on a cellular level, promoting overall cellular health and energy production.

Enhancing Brain Health through Pilates

Pilates not only helps with physical movement but also enhances brain health. For instance, the cerebellum plays a significant role in coordinating movement and cognitive functions. Pilates exercises stimulate the cerebellum and other parts of the brain, promoting better coordination, balance, and cognitive abilities.

The Role of Parents in Therapy

Educating parents to perform these exercises with their children is vital. Parents of children with multiple additional needs can experience trauma similar to that of combat soldiers, facing a sometimes painful, long, and lonely journey. If parents are not on the floor, moving and incorporating what we guide, progress cannot be as fast as it could be. 

We stress the importance of parents’ mental and physical well-being. By nurturing our parents as we do their children, we ensure that the entire family benefits. We provide guidance and exercises that parents can do with their children to reinforce what is learned in therapy. This shared experience not only accelerates the child’s progress but also supports the parents’ well-being, creating a holistic approach to therapy.

Lou’s Expertise and Experience

Since 2008, Lou has dedicated her career to improving the lives of people living with neurological conditions and educating others to change the way they work with this population. She has had the privilege of working closely with clients with early-stage TBIs, strokes, Parkinson’s disease, ataxia, concussions, rare neurological conditions, and clients with undiagnosed neurological symptoms.

After her own child’s ASD diagnosis in 2011, Lou compiled medical research and anecdotal evidence to create her own Pilates-based protocol and techniques for children. Recognising the need for reflex integration, she began training with the INPP, leading to her current practices.

Why Choose Connect Movement Therapy?

At Connect Movement Therapy, we are dedicated to providing personalised care that supports your child’s unique needs. Lou Boettcher, our experienced practitioner, has a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of body and brain. Her compassionate approach and commitment to her clients ensure that every child receives the highest level of care and support.

Our sessions are designed to be fun, engaging, and effective, creating a positive environment where children can thrive. We believe that by empowering children with tools and techniques such as Pilates, we can help them achieve their full potential in all areas of life.

To learn more about how to work with Connect Movement Therapy, please contact our team.

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