GiggleYoLates Frequently Asked Questions

1) What does a child experience when doing the Giggleyolates video?

This type of exercise program is a holistic approach to your mind and body. The child will exercise all parts of their body: arms, legs, back and abdominals while making a special mind body connection associated with all yoga and Pilates exercises. Andrew when doing these exercises was able to calm himself down when he was upset. He was able to build his self confidence in doing the exercises repeatedly being aware that each time he did them they got easier for him to complete. He learned where in his body he was holding tension and how to lengthen and let that tension go. He found out where his strengths and weakness are in his body. Devin was fascinated that he could roll like a ball and work his stomach muscles without moving or crunching his stomach, while gaining awareness in his body and how it functions.

The counting down and songs throughout the video gives the child an end target or goal. It lets them know the end is almost in sight and a transition to another pose/exercise will be coming soon. It gives them strategies for concentration and focus and attention.

Finally it teaches children the importance and how to still their bodies and their minds. Rest is an important way to rejuvenate your body. If you don't know how to rest, you will not be able to be in the best health possible.

2) What is yoga and how is it different for children?

Yoga means "to join or yoke together" in the ancient literary Indian language-Sanskrit. It has been in existence for over 5000 years. It is not a religion but a system of techniques used to reach any number of personal goals. The goal in the giggleyolates video is personal wellness. We focus on the poses or exercises and breathing techniques so that we can be stronger, flexible, calmer, happier and healthier. With children, we don't expect the child to hold the poses as long as adults and we use songs and counting strategies to engage their concentration. We also simplify the poses to kid friendly names.

3) What is Pilates and how is it different for children?

Pilates is mind body form of exercise created by Joseph Pilates in 1880 to combat his own childhood physical disability (rickets). It is uses controlled (no sloppy arms or legs) flowing repetition of movements isolating specific muscle groups all while maintaining a strong core (center of your body). You need to be in proper alignment in your body and thereby helping your everyday posture. Completing tasks in everyday life using proper alignment or body mechanics limits your risk of injury and makes you more efficient. With children, we use shorter repetitions, about 10 max, and limit the number of sets or groups of repetitions to three at most. Handling or physically assisting the child into proper positioning as well can occur.

4) What is the difference between yoga and Pilates?

In yoga, positions for the most part are static or held. Pilates is dynamic with positions that have a start and an end and repetition with flow. Pilates has sets or groups of exercises or repetitions, yoga does not. In Pilates, thoracic breathing occurs which is breathing into the lower lobes of your lungs feeling your rib cage expand as you breathe in and out through pursed lips. In thoracic breathing your abdominals are tight. In yoga, breathing is the essence in connecting the inside and the outside worlds. Yoga has many different breathing exercises-varying the speed and how to do the inhalation, exhalation in order to achieve different goals.

5) Can a child with special needs do yoga and Pilates?

Yes! Anyone can do these exercises and gain benefit from them. It is a journey towards better health. A child with physical and/or impairments can be assisted physically to complete the tasks. If you do not feel comfortable assisting your child then by all means see what they can do my themselves. Anything that looks likes the exercise should be praised as an achievement and next time the child will find just a little easier.

For a child with sensory processing issues, yoga and Pilates can help gain value skills such as increased body awareness, co-ordination and concentration. The songs and verbal and visual cues in the video help make it easier and user friendly.

6) Is there any research that supports this?

Yes, there are numerous studies showing the effectiveness of yoga and Pilates techniques for adults. We can assume those benefits for the most part carry over to children. The research for the benefits of children completing yoga is in it's infancy but studies are out there. Jensen and Kenny in 2004 published an article in the Journal of Attention Disorders that showed boys with ADHD who did yoga had improved behavior and attention. In another study, Barnes showed that breathing techniques lowered blood pressure and heart rates for children. In a number of studies from India, yoga has been shown to improve spatial memory, grip strength, respiratory pressure, pulmonary functioning and help with asthma, epilepsy, arthritis. In fact the yoga site (www.yogasite.com/research) has a research section where all these studies abstracts or summaries can be found. Unfortunately, there are no studies validating the use of Pilates or Pilates with yoga for children currently. Hopefully this will change soon.