There is no Pilates this upcoming week as we are off to enjoy Thanksgiving with friends and family (if we are lucky)!  When we return, it will be the second session of the year.  Reserve your spot (click).  This session we are also going to be at Covington and Loyola!  It can be difficult to launch a new program mid-year.   Help us spread the word by telling your friends, sharing on social media or leaving us a review.  We want to help ALL children stand tall and confident.  Even one at a time!

In searching for our own Thanksgiving ideas, we found this site with some free, fun printables to help take some stress of the day and help the whole family have a great time.  The kids have their own coloring placement and there are also funny madlibs available.  We will be using both of these this Thanksgiving and we hope you find something for your family too!

We will be back after the break, refreshed and ready to start the Winter Session!  Hope to see you there!  

I don't want to sound cocky, but I am going to bet you do the Western Squat.   Am I right?

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​I have done fitness since I was a teen.   Squat after squat after squat.  I did body pump for 10 years.  Probably about 100 squats per class - 3 times a week.   I should be able to do the Full Squat right?  Nope.  Not.  Even. Close.  Why?  Because as your hip joints are developing, they form facets that  allow your body to keep squatting as you age.  If you don't squat regularly growing up, you lose it.  

You can't force it back. You can try, but most likely you can order up a side of injury with the force.  Why do I mention this to Pilates Afterschool parents?   Because maybe, just maybe, if we can encourage more squatting at home and with our kids, they will be able to maintain some of their natural ability to squat.  

When my beautiful friend shared this gorgeous photo of her family.  Adorable, no?  I know.  Now, what is also interesting to see is the progressions of squats from Full to Western. 

There are SO MANY DARN pieces of most "westerner's" lives that no longer allow for squatting to be part of the normal day — unlike many other cultures.  To name a few:

Hanging out and socializing.   Resting.  Bath-rooming.  Working in fields, cooking, squatting by the fire.  It might be nearly impossible to keep the squat alive in your kids.  But what you can do:

1.  Model it.  It is not easy, but families who play on the floor, or eat on the floor will have much more squatting going on then those who don't.  Kids can still squat easily, so they can squat while you sit.  I can't hang out in a comfortable squat, but they can.  And when they do, I compliment them.   

2.  Squatty potty.  At least when you bathroom you can have your hips in the more natural bath-rooming position and for those minutes during the day, your family can be in deeper hip/knee/ankle flexion then the 90 degree bend you'll have on most toilets.  

3.  Keep them out of shoes when possible.  Why?  Well, some reasons you can read about here.  But also, one reason that the Full Squat is unattainable for most of us is that our ankles are too inflexible and our lower leg muscles are too short.  You can see this when you try to squat and one of many things happen:  1.  Either the heels lift up and if you try to lower them, your whole squat changes to deal.  2.  Your hips need to open wide, wide to change the position of the leg bones to deal.   3.  Your feet turn out like a duck to deal.  

If you want a legitimate workout while you play with your kids on the floor, just try these movements:  http://www.katysays.com/dont-just-sit-there-with-kids/

As you squat for whatever reason, take a look at what your body does to deal.  And then look at your kids and see what the squat they're up to!  If you can full squat, let me know!