By Amy Leibrock

In May, we shared Kim Carruthers’ tips on how to teach Pilates to children and teens. Now with back-to-school time upon us, we’re serving up some practical ideas and tips for setting up your own children’s Pilates program.  

Photo courtesy Pilates Studio CityIf you want to start teaching Pilates to kids, getting involved with the Pilates Method Alliance’s Pilates in the Schools (PITS) program is one great option. The program’s goal is to “bring Pilates to children, teachers, and parents by providing affordable and accessible Pilates education programs to schools.” PITS encourages potential teachers to work with fifth and sixth graders in a school setting. The organization is working to collect data on the benefits of Pilates for kids, so you will need to perform before and after testing and stick to the program’s 10-week structure at first. To participate, you must be a member of the PMA and submit an application.

If the structure of the PITS program doesn’t fit your situation, you can also set up your own program for kids at a local school or community center. Following are six steps to take in either case, from teachers who have run programs themselves.