Yoga and Pilates
Yoga and
pilates can have a profound impact on the body -- not just by
reshaping muscles or helping you to relax, but also by providing the
organs with clean oxygenated blood and stimulating beta-endorphin
release. Practitioners in India have known yoga to be the key to
mental and physical wellness for thousands of years. Now that the
practice has come to the Western world, many celebrities, athletes
and everyday people are adding a yoga pilates class to their work
week.
There are some similarities between yoga and pilates, notably that
they both work towards sculpting the body and increasing
flexibility. Neither exercise will work the heart or lungs like a
cardiovascular workout will, but they both add to an overall state
of mental and physical wellbeing. Yoga and pilates are so similar
that they're often fused together in workout videos and yoga pilates
classes across America, although it's sort of a Western fusion. In
India, yoga is something entirely different than the German-created
pilates.
Clear differences between yoga and pilates include some of the
following: First, yoga is an ancient Indian practice that dates back
approximately 5,000 years, whereas pilates is an adaptation of yoga
dating back eighty years to a German athlete, Joseph Pilate.
Secondly, in addition to physical activity, yoga is an entire
holistic program that encompasses diet, meditation, breathing
techniques, religious edict and a moral code; Pilates is simply a
form of exercise and body sculpting technique. Thirdly, yoga aims to
unite mind and body, as well as cleanse the body of toxins, while
pilates is fashioned to strengthen, define and improve posture.
Additionally, in yoga, you are taught to inhale and exhale through
the nose, whereas pilates employs the traditional athletic mode of
breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth while
performing an action. Lastly, yoga can generally be done with just a
mat (although sometimes props are used), while instructors ensure
everyone's in proper form; pilates, on the other hand, has specific
machinery designed to assist practitioners.
Advanced students of yoga and pilates will find it advantageous to
visit a yoga center or fitness club to further their goals and
study. Mentoring and working with advanced equipment can really
expedite body sculpting or enlightenment, depending on what is being
actively sought. For beginners who are unsure if they're willing to
commit just yet, there are a multitude of pilates and yoga videos to
try at home. A couple of recommended pilates videos are: Denise
Austin - Hit The Spot, Jennifer Kries - Pilates Method, Karen Voight
- Core Essentials, Pilates For Dummies and Kathy Smith - Pilates For
Abs. A couple of recommended yoga videos are: Basic Yoga Workout For
Dummies, Living Yoga - AM/PM, Ali Macgraw Yoga Mind & Body, Shiva
Rea - Yoga Shakti and Kundalini Yoga: With Grace and Strength.
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