Fitness advantage: Yoga vs. Pilates

Yoga and Pilates are in the lead when it comes to exercise classes aimed for stress relief. A lot of people however get confused on which of the two they should really get into. The answer is to first of all find out which better suits your fitness needs, body and lifestyle.

Mind And Body Exercise

Both Yoga and Pilates are considered mind-body exercises, which means one should be mentally engaged while doing the physical work. Both employ breathing techniques, incorporate resistance for toning muscles, and used therapeutically. Both are slow, intense routines that can be done through classes or one-on-one training which can produce lean, toned bodies.

The History

Yoga is a practice dating back thousands of years that has a strong spiritual component and a holistic approach. Traditional Hatha yoga features a series of static poses along with breathing techniques and meditation emphasizing an inward focus. Although hundreds of different forms of yoga exist, from restorative to power, the essence of the practices is the same. Pilates on the other hand is a strength and conditioning system done with mat work and apparatus. Its roots date back to the early 20th century when Joseph Pilates developed a system (adapting some yoga techniques) to help rehabilitate hospital patients during World War I; years later dancers adopted it as physical therapy.

The Total Wellness

A yogic lifestyle also emphasizes good nutrition and a holistic approach to wellness. Along with continual practice should come increased flexibility, overall muscle toning, improved balance and better ability to handle stress. What sets Pilates apart from Yoga is its component of series of regimented exercises done with controlled breathing that can be performed on an apparatus or a mat; those done on apparatus use adjustable resistance to strengthen the muscles and employ precise movements to target certain areas of the body. Mat workouts (sometimes done as a class) use the body's own resistance and can incorporate props such as stability balls. The desired results are quite similar to Yoga: stronger core muscles, better posture and stability, overall toning and increased flexibility. And although healthy living often is emphasized in Pilates, according to Ralph La Forge, an exercise physiologist and spokesman for the American College of Sports Medicine in terms of lifestyle management, Pilates is not as stringent as Yoga, in fact he says you could be drinking a softdrink while doing Pilates.

The Functionality

Pilates is more about musculoskeletal health, hence if you are more of an athlete and want better function then Pilates may prove more beneficial to you but if you're one who needs a change in lifestyle, if there are overall health and lifestyle goals - if you are someone who has had his first heart attack or has high blood pressure or diabetes then Yoga may work best for you.

Therapeutic Benefits

Yoga therapy is incorporated in rehabilitation programs for diseases and chronic conditions to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life; numerous cases of Cancer patients and those with chronic pain conditions have supported evidence on the therapeutic benefits of yoga. Pilates in a physical therapy setting helps people bounce back from injuries. Pilates is more about musculoskeletal health.

The Approach

The true differences between yoga and Pilates may come down to the distinct approaches each takes to discipline. Yoga classes often use music and sometimes integrate chanting or affirmations, which address the meditative side. Pilates usually skips the music and the talk, taking a more pragmatic slant.

The Structure

When it comes to structure, "Pilates is done in sets and reps, and yoga is not," says Leigh Crews, a Georgia-based yoga instructor and former Reebok program developer in Yoga and Pilates. Pilates is a very ordered and structured way to exercise hence people need to figure out if they want an instructor counting repetitions and leading them through a very organized series of exercises, or something a little more free-form. Yoga does have a built-in structure, but it isn't built so much around numbers. Yoga is a journey of self and experimentation. You can experiment with a particular body part here or there, and experiment with what it feels like to get your limbs to a certain level in different poses.

Yogilates

For those who want the best of both worlds you can always try the hybrid called Yogilates which apparently is a combo of Yoga and Pilates. This way you can enjoy the benefits of both. It is very important that your yoga/pilates/yogilates instructors are certified to make sure you get safe and effective exercises.