Pilates vs. Yoga
Yoga and Pilates are two of the most popular mind-body exercises today. It sees that these days you can hardly turn on a television without hearing someone mention Pilates or Yoga. Articles on both os these movement therapies fill numerous magazines and it seems "everyone who is anyone" is doing one or the other. Why all the excitement? What is so special about these techniques? What are the similarities and differences between Pilates and Yoga?
Yoga, as we all know it, is aimed to unite the mind, the body, and the spirit. The word Yoga means to join together. It began on the Indian subcontinent of the Indus Balley and can be traced back to 5,000 years ago. Yogis view that the mind and the body are one, and that if it is given the right tools and taken to the right environment, it can find harmony and heal itself. Yoga therefore is considered therapuetic. It helps you become more aware of your body's posture, alignment and patterns of movement. It makes the body more flexible and helps you relax even in the midst of a stress stricken environment. This is one of the foremost reasons why people want to start practicing Yoga--to feel more fit, to be energetic, be happier and peaceful. The Yoga movements are performed, mostly, in a group setting on a special Yoga mat with an aid of a Yoga instructor. The body's own weight is used for resistance and a great deal of focus is accorded to the flow from one posture into the other. There are many different Yoga styles and they differ in their emphasis. No one style is better than the other. The Style you use is a matter of personal prefernece or a matter or need.
Joseph Hubertus Pilates is the founder of the Pilates method. Unlike many other training programs, Pilates works the whole body, emphasizing control, precision and concentration in both the mid and the body. Movements are not performed rapidly or repeated excessively instead, the focus is on quality not quantity. The abdominal muscles, lower
Yoga, as we all know it, is aimed to unite the mind, the body, and the spirit. The word Yoga means to join together. It began on the Indian subcontinent of the Indus Balley and can be traced back to 5,000 years ago. Yogis view that the mind and the body are one, and that if it is given the right tools and taken to the right environment, it can find harmony and heal itself. Yoga therefore is considered therapuetic. It helps you become more aware of your body's posture, alignment and patterns of movement. It makes the body more flexible and helps you relax even in the midst of a stress stricken environment. This is one of the foremost reasons why people want to start practicing Yoga--to feel more fit, to be energetic, be happier and peaceful. The Yoga movements are performed, mostly, in a group setting on a special Yoga mat with an aid of a Yoga instructor. The body's own weight is used for resistance and a great deal of focus is accorded to the flow from one posture into the other. There are many different Yoga styles and they differ in their emphasis. No one style is better than the other. The Style you use is a matter of personal prefernece or a matter or need.
Joseph Hubertus Pilates is the founder of the Pilates method. Unlike many other training programs, Pilates works the whole body, emphasizing control, precision and concentration in both the mid and the body. Movements are not performed rapidly or repeated excessively instead, the focus is on quality not quantity. The abdominal muscles, lower