Pilates

How is pilates like yoga?
I Loooove my yoga. Can I do pilates and not feel adulterous about my yoga? Because I do yoga three times a week and I don’t want to change that.

Pilates and yoga are often said in the same breath, because they are both considered ‘mind-body’ exercises emphasizing breathing techniques, flow between poses, and incorporating the whole body in every movement. Like yoga, many pilates buffs report a “buzz” after a session (yahoo). Not to mention, both yoga and pilates are renowned for creating long, lean muscles and flat, sexy tummies. Many people who enjoy one are quite easily drawn to the other, and we have many clients who enjoy both every week.

Yoga is practiced on a mat with occasional use of props like straps and blocks. Pilates can also be done on the mat yet is universally recognized for the exercises on the “apparatus”, wicked and sexy looking equipment which looks quite a bit like bondage and discipline chairs and beds. ;)

While a typical yoga “asana” requires holding a pose for a series of breaths and the emphasis is often on “being where you are”, pilates emphasizes precision of movement, and pacing. Movements are specifically modified based on ability and needs. The object of a pilates workout is to perform the exercises precisely and evenly yet briskly, while the emphasis on yoga is often to relax, meditate, and work into the pose. While a typical yoga class is ninety minutes, a pilates session averages about fifty-five.

If you are dealing with injury, especially a back injury, the pilates apparatus creates natural boundaries that aren’t quite so easy to find unless you are an advanced yoga student. Pilates is a stable place to start, and once you are able to support your injury and move fluidly, you will find you can enter a yoga practice without fear of re-injury.

If you are totally flexible to begin with, you may find yourself sinking into yoga poses and losing them altogether while everyone in the class seems to be grunting and sweating. Incorporating pilates into your regimen will help you find useful modifications that will enable you to grunt and sweat with everybody else.

Your experience with pilates will only improve your yoga practice. You will probably find you are suddenly capable of more advanced asanas, and will enjoy increased flexibility and stamina, too.