| Joseph Pilates used many exercise genres when he | | | | postural benefits and core strength of Pilates into our |
| developed his original exercises method; exercises | | | | yoga practice and add the flexibility and mental |
| which were meant to help patients recover while he | | | | awareness of yoga into our Pilates practice. |
| was stationed in a medical unit during World War 1. | | | | Yoga postures will improve. You will be able to stand |
| He was a veteran to anything exercise related and | | | | taller, contract your core more efficiently and add |
| studied martial arts, yoga and zen meditation. He was | | | | strength to every pose. Your Pilates practice will |
| a boxer, a diver, and a gymnast. When he came to | | | | improve with the added flexibility, balance and |
| the United States, from his New York Studio, his | | | | awareness that yoga brings. |
| Pilates method of exercises was quickly adopted by | | | | Many Pilates exercises are derived from yoga |
| dancers to improve posture. | | | | postures. You will clearly see the similarities. |
| Pilates is a practice of core strengthening exercises. | | | | Sometimes when I teach a mixed class of yoga and |
| A good Pilates program will provide exercises that | | | | Pilates I will practice the Pilates exercise and then |
| touch every muscle group in the body; building | | | | hold in the yoga pose that it was derived from for |
| strength, flexibility and improving posture. The idea is | | | | added flexibility. |
| a quality over quantity theme where when practicing | | | | Many Pilates exercises promote flexibility in their own |
| correct alignment you can focus on different body | | | | right, but they provide added core strength as you |
| parts and still gain benefits throughout the body. | | | | are usually contracting your abdominal and stabilizer |
| Utilizing specific engaged muscles affords an efficient | | | | muscles while you move. By using core strength while |
| exercise even while performing fewer repetitions. | | | | holding correct alignment, you often work your whole |
| Pilates exercises promote strength without muscle | | | | body simply to move correctly in the exercise. |
| bulk. The connection of the breath to the movement | | | | On the other hand, the core strength that Pilates |
| and the focus on alignment of the spine improve the | | | | provides assists in all of the balancing postures of |
| mind-body connection. | | | | Yoga. I am forever telling people to stay strong |
| In short, Pilates is intended to provide a strong, | | | | through their core when moving through certain |
| toned and healthy body. | | | | poses, when practicing strength training, when doing |
| Yoga was developed over 5000 years ago and used | | | | mostly anything. |
| by every generation since. The ancient art of | | | | Building your core strength - and that means your |
| mind-body connected poses strengthen and lengthen | | | | powerhouse section: that band across your lower |
| our bodies. The practice of Yoga may have changed | | | | abs, lower back, and hips - greatly reduces the risk |
| throughout the centuries, but we can adapt the basic | | | | of hurting your lower back. Lower back injury is |
| teachings even in our lives now. | | | | probably the most common injury that afflicts people |
| Yoga is a practice of postures intended to bring | | | | of all sizes and shapes. |
| ultimate health and fitness to your body and mind. It | | | | Another cause of concern is poor posture. Your body |
| is a practice that uses the breath to bring the mind's | | | | is out of balance if you have poor posture and most |
| focus into the body and enhance the practice's | | | | people are out of balance from work related |
| benefits of strength, flexibility and mental clarity and | | | | repetitive movements. Both Yoga and Pilates improve |
| calmness. Moving through your yoga practice you will | | | | posture and bring balance into the body; realigning the |
| practice standing, sitting, kneeling, prone and reclined | | | | spine. |
| poses. Inversions, twists, side stretches, balancing | | | | You can practice each form of exercise separately or |
| poses and muscle lengthening bring balance into your | | | | find a combination class near you. There are workout |
| body. | | | | videos for both and for combinations as well. Try it |
| The yogic result? A lighter feeling throughout the | | | | at home, or try it at a local studio. |
| body and mind. Stress relief at its best. | | | | Please be safe and check with your doctor before |
| The Combination... | | | | beginning any new exercise program. |
| If we combine the two practices, we can add the | | | | |