Similarities and Differences in 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.

Yoga and pilates are often lumped together as one. They both compliment a normal exercise routine by sculpting the body and improving strength, flexibility and coordination. They both involve stretching, slow deliberate and repetitive motions, regulated breathing processes and establishing an overall sense of wellbeing. In a fast-paced society full of various athletes, strength training and weight machines are an American pastime in many gyms. Therefore, many modern Western instructors and athletic trainers work pilates into their yoga practice to change things up a bit.

Clear differences between yoga and pilates include some of the following: First, it is an ancient Indian practice that dates back approximately 5,000 years, whereas pilates is an adaptation of it 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, it 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 it, 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, it 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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