Yoga Pilates Mat Exercise

Yoga and pilates may seem to be one in the same to a lot of Americans. However, there are some basic differences;

Yoga pilates, works towards sculpting the body and increasing flexibility. Pilates Mat exercise will not work the heart or lungs like a cardiovascular workout will, but they add to an overall state of mental and physical wellbeing. Yoga and pilates are so similar that they’re often fused together in workout videos and yoga pilates mat classes across America, although it’s sort of a Western fusion. In India, yoga is something entirely different than the German-created pilates.

Clear differences between yoga and pilates include some of the following: First, yoga is an ancient Indian practice that dates back approximately 5,000 years, whereas pilates is an adaptation of yoga 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, yoga 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 yoga, 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, yoga 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 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 yoga pilates mat videos to try at home.

 These are a couple of highly recommended yoga pilates videos. Get them out while they are still available. I left off a couple of my favorites because they are out of print….