Pilates or Yoga - What is right for you?

Pilates or Yoga: Which one is right for you?

Depending on your fitness goals, you may choose to practice yoga or Pilates exclusively, or include them both in your workout regimen. While there are certainly differences between yoga and Pilates, they complement each other well and are both low impact workouts. Simply put, the difference between yoga and Pilates is that between East and West. Both systems build strength and flexibility; the difference between them is not so much physical as it is philosophical.
What is yoga?
The aim of yoga is to unite the mind, the body, and the spirit. Yoga views the mind and the body as one. Given the right tools, one can find harmony and heal themselves.
While some people think of yoga simply as physical exercise, it is actually a complete, holistic system for overall health and well-being. Having been practiced for thousands of years, yoga includes everything from physical postures (asanas), to meditation, breathing (pranayama), and relaxation techniques. The most advanced forms of meditation and self-realization are also a part of yoga.
Why practice yoga?
When it comes to achieving both physical and mental well-being, yoga exercises are by far the most effective and time-tested practices known to mankind. Yoga asanas effectively strengthen and tone the body, increase flexibility, improve balance, and relieve stress. However, the most significant benefits of yoga asanas come from their profound effects on the internal systems of the body.

By bending, stretching, twisting, and flexing in the various postures, you bathe your internal organs with oxygenated blood. You also are massaging the organs leading to better function. Yoga asanas soothe and tone the nerves and regulate the endocrine system, which is responsible for the production of hormones—one of the keys to both physical and mental health. They also improve digestion and elimination, strengthen the respiratory system, and tone the reproductive organs.  Yoga is a wonderful complimentary system to all other forms of exercise and sports training. It helps the body to work more efficiently through flexibility and keeps the body healthy. It has become a staple in the training of pro sports teams including Hockey, Basketball, Football and Soccer.
When you spend an hour in a yoga class, you stress seems to melt away and you emerge wonderfully relaxed and refreshed.
What is Pilates?


Derived from ancient yoga asanas, the Pilates exercise system was developed by Joseph Pilates over 80 years ago. Like yoga, Pilates is a mind/body exercise utilizing synchronized breathing coordinated with movement. Practiced for decades by dancers for strengthening and rehabilitation, Pilates has become very popular in recent years. Although Pilates works the entire body, the primary focus is on the core muscles (think torso - abs, back, hips, glutes and stabilizing muscles).
Why practice Pilates?
Pilates workouts promote strength and balanced muscle development as well as flexibility and increased range of motion for the joints. Pilates is very beneficial for strengthening muscles without shortening them or bulking up. Joseph Pilates believed that a strong “power house” (core) was the energetic center of the body. If your power house is strong your body will be strong. Pilates improves balance and overall strength, stabilizes and lengthens the spine, improves posture, and can help prevent injuries and aid in injury rehabilitation.
People recognize seasoned Pilates practitioners by their perfect posture coupled with a lean long look and amazing abs!