With Pilates, yoga, yogalates, and more, there’s no shortage of trendy, beneficial workouts for individuals to try, but with so many options, it can be hard to know which is the best fit for your body. Here, we’ll discuss what Pilates and yoga are, what benefits they provide, and which kind of exercise may be the better fit for your workout routine.
What is Pilates?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Pilates was developed in the early 20th century by a man named Joseph Pilates. This form of exercise and body conditioning was originally intended as a recovery method for dancers, but now it’s a popular form of exercise for people of all ages, genders, and fitness levels.
While Pilates is a form of strength training, this form of exercise focuses on toning muscles rather than just building them. When done right, Pilates will help an individual develop a leaner, stronger body. However, it will still help an individual develop stability, endurance, and strong abdomen and lower back muscles.
Benefits of Pilates
While exercise in general has been shown to have many physical and mental health benefits, Pilates in particular can help individuals strengthen many different parts of their bodies. Here are just a few of the areas that Pilates can improve:
- Core Strength: Pilates has a large emphasis on core strength, which includes your abdomen as well as your sides, mid-to-lower back, and hips. A strong core provides better balance, stability, and effective movement in everyday activities.
- Posture: A strong core also contributes to improved posture. While this may seem like a small benefit, good posture can actually reduce back pain and headaches, increase lung capacity, and avoid muscle tension.
- Balance: Good balance can prevent falls and injuries and make everyday activities easier. According to the Mayo Clinic, good balance is especially important for adults over the age of 65.
- Breath Control: Pilates also has a strong focus on breath control. Controlled breathing can reduce stress and anxiety, stabilize or lower your blood pressure, and calm your nervous system, according to the American Heart Association.
Types of Pilates
With Pilates being such a popular form of exercise, there are many different kinds for individuals to try. Here, we’ll explore just a few of the many different kinds:
- Wall Pilates: As the name suggests, wall Pilates consists of traditional Pilates moves performed using the wall to add resistance, eliminating the need for most equipment. Using a wall can encourage proper form in Pilates, add resistance to the routine, and strengthen your abdominal wall.
- Reformer Pilates: This type of Pilates uses a reformer machine to isolate your muscles in a low-impact, full-body workout. The reformer is a bed-like machine that moves back and forth and features different springs that can be used to change the resistance level of the workout.
- Mat Pilates: For mat Pilates, you simply need a mat, your body, and some floor space, making it perfect for beginners. However, even experts can enjoy mat Pilates, as different exercises can build in difficulty, and they can also be modified to increase the level of challenge.
What is Yoga?
Namaste! According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, yoga is an ancient spiritual practice rooted in Indian philosophy that has now become a popular workout method for physical and mental health and wellness. Yoga styles can range from gentle to physically demanding.
Benefits of Yoga?
Just like all physical activity, yoga can encourage physical and mental benefits for those who practice it. Research shows that yoga may:
- Support Mental Wellness: Yoga can help relieve stress, encourage restful sleep, and improve your mood, all of which contribute to overall mental wellness.
- Reduce Pain: Yoga may help relieve neck pain, reduce headaches and migraines, lessen other tension or pain in the body.
- Improve Strength, Flexibility, and Balance: Just like Pilates, consistently doing yoga can improve your physical wellness by strengthening your muscles and contributing to better flexibility and balance, all of which can help in everyday activities.
- Help with Concentration: The rhythmic, focused breathing in yoga can help encourage focus and concentration, which may improve attention span over time. Improved concentration can also help with stress management.
Parts of Yoga?
As practiced in the United States, yoga typically emphasizes three different elements: asanas, pranayama, and dhyana.
- Asanas: Asanas are the physical poses within yoga. Poses you may be familiar with include tree pose, downward dog, bridge pose, and more. These postures are what help individuals improve their flexibility, strength, and balance.
- Pranayama: Pranayama is the breathing practice used in yoga. This is what helps individuals reduce stress and improve focus. These breathing practices are used alongside the physical postures. During a yoga class, you may intentionally inhale, exhale, and hold your breath through different poses.
- Dhyana: Dhyana refers to the mediation practiced within yoga.The goal of mediation is to let thoughts and feelings wash over you without judgment. This practice can also help reduce stress and lessen feelings of anxiety and depression.
What is Yogalates?
For the best of both worlds, many have been trying yogalates—a combination of yoga and Pilates. Created in 1997 by Jonathan Urla and later developed and popularized by Louise Solomon, yogalates combines the strengthening of the core muscles found in Pilates with the breath work, poses, and philosophies found in yoga.
Just like Pilates and yoga, yogalates can provide many benefits including strengthening muscles and improving posture, balance, and flexibility.
Which is Better?
Yoga and Pilates are both great workouts, and one isn’t inherently better than the other. They each provide great benefits and get your body moving, which is essential for physical and mental wellness.
When deciding which exercise program you want to incorporate into your workout routine, you need to consult your fitness goals. If your goals are to strengthen muscles, resistance train, and target small muscle groups, Pilates may be the right fit for you. However, if your goals are to stretch your muscles, focus on breathwork and calming your body, and try meditation, yoga may be more up your alley.
Because each person is different, consult your doctor if you have any concerns before trying a new exercise program, especially if you are pregnant or have other physical restrictions.
Pilates and Yoga Equipment
If you’re looking to start practicing either of these exercise programs, it’s important to make sure you have the right equipment. From the classic yoga mat to blocks and pads for your sensitive joints, check out the products below.
- Pilates socks: These non-slip athletic socks are made with combed cotton, making them stretchy, soft, and breathable. With sticky silicone grips on the bottoms, these socks provide better balance and stability while you exercise.
- Pilates Bar Kit: This multifunctional Pilates bar kit comes with resistance bands to eliminate the need for large exercise equipment. With this one bar, you can train your entire body, including your arms, core, and back.
- Pilates Ring: This lightweight fitness ring is used for Pilates and other resistance training to tone and sculpt your muscles. With non-slip handles and a lightweight and flexible design, this ring is perfect for an effective workout on the go.
- Yoga Blocks: For yoga lovers, these yoga blocks are designed to prevent wrist pain before it occurs. Designed to reduce wrist compression, increase grip, and enhance comfort, these blocks are perfect for any yoga class, and they come in four fun colors!
- Yoga Knee Pads: Speaking of protecting your joints, these knee pads are made with a gel-like material to cushion your knees and provide a non-slip grip during your workout. Use them on your yoga mat or on the floor for better stability and comfort during your workout.
- Yoga Mat: Whether you’re into Pilates or yoga, having a mat is essential. This extra thick yoga mat is made out of NBR foam, has a textured grip, and comes with a carrying strap.
