TYPICALLY, when it comes to exercise, focus is mainly placed on strength, endurance and losing weight. Although these are important reasons, if they are all we focus on after awhile the routine will become quite tiresome. Keeping fit is not only about how we look on the outside, but how we feel on the inside as well. This why there is a growing demand for both Yoga and Pilates.
Yoga, undoubtedly, has been popular for decades. People are drawn to Yoga because there is a myriad of benefits that it offers, including flexibility, co-ordination, balance, stress relief and posture alignment.
Here Yoga instructor Shakira Williams demonstrates the Eka Pada Koundinyasana II pose at AFYA (Yoga Pilates and Dance Studio). On the cover: Shakira does the Bakasana or crane pose. (Photo: Monique Gilpin)Pilates, on the other hand, is a more recent discipline and focuses exclusively on physical conditioning. The question of which is best can only be answered depending on the person who is asking, and what their physical goals are. Yes, both systems build strength and flexibility, but the difference between them is not so much physical as it is philosophical.
Yoga is based on the Eastern idea of moving energy throughout the body. The more freely the energy flows, the healthier and more energetic you feel. Physical tension hinders the flow - over time, areas of tension in your body can become tight and rigid, even painful. The goal of Yoga is to keep the body supple through movement and stretching. However, there is another dimension. Yoga is a holistic spiritual discipline with its roots in Eastern forms of meditation. The physical postures, although they condition the body, are really aimed at the mind. They symbolise the goal of living your life in a state of balance, well-being and composure.
On the other hand, Pilates exercise stretch and strengthen and are unique in their ability to encourage co-ordination between the muscles that stabilise the body. It improves body awareness and alignment and promotes graceful, fluid motion. Machine-based Pilates actually have more in common with weight training than with Yoga since it involves moving against resistance (provided by springs) with the aim of overloading the muscles. In particular, it resembles functional strength exercises such as squats or cable pulls. The new form of Pilates, the Pilates mat class, is physically more similar to a Yoga class though the emphasis is still on physical change rather than on spiritual development through postures and breathing.
Generally speaking, it is fair to say Yoga is more about how it makes you feel, while Pilates is about how you look - how you carry yourself and move. So if you are looking for a therapeutically energetic or exclusively restorative workout that will provide as much of a lift for your brain as your body - and you are not too concerned about building muscle - Yoga is the way to go. If you are interested in a more dynamic system of muscle conditioning and strengthening - or if you just want to try something new and different - Pilates is a good option.
In fact, it doesn't have to be an either/or decision, as the two are very complementary. After all, no single training system can give your body all the types of conditioning it needs.
Everyone's week should include a variety of activities, from weight lifting to hiking, running, Yoga and Pilates. The best recommendation one can give is to try everything - experience it all - and see what works best for you. Whether the techniques were derived in the East or West, the important thing is to explore!
