Yoga and Pilates have both become
a staple in modern fitness practices. Nearly every commercial workout
program has been influenced by these classic approaches to health. In
fact, yoga and Pilates are compatible practices that you will often
find combined in the same classes or at least taught by the same
instructors. But common questions still remain: What is the
difference between yoga and Pilates? Which is better for me?
Yoga is an eclectic blend of ancient
physical, mental, and spiritual practices that originated in India.
In the strictest sense yoga is not one thing but is a mixture of
several things. The result is a great variety of teachings with no
less than six recognized major styles. These differing approaches to
the practice of yoga make it difficult to know what to expect from an
individual instructor. For example, some schools give heavy emphasis
to the spiritual aspects of yoga while others present almost no
traces of spiritual practice and instead focus on the physical
movement.
Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates
in the 1920s. Joseph was a German immigrant to the United States who
ran a performing arts school and rehabilitation center with his wife
Clara in New York. Pilates actually called his method “Contrology”.
He based his practices on sports science and the idea that a strong
core radiates outward to make a stronger whole body. It was not long
before his ideas and methods spread to those outside of the
performing arts and everybody was doing what eventually became known
as “Pilates”.
Which one is the best? What are your
goals? If your goal is to change your state of mind and to work your
body to attain success toward inner peace then yoga is probably best
for you. If your goal is to change your body at the core so that it
radiates outward and results in a changed way of thinking then
Pilates may be your exercise of choice. Do whichever one is most
convenient, appropriate, and is the best fit into your lifestyle but
do so with an appreciation and a little better understanding of both.