| Yoga or Pilates. Pilates or Yoga. You've seen the late | | | | goals, also through a series of controlled movements. |
| night/early morning infomercials for both. Bookstores | | | | The big difference is that the Pilates technique not |
| in Dallas, Houston and throughout Texas have the | | | | only has a full complement of mat work, but it also |
| latest books on these two activities. Exercise and | | | | incorporates work on Pilates-specific machines. The |
| health magazines devote a growing number of | | | | focus of Pilates exercises is to strengthen your |
| articles to both. Even the rich and famous have made | | | | abdominal muscles, improve posture, stabilize and |
| their choices and divided into camps. So what's the | | | | lengthen the spine, improve balance and overall |
| big deal about Pilates and Yoga? Is one better than | | | | strength. Pilates gives you a longer, leaner body. |
| the other? What's different? What's the same? | | | | And unlike many other training programs, Pilates |
| Which one makes the better dessert topping? Pilates | | | | works the whole body, emphasizing control, precision |
| or Yoga -- which one should you choose? | | | | and concentration for both the mind and the body. |
| Yoga is a technique that claims to unite the mind, | | | | The movements are not performed rapidly nor are |
| body and spirit. Yoga teachers, or Yogis, hold the | | | | they excessively repetitive. Instead, the focus is on |
| belief that the mind and the body are one. And if | | | | quality, not quantity. The abdominal muscles, lower |
| you're given the right tools and taken to the right | | | | back and buttocks serve as the center of all |
| environment, you can find harmony and heal yourself. | | | | movement, allowing the rest of the body to move |
| That's also why Yoga is considered therapeutic. It | | | | freely. This focus on core stabilization makes one |
| helps you become more aware of your body's | | | | stronger from the inside out. |
| posture, alignment and patterns of movement. | | | | The low-impact nature of Pilates makes it ideal for |
| The practice of yoga makes the body more flexible | | | | Texans’ injury prevention and rehabilitation. Its |
| and can help relax you even in the middle of panic | | | | six principles – concentration, control, centering, |
| stricken surroundings. This is one of the biggest | | | | breathing, flow and precision – train the body |
| reasons why people start practicing Yoga -- to feel | | | | to move efficiently, with minimal impact. The balance |
| more fit, more energetic, be happier and more | | | | between strength and flexibility creates a |
| peaceful. Yoga movements are performed, mostly, in | | | | healthy,vigorous and symmetrical workout for all |
| a group setting on a special Yoga mat with the aid of | | | | muscle groups, resulting in a leaner, more balanced |
| a Yogi. The practice utilizes the body's own weight | | | | and stronger body. |
| for resistance. A great deal of focus is concentrated | | | | Now that you know a little about both techniques, |
| on flowing from one posture to the other. There are | | | | you should take your research one step further to |
| numerous Yoga styles and they differ on what they | | | | discover which of these two fitness techniques is |
| emphasize. No style is really better than another. The | | | | right for you. Try them separately or do them in |
| style you choose and use is a matter of personal | | | | conjunction with one another. You'll be surprised that |
| preference or a matter of need. | | | | both techniques can complement each other. |
| For example, Vinyasa Yoga makes use of modified | | | | You can get the stretch from Yoga nd keep it with |
| Yoga poses designed to meet the needs of an | | | | Pilates. Strengthen your abdominals on the former |
| individual as well as to enhance healing, flexibility and | | | | and watch your poses improve. Join the breathing |
| strength of joints. These poses also tend to promote | | | | techniques of Pilates and meditative aspect of Yoga |
| the feeling of well being and strength. Other Yoga | | | | into your daily routine. Now watch the stress of your |
| practices may include meditation, reflection, study and | | | | everyday life dissolve. Both techniques are |
| other classic elements, but the focus of this type of | | | | established and, with the help of an experienced |
| Yoga practice is on coordinating breath and | | | | instructor and yogi, you might reach your fitness |
| movement. | | | | goals. |
| Pilates, on the other hand, seeks a lot of the same | | | | |