No longer the sole preserve of Hindus and bohemian types yoga is popular with office workers and housewives alike.
The Sanskrit word for ‘union’, yoga is a 5,000-year-old system of Hindu philosophy. Yoga as we understand it in the West is just one part of this system. It aims to bring synergy to the trinity of mind, body and spirit through stretching (into postures called asanas), breathing and meditation exercises.
Yoga and pilates make you more flexible
Pilates was invented in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates. Born in 1880 at the height of the industrial revolution, Pilates was moved to develop his exercise system after noticing how urban-dwellers seemed to be getting insufficient fresh air and exercise.
Contrology, as Pilates called his exercise method, was inspired in part by yoga, and the disciplines are very similar – but there are differences.
What are the differences?
The main difference is that pilates movements are much more fluid than the yogic equivalents, which are static.
Yoga has a strong meditative, spiritual element, although Joseph Pilates also believed in the inextricableness of mind, body and spirit. “Physical fitness”, he said, is “the first requisite of happiness.”
Pilates sometimes supplements the matwork with exercises done on machines.
What do people get out of it?
Yoga and pilates help you become more flexible and improve strength, posture and balance.
Unlike most other forms of exercise these disciplines are at once good for the physique and all-round physical health, yet entirely sedentary. Meditation and breathing exercises lower blood pressure and therefore stress, which in itself causes and exacerbates illnesses. It’s no surprise then that people in stressful jobs find yoga and pilates immensely helpful and that insomniacs often report a better night’s sleep after a session on the mats.
Some people attend classes to help with a specific medical condition. If you think you could benefit in this way then consult your instructor (ensure they are qualified, though) to see if this is the case and whether you need to adapt your routine accordingly.
How do you know which one will suit you best?
There is no reason why you cannot do both. Pilates borrows heavily from its ancient predecessor and both have similar goals.
Yoga is good for stretching your muscles and increasing suppleness. Pilates strengthens the body’s “power centre”, the area from which most human movement originates. These core muscles includes the inner thigh, hamstring and the abdominals. This makes pilates helpful for people with back problems, though again, ensure you consult a qualified instructor first.
There are many different forms of yoga and which one suits you will depend on what you enjoy and what you want to get out of it.
You might want to try other eastern practices aimed at harmonising the mind, body and spirit. Disciplines such as T’ai Chi and Qigong are becoming more popular.
What if you can’t guarantee being available for classes each week?
That’s the beauty of it. Even if you can’t make it every week, once you’ve learnt a few moves you can do it yourself at home whenever you find the time. You need very little space and no equipment.
Where can I find out more?
The governing body for yoga in the UK is The British Wheel of Yoga and you can find an accredited yoga instructer in your local area through their website by clicking here.
The governing body for pilates is the Pilates Foundation and you can find an accredited instructor in your area by clicking here.
If you are unsure whether an instructor is qualified or not, do not be afraid to ask; there have been media reports of classes being run by unqualified teachers. And remember –tell them about any medical problems you have.
Yoga and pilates are extremely low impact exercises, so if they’re done properly they have few of the deleterious effects on joints that, say, weightlifting has, and the risk of muscle or ligament tears, unlike with many sports, is small. Great for posture and relieving mental tension, it’s no wonder growing numbers of people are turning to yoga and pilates to ease the dislocations, strains and anxieties associated with life in our post-industrial society.
