Yoga and Pilates, Complimentary Disciplines

Yoga and Pilates has experienced a resurgence in interest in the last few years. Both forms of exercise offer time proven methods that are very beneficial. Determining which form of exercise is best for you is a matter of personal goals and personal interest. In this article we will learn the differences between yoga and pilates and how they are also the perfect compliment for each other.

Pilates

Joseph Pilates is the father of Pilates. He developed the system in the early 20th century in Germany. Joseph Pilates first called his exercise “Contrology” which means that the mind can control the body. When Joseph Pilates moved to New York the dance community embraced this new form of exercise. Core muscle development is its primary focus. Pilates can be done on a mat or with the use of specialized machines such as a Reformer. Many who have mastered Pilates develop long lean muscles.

There are six principles of Pilates (introduced by students of Joseph Pilates):

Concentration

Intense focus and concentration is required to get the full benefits from this exercise.

Control

Complete control of every movement is the goal.

Centering

The area between the ribs and pubic bone is the center,also known as the powerhouse. Movements begin at the powerhouse and flows to the limbs.

Flow or efficiency of movement

Once mastered, the movements in Pilates should flow smoothly from one position or extension.

Precision

Correct movements. Precise movements and alignment.

Breathing

Full inhalation and forced exhalation. Proper breathing is a central part of Pilates.

Yoga

The word yoga means unity or yoke (to bind). The objective of yoga is to unite the mind, body and spirit through a practice of breathing (Pranayama) and poses (asanas).

Pilates has 34 basic exercises while yoga has hundreds of asanas (postures).

Pilates has six principles and yoga has eight. They are referred to as limbs or paths. The first five principles guide the student away from an outward focus to an inner focus. The eight limbs of yoga are:

Yama-abstaining from possessiveness, coveting,lying,violence and sensuality.

Niyama-contentment,purity,surrender to God,austerity

Asana- 84 postures that strengthen the body and facilitates meditation

Pranayama-controlled breathing

Pratyahara-withdrawl of sensory stimulation and redirected focus internally.

Dharana-concentration

Dhynana-meditation

Samadhi-Culmination or completion on the path of the yogi. Enlightenment or peace, being one with the universe.

There’s no need to make a decision on Yoga vs Pilates. One benefit of incorporating yoga and pilates is the development of lean and strong bodies. Pilates stabilizes and improves the spine along with improved balance and strength.

How Dance Helped My Friend

“Every frustration indeed, leads us to another triumph and success. Something comes across our path and becomes a turning point! And we will never be the same again!”

I have a friend named Roxy.

She is always a busy woman who is into furniture business and is doing very well. Years ago, she had a shoulder surgery and had a recovery rehab for six months. She was also suffering from chronic headaches and complicated migraine. She had stomach issues as well. She was taking maintenance pills for her migraine and acid reflux medicine for her stomach. For ten years, Roxy was taking proton pump inhibitors for her stomach and for three years she was taking neurontine for her migraine. For all those years, all she can think of is how to get better. The doctors adviced her to start with finding an exercise that she likes and enjoys because this will help with her health issues. From then on she started looking around for an exercise.

One day, she randomly went to a dance studio and signed herself up for a jazz class. She didn’t have any idea what a jazz dance class is because she didn’t have any backround in dance. But she signed up anyway, and ended up really loving it. She enjoyed it very much despite having zero dance background and surrounded by ballerinas as her classmates. She felt like she’s in another world everytime she’s in the class. At first she felt intimidated because of course she was a newby and her classmates danced better than her. But she just carried on. She discovered that she is happier when she danced, she feels very good with doing simple things in the class like turning and jumping. . . . it sounded simple but for some reason it made her smile and she felt so good that she just danced her best and she goes. . “Yeeehhhaawh!”

It didn’t really have any drastic change in her health at first but soon she noticed that when she stopped dancing, her headache would come back. After six months, Roxy decided to go full out with her exercise and so she signed up for Pilates class as an addition to her exercise regime. With Pilates, she noticed that she became more flexible and stronger. Every time she is in class she became more and more enthusiastic and enjoys it more. She was thrilled and she thought that her exercise routine was enough to help her get better. During that time, I was invited in that dance studio where Roxy was taking dancing lessons. I was a guest ballet, jazz and contemporary dance teacher. When she heard about me, she wanted to take a one-on-one jazz lesson with me to further her knowledge in jazz. But then I ended up teaching her ballroom dance lessons because I remember her saying that she wanted to learn to dance Argentine tango someday. She thought that it’s a very hard and challenging dance to learn but it looks so good and very interesting. So i taught her Argentine tango. Roxy just fell in love with it and became a bit obsessed with it. And she coped up very well and learned very quickly. She never expected that she would love it. Every week, Roxy kept improving getting more into learning it together with her jazz and Pilates lessons as well. Until one day, I told them in the dance school that I am going overseas with my wife to live and dance in a ballet company. Roxy and the rest of the staff in the dance school was a bit sad about my news to them. But I have to move on because I also have my own plans with my wife.

After a few months I was living and working overseas and carried on with my plans. Roxy did stop dancing Argentine tango. She continued to take class from other ballroom dance tutors and to my surprise, she discovered ballet and went for it! She found it hard because she was a “Newby” but continued to do it and added it to her whole dance exercise regime. She filled her whole week with dance and Pilates because she kept her goal to get better and well. After two years of dancing and a year of doing Pilates, she weaned herself from her medicines. She still have occasional headaches due to food triggers but she has not had any major migraine attacks ever since. Her stomach was back to normal, she still managed her diet, her water intake and sleep very well to keep her healthy.

Roxy became very happy, active and healthy. She said that she was very happy that “Dance” discovered her! And she thanked me and my wife for being a part of her quest to get better.