The Pot, the Kettle, and All that Jazz in Yoga Pilates
The pot calls the kettle black. Well, the kettle is black and he knows this. But so is the pot. There is a moment of confusion and shock, like when Larry the cucumber realizes he has no hair for his hairbrush. They are the same and now the realization must set in for the pot.
While there are some who could easily mistake pilates as being the same thing as yoga, there is a difference. Where the confusion may set in is that pilates were derived from ancient yoga positions and developed into what you have today by Joseph Pilates about eighty years ago. The meditation aspect is not present as in yoga, and pilates' main focus is on lengthening the spine and building strength.
It has been loved and used widely by dancers for years. Like yoga, pilates is good for posture and molding of the body. In yoga, part of your instruction is learning how to flow gracefully through each position. Such grace is an important key in your pilates workout as well.
Should You Flip a Coin for Yoga or Pilates?
Yoga and pilates are both speedily gaining popularity in the United States; in part because of the tremendous results that have been experienced, and there is also the celebrity endorsements. Jennifer Aniston, Kim Catrell, Cindy Crawford, Jamie Lee Curtis and Sharon Stone are just a few among the many high profile fans of this lean mean sculpting fitness regimen.
Gwenyeth Paltrow, Nicholas Cage, Madonna, Cameron Diaz, and Jerry Seinfeld give yoga the credit for their tone physiques and centered states. It is not all unusual that many who pay homage to the sleek results of pilates also practice, or at one time practiced yoga. Jamie Lee Curtis and Madonna favor both yoga and pilates. And by the looks of the Material Girl's chiseled arms, it is paying off in landslides.
Yoga is probably the most testified path to both mental and physical health in history. It is not at all surprising how many people, famous or not, have fallen head over heels for this ancient art. For those who love yoga, pilates added in can only enhance your physical results. And when you see how much better your body is looking and feeling, it will do wonders for your emotional well being. It could be time to ride that yoga pilates love train.
