YOGA OR PILATES?
Regular gym goers who only concentrate on weights and cardio will, especially as they get older, come to realise that they must introduce strategies to improve flexibility, lengthen muscle and thus prevent soft tissue injuries – which are all common to the older athlete.
Both Pilates and Yoga are common to achieve these aims. But which one of these is for you?
Yoga
Yoga, is one of the most widely practiced forms of exercise in the world. Originating in India, it focuses on both physical and mental discipline.
If you are looking for a stress reliever as well as maintaining a balance between mind, body and spirit, Yoga is for you!! Yoga incorporates breathing and meditation techniques to create total peace of mind.
There are many different styles of Yoga.
- Hatha is a more relaxing flow
- Lyenger is for the more advanced student, focusing on dynamic poses held for longer periods of time
- Power yoga is a blend of vigorous Vinyasa and Ashtanga styles
Pilates
Pilates was developed in Germany in the 20th century and focuses on:
- the core torso muscles,
- strengthening the abs and back while
- protecting the spine.
Many people with back issues or weak abdominal muscles, especially after child birth, seek out Pilates to assist with strengthening the torso area.
Reformer Pilates uses a reformer machine and is a fantastic tool to isolate and focus on certain muscle groups that may be hard to target otherwise.
Both disciplines require practise, the key is to try both to see what works for you. A light bulb moment will not happen overnight, both take patience and dedication for a period of time in order to see what works for you.
If you have a specific goal such as recovering from injury, bad back, and weak core, Pilates will likely give you optimum benefits by working on:
- abdominal core strength,
- gluteal hip strength,
- spine mobility,
- general flexibility,
- alignment and
- correct breathing.
Gone are the days of just doing lots of crunches which may strengthen your rectus abdominals but may not strengthen other muscle groups such as internal obliques, multifidus, transverse abdominals and the pelvic floor.
What are you looking for?
If you are looking to re focus, take a break from busy life or form a more spiritual approach to exercise then Yoga combines all the movements you need for optimum health and wellbeing.
At Tattersalls Club Hyde Park we run:
- 3 Yoga classes per week
- 2 mat Pilates classes per week
The Yoga classes overlook the beautiful Hyde Park making it a great environment for exercise. We have found that these styles of classes have a broad appeal to different age groups and genders.
Want to give either a Pilates or Yoga class a go?
CLICK HERE for your guest pass.
Written by: The team at Tattersalls
