| Aside from being celebrities, what do Jennifer Aniston, | | | | mouth while performing an action. |
| Cindy Crawford, Hugh Grant, Madonna, Gwyneth | | | | Lastly, it can generally be done with just a mat |
| Paltrow, Uma Thurman, Rod Stewart and Kristi | | | | (although sometimes props are used), while instructors |
| Yamaguchi have in common? They've all hopped on | | | | ensure everyone's in proper form; pilates, on the other |
| the yoga and pilates trend for physical toning and | | | | hand, has specific machinery designed to assist |
| spiritual relaxation! | | | | practitioners. |
| There are some similarities between yoga and pilates, | | | | Athletes and dancers often engage in "pilates for |
| notably that they both work towards sculpting the | | | | sports" classes, either in large groups or one-on-one |
| body and increasing flexibility. Neither exercise will work | | | | with an instructor. However, one needn't attend a class |
| the heart or lungs like a cardiovascular workout will, but | | | | to get started with pilates -- in fact, there are many |
| they both add to an overall state of mental and | | | | videos (Eleonora Goya, Dian Ramirez, Leslie Sansone, |
| physical wellbeing. | | | | Kathy Smith, Denise Austin, Karen Voight, The Method |
| Yoga and pilates are so similar that they're often | | | | yoga, MTV, Prevention, etc). Of course, you won't get |
| fused together in workout videos and yoga pilates | | | | quite the same workout without the elaborate weight |
| classes across America, although it's sort of a | | | | systems, but it could be a good launching point for |
| Western fusion. In India, it is something entirely different | | | | people who are curious but not quite ready to commit |
| than the German-created pilates. | | | | to a gym or studio. |
| Clear differences between yoga and pilates include | | | | Some of the most popular videos include: |
| some of the following: First, it is an ancient Indian | | | | - "Yoga Zone"; |
| practice that dates back approximately 5,000 years, | | | | - "Living Yoga - AM/PM"; |
| whereas pilates is an adaptation of it dating back | | | | - "Basic Yoga Workout For Dummies"; |
| eighty years to a German athlete, Joseph Pilate. | | | | - "Total Yoga: The Flow Series"; |
| Secondly, in addition to physical activity, it is an entire | | | | - "Yoga: Mind & Body with Ali Macgraw"; |
| holistic program that encompasses diet, meditation, | | | | - "Crunch Yoga Mama: Prenatal Yoga"; |
| breathing techniques, religious edict and a moral code; | | | | - "Yoga Practice For Strength"; |
| Pilates is simply a form of exercise and body sculpting | | | | - "Ashtanga Yoga with Richard Freeman"; |
| technique. | | | | - "The Power of Hatha Yoga" and; |
| Thirdly, it aims to unite mind and body, as well as | | | | - "Kundalini Yoga: With Grace and Strength." |
| cleanse the body of toxins, while pilates is fashioned to | | | | For the practitioners seeking spiritual teaching as well, |
| strengthen, define and improve posture. Additionally, in | | | | classes and center training are best. Choosing |
| it, you are taught to inhale and exhale through the nose, | | | | between either classes or videos is all just a matter of |
| whereas pilates employs the traditional athletic mode | | | | preference. |
| of breathing in through the nose and out through the | | | | |