The popularity of Yoga and Pilates has exploded in the past few years. Yoga and Pilates are both great for conditioning your body and improving flexibility and strength. Both Yoga and Pilates are performed with bare feet. But there are some big differences between the two.
Pilates was developed in the 1920’s by a man named Joseph H. Pilates. It is an exercise system that focuses on improving flexibility and strength for the total body without building bulk. Not surprisingly, some of the first to benefit from Mr. Pilates conditioning methods were dancers. Pilates is performed on a mat (much like yoga) or there are also specialized Pilates equipment such as the Pilates reformer, the cadillac, the ladder barrel, the chair and more. You may need to find Pilates studio or a gym with the specialized equipment if you wish to do Pilates on the machines. You can find mat classes at most gyms or you can also find many Pilates DVD’s out there to get you started. Joseph H. Pilates promised “In 10 sessions you’ll feel the difference, in 20 you’ll see the difference, in 30 you’ll have a new body.”
Yoga, on the other hand, is an ancient practice, dating back to 2500 BC, or possibly even earlier. Yoga is a much more spiritual practice, integrating the mind and the body. Meditation is as much a part of a Yoga practice as the physical exercise. Yoga utilizes stretching postures, breathing, and meditation techniques to calm the emotional state and the mind, and tone the body. There are many styles and branches of yoga which emphasize different aspects from meditation, to devotion to asana (a posture, or a steady position of the body). Some of the many styles of Hatha Yoga that are popular include Iyengar, Ashtanga (power Yoga), Kundalini, and Kripalu.
Depending upon your goals and aspirations, you may find a good fit with either Yoga or Pilates. But either way you can exercise barefoot!
