FYB Feel Your Best - Yoga Teacher Training, Pilates Teacher Training and Stress Management Teacher Training

Mind, Body & Spirit:

Question and Answers

About Yoga, Pilates & Stress Management

By Debra Mundt, RYT500, CPT
FYB (Feel Your Best)^®

Yoga, Pilates & Stress Management

Teacher Certification Training School

Yoga & Pilates - What's the Difference? / Brief History of Pilates

Q: Pilates is everywhere these days! I have practiced Yoga for many years, but haven’t tried Pilates yet. Is it something that I should do in place of one of my Yoga classes, or in addition to my classes? And can you tell me once and for all, what is the difference between Yoga and Pilates? Thanks! --T.Y.

A: As an instructor of both Yoga and Pilates, I am often asked the question, “What’s the difference?” Both of these Mind-Body disciplines are quite popular today, for reasons that are sometimes similar, and sometimes vastly different. The buzz-phrase of late seems to be “core conditioning”, and both Yoga and Pilates can offer support, strength, and toning for the core muscles.

MIND / BODY CONNECTION

Both Yoga and Pilates are considered “Mind-Body” disciplines, as opposed to mindlessly going through the motions of any exercise. The Pilates system teaches us to understand how our body moves and functions, and how to incorporate that knowledge into our daily life. Yoga practice allows us to develop internal awareness, in order to shut out external distractions, even outside of the classroom. Our muscles have memory: this means that what we learn in either discipline translates “off the mat”, and we may apply those principles to anything we may do physically. As well, during Yoga and Pilates practice, we gain clarity and focus, so we are mentally better prepared to face challenges in our lives.

PRIMARY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOGA & PILATES

Breath: Many different breathing techniques are used during Yoga practice, depending on what results are desired. Most Yoga breathing techniques utilize breathing through the nose on both inhalation and exhalation, in order to filter and warm the air and maintain heat within the body throughout the practice. Generally, diaphragmatic breath is encouraged (meaning, the abdomen expands and retracts).

Breathing in Pilates is usually taught as inhalation through the nose and exhalation through the mouth. Inhalation through the nose filters the air, while exhalation through the mouth encourages engaging deep abdominal muscles, as well as relaxation of the neck and jaw. To maintain abdominal control during the exercises, breath is directed into the ribcage, which expands away from the midline on inhalation and retracts back toward the midline on exhalation.

Spinal Flexion: Many instructors of postures and dynamic flow sequences in Yoga will teach neutral spine during forward bending—in other words, we hinge forward from the hips rather than rounding the spine. By maintaining neutral spine, there is less risk of injury, and we are able to gradually and safely increase spinal flexibility.

In Pilates, spinal flexion (rounding) is encouraged, in order to develop spinal flexibility and core strength. Due to the constant calling on the abdominals to remain engaged, the spine is supported, and thus safety is maintained.

To answer your question about Pilates replacing a Yoga class, I would say that it would probably be best to find the time to add Pilates into your existing Yoga class schedule (a typical Pilates class is 45 minutes to 1 hour in length). Pilates can enhance your Yoga practice (and vice versa!), as both are complementary…the core strength developed in Pilates practice allows for longer holds of Yoga postures, and more strength and endurance for challenging, flowing sequences. The flexibility developed in Yoga practice allows for more graceful, effortless movements of Pilates exercises, and the breathing techniques in both practices help us to increase our lung capacity and relieve stress.

Did You Know?

You may think that Pilates is a new fitness craze…but it’s actually got a rich history. Pilates has its origins in Germany, and IS relatively “new”, compared to Yoga, which originated some 5000 years ago! Joseph Pilates (1880-1967) developed his exercise system in the early 1900’s, which incorporated the use of equipment and mat exercises. During World War I, Joseph worked as a nurse in a prison hospital, and began fashioning exercise machines out of bedsprings attached to walls. This allowed for joint stabilization using resistance, for the inmates who were bedridden. It is said that not one patient in the area of the hospital that Joseph oversaw died from the influenza epidemic that wiped out so many—this is believed to be due to the conditioning from the machines Joseph created.

Do you (or does someone close to you) have a medical condition, or have an injury that you think Yoga, Pilates or Stress Management might be helpful in treating? Perhaps, you have general or specific Yoga, Pilates or Stress Management related questions. I’d love to hear from you! Please send your question to Info@FeelYourBest.com. I regret that I will not be able to personally answer each question submitted, due to time and space constraints.

Debra Mundt, RYT500, CPT, is the founder of FYB (Feel Your Best)^® Yoga, Pilates & Horizons (Stress Management). She is also Director of the FYB Teacher Certification Training School. Debra and the School Faculty members may be reached at 262-241-8796, or by e-mailing Info@FeelYourBest.com.