Yoga and Pilates

In recent years, yoga and Pilates workouts have cornered the home video market and taken over gym class schedules, and there's no sign that their popularity is fading. But what do they offer that more traditional workouts don't? Well, convenience and ingenuity might have something to do with it, as these workouts focus on two major fitness principles at once: stretching and toning.

While cardiovascular workouts are important for your energy and wellbeing, many people underestimate the necessity of stretching and toning for fitness. Stronger and more flexible muscles are able to withstand more pressure and activity, allowing you to stay injury-free, lean and competitive. Yoga and Pilates each focus on stretching and strengthening, but they use slightly different approaches. Learn why these exercises can help you increase your fitness quickly and easily.

Yoga for Fitness

Certain static exercises will help you stretch or tone, but they can be boring and surprisingly difficult to get right. For instance, many people endanger their muscles with aggressive stretching, while others don’t hold for long enough to see any benefit. Yoga overcomes both of these issues, as the poses can be adjusted to your own range of motion, and simply maintaining those poses is the primary challenge of your practice. You don't have to commit to a formal yoga routine to get the benefits: some basic and effective poses can loosen your muscles and center your mind if you perform them regularly. One of the most difficult aspects of exercising with yoga at home is maintaining your form and controlling your rate of movement, so your best bet is to get a good yoga video geared toward beginners, and invest in a yoga mat. Remember that yoga isn't about achieving a "level"; listening to your body is the single most important part of your practice. You'll find that you improve naturally and without injury when you accept and work with your body's natural form and fitness.

Pilates for Strength

A balanced exercise routine must include aerobic (cardiovascular) and anaerobic (strengthening) workouts, but that doesn't mean you need to lift weights to complement your cardio. Pilates is a gentle and effective approach to anaerobic health, and although there are accessories made just for Pilates training, you don't need any special equipment to get started.

The main goal is to lengthen the muscles and strengthen the core, so most of the exercises focus on stabilizing the abdominal muscles while moving other parts of your body. Depending on how you move and how you balance your posture, you can activate a variety of muscle groups that other static exercises can easily miss. If you want to get a taste of the sort of exercise Pilates offers, you can attend a class or else invest in a good instructional video.

Like yoga, Pilates requires patience and proper form to see results, but the benefits carry over into every part of your life. Not only will these practices help you lose weight and strengthen the body, they will also teach you how to focus your mind and protect your newfound posture for years to come.