Want Health and Fitness in Minutes? Pilates Or Yoga May Be Your Answer

Is lack of time, money, or convenience impeding your weight-loss or fitness regime? If so, Pilates or yoga may be the answer. With today's busy schedules, most of us may find it difficult to set aside time for fitness and exercise, especially at a costly gym. Pilates and yoga equipment and accessories will save you time and money in achieving your weight-loss and fitness goals with just a few minutes, a few times a week, at your convenience and in the privacy of your home.

Frequently referred to as mind-body exercises, Pilates and yoga aid in increasing flexibility and joint movement; improving balance, while toning, firming, and sculpting your body. Both of these exercise techniques have a proven track record of helping people recover their full range of motion and improve flexibility and strength. In addition to improving overall health and well-being, and combined with a proper diet, Pilates and yoga exercises can accelerate and enhance your weight-loss and fitness program.

What is Pilates? Pilates is a system of exercises designed to improve flexibility and strength. Joseph Pilates created this system of exercises during the First World War to improve the rehabilitation program of returning veterans. Believing that mental health and physical health are inter-related, Joseph Pilates suggested a few specific movements emphasizing control and form to help injured soldiers in regaining their healthy bodies. Out of this was born "The Pilates Principles", a method for conditioning the entire body by strengthening, stretching, and stabilizing key muscles.

The main difference between Pilates and yoga: yoga is more spiritual than physical. Both disciplines use a specific set of exercises that work the body as a whole, from the middle or "core" of the body. As with yoga, the Pilates method also teaches breath awareness and concentration to enhance its stress reduction benefits, but it has less of the spiritual and meditative components involved with yoga.

Because Pilates' history started with physical therapy, there are numerous exercises for people suffering from medical conditions such as scoliosis, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. No longer confined to physiotherapy rooms, Pilates can be found in exercise studios and gyms, or can be practiced in the privacy of your home or office. As the low impact exercises emphasize stretching and are not as physically demanding or time consuming most workouts, Pilates appeals to busy adults, especially women, with variable and hectic schedules. Pilates is accommodating enough to challenge everyone, from someone starting to get into shape to someone in their best physical condition.

Luckily, practicing both or switching from one method to the other is not a problem, as nearly all the equipment and accessories are used in both Pilates and yoga exercises, making them interchangeable; a cost-savings and convenience. With the help of instructional books and DVDs, Pilates and yoga can be practiced anywhere and at your convenience.

Yoga Balance/Fitness balls enhance yoga, Pilates and fusion exercise programs to firm and strengthen abs, back and buttocks.

For faster, more targeted toning, Circles (rings) and discs provide resistance for improving muscle strength throughout the body; especially in problem areas such as inner and outer thighs, upper arms, and chest.

Yoga and Pilates mats provide cushioning and traction and are used in most classes. Although most studios have mats you can rent to use during class, it makes more sense to purchase your own mat, for both financial and hygienic reasons.

Tone, firm and shape every muscle group with resistance tubes and bands. They are good for all ages, and all fitness levels will see results in just minutes a day. It is the best way to warm-up and cool-down, as well as an excellent relief for arthritis sufferers. Resistance tubes and bands are lightweight and compact enough to go anywhere.

Yoga and Pilates kits are the perfect way to get started on a great routine. These kits equip you with the right tools required to understand, learn and practice your routine effectively, and realize its powerful benefits.

Which method is the best for you? That depends on your individual needs, desires, and personal preferences. If you are not looking for a spiritual workout, Pilates may be more to your liking. If you are looking for more than exercise alone, yoga may be the ticket. Regardless, both disciplines can be done in the privacy and convenience of your home or office, saving the cost of an expensive gym membership. Pilates and yoga equipment and accessories are compact, lightweight, and portable, making any room, anywhere, a potential gym. No longer are we limited to specific gym hours or locations; we don't need to finance big, bulky fitness equipment to obtain and maintain healthy bodies. Pilates and yoga provides fitness in minutes, a few times a week, for only a few bucks.

K.Y. Stevens is a veteran freelance writer and health enthusiast who enjoys writing about health and fitness, especially topics related to Pilates and yoga exercises and equipment. For more information related to the topics, go to [http://www.pilateshealthybodies.com]

Pilates Exercise Regimen

Imagine a type of exercise that could do more than just make you stronger or help you lose weight. What if there was a type that could actually improve your posture, help prevent future injuries, improve you coordination and balance, and make you better at physical sports. What if the positive aspects of this theoretical regimen didn't stop there, but when on to make you more flexible, improve your sense of touch, make it easier for you to move, make you stronger, and even alleviate back pain? Of course one exercise regimen could not possibly do this, could it? Yes, it could and this program goes by the name of Pilates.

A regimen that could do all this would likely be considered some new system that required high-tech exercise equipment, probably recently discovered by researchers after years of study. On the contrary, the Pilates program came to exist in the year 1880, over 100 years ago, in Germany. Pilates was the concept of a man named, you guessed it, Pilates. When he was just a boy, Pilates was slammed with one physical issue after another, such as Rickets, Asthma, and unusual bone formations.

As a stubborn young man, Pilates refused to accept the conditions as permanent, and sought to find a way to retrain his body, make it more flexible and durable. After many years of self induced training in meditation and physical fitness.

The compilation of Pilates study came in the form of a regimen that was built upon the principle of balance. The idea was to find a point where strength and flexibility could meet on equal levels. At the same time, it also focused on the balance of the body, the mind, and the spirit. After studying a bit more into his theories of balancing these three, Pilates stumbled upon the eastern theories on equality of calmness and centeredness. All of this coupled with the western worlds approach to exercise (motion, and strength) he brought together his new and ultimate exercise program, the Pilate Regimen.

The overall concept of the program, though there have been many offshoots over the decades, is centered around concentration of movements, the use of the bodies center (lower back/abdomen), and smooth movements, as well as that of controlled breathing. There are many great sources of information on the Pilates regimen, and once you start delving into them, you will find that there is a mass of different techniques to it. Though this might be a bit confusing at first, there are ways to choose the correct one for you, as each way focuses on a different aspect of your being and well being.

Consult your physician on the subject. Most doctors are very much for the Pilates Regimen, as it has such a success rate from past test programs.

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Controversy In Texas! Yoga Or Pilates?

Yoga or Pilates. Pilates or Yoga. You've seen the late night/early morning infomercials for both. Bookstores in Dallas, Houston and throughout Texas have the latest books on these two activities. Exercise and health magazines devote a growing number of articles to both. Even the rich and famous have made their choices and divided into camps. So what's the big deal about Pilates and Yoga? Is one better than the other? What's different? What's the same? Which one makes the better dessert topping? Pilates or Yoga -- which one should you choose?

Yoga is a technique that claims to unite the mind, body and spirit. Yoga teachers, or Yogis, hold the belief that the mind and the body are one. And if you're given the right tools and taken to the right environment, you can find harmony and heal yourself. That's also why Yoga is considered therapeutic. It helps you become more aware of your body's posture, alignment and patterns of movement.

The practice of yoga makes the body more flexible and can help relax you even in the middle of panic stricken surroundings. This is one of the biggest reasons why people start practicing Yoga -- to feel more fit, more energetic, be happier and more peaceful. Yoga movements are performed, mostly, in a group setting on a special Yoga mat with the aid of a Yogi. The practice utilizes the body's own weight for resistance. A great deal of focus is concentrated on flowing from one posture to the other. There are numerous Yoga styles and they differ on what they emphasize. No style is really better than another. The style you choose and use is a matter of personal preference or a matter of need.

For example, Vinyasa Yoga makes use of modified Yoga poses designed to meet the needs of an individual as well as to enhance healing, flexibility and strength of joints. These poses also tend to promote the feeling of well being and strength. Other Yoga practices may include meditation, reflection, study and other classic elements, but the focus of this type of Yoga practice is on coordinating breath and movement.

Pilates, on the other hand, seeks a lot of the same goals, also through a series of controlled movements. The big difference is that the Pilates technique not only has a full complement of mat work, but it also incorporates work on Pilates-specific machines. The focus of Pilates exercises is to strengthen your abdominal muscles, improve posture, stabilize and lengthen the spine, improve balance and overall strength. Pilates gives you a longer, leaner body.

And unlike many other training programs, Pilates works the whole body, emphasizing control, precision and concentration for both the mind and the body. The movements are not performed rapidly nor are they excessively repetitive. Instead, the focus is on quality, not quantity. The abdominal muscles, lower back and buttocks serve as the center of all movement, allowing the rest of the body to move freely. This focus on core stabilization makes one stronger from the inside out.

The low-impact nature of Pilates makes it ideal for Texans’ injury prevention and rehabilitation. Its six principles – concentration, control, centering, breathing, flow and precision – train the body to move efficiently, with minimal impact. The balance between strength and flexibility creates a healthy,

vigorous and symmetrical workout for all muscle groups, resulting in a leaner, more balanced and stronger body.

Now that you know a little about both techniques, you should take your research one step further to discover which of these two fitness techniques is right for you. Try them separately or do them in conjunction with one another. You'll be surprised that both techniques can complement each other.

You can get the stretch from Yoga nd keep it with Pilates. Strengthen your abdominals on the former and watch your poses improve. Join the breathing techniques of Pilates and meditative aspect of Yoga into your daily routine. Now watch the stress of your everyday life dissolve. Both techniques are established and, with the help of an experienced instructor and yogi, you might reach your fitness goals.

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Pilates and Yoga - A Combination With Proven Results

Joseph Pilates used many exercise genres when he developed his original exercises method; exercises which were meant to help patients recover while he was stationed in a medical unit during World War 1. He was a veteran to anything exercise related and studied martial arts, yoga and zen meditation. He was a boxer, a diver, and a gymnast. When he came to the United States, from his New York Studio, his Pilates method of exercises was quickly adopted by dancers to improve posture.

Pilates is a practice of core strengthening exercises. A good Pilates program will provide exercises that touch every muscle group in the body; building strength, flexibility and improving posture. The idea is a quality over quantity theme where when practicing correct alignment you can focus on different body parts and still gain benefits throughout the body. Utilizing specific engaged muscles affords an efficient exercise even while performing fewer repetitions. Pilates exercises promote strength without muscle bulk. The connection of the breath to the movement and the focus on alignment of the spine improve the mind-body connection.

In short, Pilates is intended to provide a strong, toned and healthy body.

Yoga was developed over 5000 years ago and used by every generation since. The ancient art of mind-body connected poses strengthen and lengthen our bodies. The practice of Yoga may have changed throughout the centuries, but we can adapt the basic teachings even in our lives now.

Yoga is a practice of postures intended to bring ultimate health and fitness to your body and mind. It is a practice that uses the breath to bring the mind's focus into the body and enhance the practice's benefits of strength, flexibility and mental clarity and calmness. Moving through your yoga practice you will practice standing, sitting, kneeling, prone and reclined poses. Inversions, twists, side stretches, balancing poses and muscle lengthening bring balance into your body.

The yogic result? A lighter feeling throughout the body and mind. Stress relief at its best.

The Combination...

If we combine the two practices, we can add the postural benefits and core strength of Pilates into our yoga practice and add the flexibility and mental awareness of yoga into our Pilates practice.

Yoga postures will improve. You will be able to stand taller, contract your core more efficiently and add strength to every pose. Your Pilates practice will improve with the added flexibility, balance and awareness that yoga brings.

Many Pilates exercises are derived from yoga postures. You will clearly see the similarities. Sometimes when I teach a mixed class of yoga and Pilates I will practice the Pilates exercise and then hold in the yoga pose that it was derived from for added flexibility.

Many Pilates exercises promote flexibility in their own right, but they provide added core strength as you are usually contracting your abdominal and stabilizer muscles while you move. By using core strength while holding correct alignment, you often work your whole body simply to move correctly in the exercise.

On the other hand, the core strength that Pilates provides assists in all of the balancing postures of Yoga. I am forever telling people to stay strong through their core when moving through certain poses, when practicing strength training, when doing mostly anything.

Building your core strength - and that means your powerhouse section: that band across your lower abs, lower back, and hips - greatly reduces the risk of hurting your lower back. Lower back injury is probably the most common injury that afflicts people of all sizes and shapes.

Another cause of concern is poor posture. Your body is out of balance if you have poor posture and most people are out of balance from work related repetitive movements. Both Yoga and Pilates improve posture and bring balance into the body; realigning the spine.

You can practice each form of exercise separately or find a combination class near you. There are workout videos for both and for combinations as well. Try it at home, or try it at a local studio.

Please be safe and check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program.

By Kathi Duquette

Certified Yoga Instructor

Certified Personal Trainer

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How is Yoga and Pilates?

What is yoga?

Yoga is the best and most time-tested path to physical and mental well-being known to mankind. While some people think of yoga simply as physical exercise, it is actually a complete system for overall health and well-being. It includes everything from physical postures, personal hygiene, and a healthy diet to premeditation, breathing, and relaxation techniques. The most advanced forms of meditation and self-realization are also a part of yoga. Wai Lana's workouts focus on yoga's physical techniques.

Why do yoga?

Like many forms of exercise, yoga asanas effectively stretch and strengthen your body. The greatest benefits of yoga asanas, however, come from their profound effects on the internal systems of the body. By bending, stretching, twisting, and flexing in the various postures, you bathe your internal organs with oxygenated blood and prana, also known as life force energy or chi. Yoga asanas soothe and tone your nerves and regulate the endocrine system, which is responsible for the production of hormones--one of the keys to both physical and mental health. They also improve digestion and elimination, strengthen the respiratory system, and tone the reproductive organs. Although yoga techniques like asanas, breathing, and relaxation are extremely effective in relieving stress, it is Yoga Sound meditation that relieves deep-seated stress and anxiety, enabling you to experience yoga's greatest gifts: spiritual happiness and inner peace.

Wai Lana

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to find anyone who has had as much influence as Wai Lana in increasing the worldwide appreciation of the beauty and benefits of the ancient art of yoga. Wai Lana's internationally aired TV series attracts a huge audience and has played a significant part in the skyrocketing popularity of yoga. Click here to read Wai Lana's biography.

What is Pilates?

Derived from ancient yoga asanas, the Pilates exercise system was formulated by Joseph Pilates over 80 years ago for more specific and limited purposes. Although Pilates is not a complete balanced or holistic exercise and health system, it is quite useful. Pilates focuses mainly on cultivating core strength in the body and lengthening the spine. Practiced for decades by dancers, Pilates has become popular in recent years for its largely aesthetic body sculpting effect. Pilates can be a valuable tool for enhancing strength, definition, and good posture in partnership with Wai Lana Yoga. Click here to explore Wai Lana's Pilates Yoga line of products

Guidelines for yoga and Pilates practice:

o Yoga postures, especially inversions and those that compress the abdomen, should not be done on a full stomach. Listen to your body--if you practice too soon after eating or drinking, certain poses will feel uncomfortable.

o It's best to practice yoga asanas barefoot, using a yoga mat or nonslip surface for standing poses. A mat, rug, or folded yoga blanket will provide firm padding for other asanas.

o Wear comfortable clothing, something that allows you to move freely.

o Ideally, the room should be well ventilated. Have enough space to extend your arms and legs in all directions without hitting anything.

o While practicing, concentrate on the feeling that the asana is producing in your body.

o If you feel too weak or shaky in a pose, come out of it. Gradually, you will build up your strength and be able to hold the pose longer.

o Don't go beyond your personal limitations, but extend your boundaries gently. Doing the asanas correctly means doing them to the best of your ability without straining.

o Throughout the workout, focus on your breath, inhaling and exhaling fully and completely through your nose. Breathing with awareness not only feels good, but also balances and regulates energy flow within the body, strengthening your internal organs and boosting your resistance to disease.

Yoga is completely different than pilates. Yoga is about strength, flexibility and inner awareness whereas pilates is just about fitness. Pilates was developed as a way to keep people looking fit, and it is also essentially a marketing strategy to sell exercise videos. Yoga has a long history. It is almost like a religion. If you have a good instructor, yoga can be very rewarding, and I believe that it is more effective than pilates. I thought pilates was kind of boring and not very difficult since it only uses short outbursts of energy and you don't hold moves long enough to gain any real strength. There are also many different types of yoga whereas pilates is rather limited.

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Pilates, Not Just an Exercise But an Art Form

Pilates are believed to uplift your mental mood, improve your health and add strength and flexibility to your body. People of all ages can participate in this well-rounded exercise program. When doing the exercises, the movements are slow and precise but upper and lower body strength is needed to achieve balance and to maintain a clean line. All you need to perform the exercises are comfortable stretch clothes and a small exercise mat.

This type of exercise program was an old practice that has recently soared in popularity, much like yoga. The unique fitness routine requires a lot of discipline and mental focus. It is best learned by attending a class with a trained instructor. After a few months, it is possible to attain the flexibility and grace of a dancer. It is also used as part of a weight control program.

The exercise program is basically a body-conditioning regimen. The program focuses on creating a strong, flexible body and an overall lean tone. Like any form of exercise, the longer you do it the more endurance you will build. Although the movements are not rigorous like aerobic exercise, these take a lot of strength, balance and muscle coordination. It is one of the many popular exercises that work the core, which is the torso region of the body.

The program has many benefits. People that do this form of exercise tend to develop sculpted, lean bodies. This method elongates the muscles, which adds a dancer or gymnast style elegance to an individuals posture. You become stronger and more coordinated.

The exercise methods were created during WWI. The creator was a sickly and weak child that suffered from asthma. His parents put him in various sports to build his lung strength and to help him become an overall healthy child. When he became a nurse, he first created the fitness program to help injured soldiers. He used his technique to assist men with muscle and coordination recovery from their injuries during the war. He also created a machine that coincided with the exercise program to help build upper body strength.

He studied various forms of yoga and meditation arts from around the world. He also incorporated martial arts into his method making it somewhat of an art form. Besides the physical advantages of the program, it is also said to bring clarity and peace of mind. Therefore, it is considered a holistic form of exercise.

Joseph Pilates believed that our physical and mental natures are one. The constant flow of energy is vital to achieving the best results. Breathing becomes essential to maintaining a healthy mind and body. Deep focus and being in tune with your body add a certain level of inner harmony and control. This is a wonderful exercise program that promotes a healthy body and mind.

This method, for the most part, makes the user aware of breathing and aligning of the spine and helps to strengthen the deep torso muscles to make it possible to alleviate and prevent back pains. With pilates for beginners you will start by learning some simple pilates moves. For all the free information you'll need to get started, please visit our website.

Yoga Accessories And Pilates Accessories

Yoga accessories maximize the exercise experience when doing yoga. They also affect the comfort and enjoyment one receives from doing yoga. There are yoga products that add comfort to life as well as to the exercise time. People who are going through physical therapy benefit from restorative yoga. Therapeutic yoga classes utilize thick soft padded mats that have removable covers. There are wool blankets that are helpful when they are used to place under hips in seated poses and drape over the body for warmth in the final relaxation pose. Cork blocks are useful for placing under hands in standing poses. The woven straps are used in used in all type of yoga. They are extremely helpful with partner yoga poses. Yoga accessories aid in posture and balance when performing yoga. While some people think of yoga simply as physical exercise, it is actually a complete, holistic system for overall health and well-being.

While there are certainly differences between yoga and Pilates, they complement each other well and are both low impact workouts that can be practiced either in a class setting or in the comfort of your own home. Some yoga equipment can be used for Pilates. Exercise balls are used to improve core strength, balance, and stability they are great for both forms of exercise. There are mats that can be used for both disciplines. Pilates mat is ? inch thick and made of non-slip foam and yoga mats vary from foam to cotton.

Pilates accessories focus provides support and strength building. The primary goal of these exercises is for core muscles development. Pilates is beneficial for increase muscle strength without shortening them or making them bulky. A person who dedicates time to this discipline will develop long, lean muscles.

The core strength is developed by using resistance bands that are available in a variety of resistances and have easy to attach handles. Pilates ring is used to shape and tone the muscles of the arms and legs. Many people use 1 to 4 pound power weight balls weights in combination with the pilates exercises.

Both Yoga and pilates are full range of motion low impact exercise options. The two disciplines have been used for physical therapy, strength building, and general well-being. Yoga accessories tend to be more connected to the earth, while pilates accessories tend to be composed of materials that are familiar at the gym. Pilate and yoga equipment are often interchangeable.

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Pilates and Yoga - The Line Between

Time and again, there will be confusion about Yoga and Pilates and whether or not they're one and the same. Most definitely, they're not. However, there are key points that make them nearly synonymous. Perhaps, the most obvious is the fact that they're both very popular as a means of achieving physical and spiritual balance. Both are also widely accepted across cultures from Oriental to Western and their bedrocks have a universality that attract people from all walks of life and ages. However, there will be stark differences between these two disciplines in between their similarities.

Yoga is, of course, the oldest and best proven way of optimizing physical and spiritual health for every individual taking heed to its principles. People who don't know much about it often have the misconception that it's merely a form of physical exercise to keep the body fit. However, yoga goes way beyond that. It is a complete package that brings physical and spiritual perfection through specific routines and meditation that promote practices and conditions contributory to man's well-being. This package can include anything from improving muscle strength and tone to personal hygiene. This is how wide yoga is and its effects are most definitely time-tested.

While there are many exercise routines being promoted all over the media from aerobics to weight training, they're all repetitive in nature. Yoga isn't and this is what sets it apart from the rest. This oriental discipline is simply concerned about focusing on the body by stretching or flexing it to improve blood circulation and, thus, provide ample nourishment to the internal organs. Combined with Prana or life force energy, which is also supplied to the body by doing these routines, the person is expected to enjoy an overall improvement in health that may manifest in a myriad of ways from soothed nerves to improved digestive functions. Aside from stretching and flexing, yoga also espouses the value of proper breathing and relaxation as key to achieving both physical and spiritual well-being.

Pilates exercises are basically patterned after yoga where full body control is essential. However, unlike yoga, Pilates needs both a a mat and specialized machines that aim to ultimately improve overall body strength and health. While yoga is all about maintaining that physical and inner peace, Pilates focuses more on perfecting body states and motions so that with proper practice, you achieve better posture, improved muscle strength and tone and generally more graceful body movement.

Because Pilates is a form of yoga, two terms are closely related although not entirely similar. Even the difference between yoga and Pilates mats is quite obvious which means a different approach is used for each of the two. Either way, one need not necessarily choose one over the other as it is very possible and, perhaps, healthier to do both.

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Introduction to the Benefits of Pilates

What is Pilates?

Pilates is a method of exercise and physical movement designed to stretch, strengthen, and balance the body. Pilates utilizes a systematic practice of specific exercises and breathing techniques, which develop body awareness, increase flexibility and joint range of motion, improve and change the body's posture and alignment.

Unlike traditional fitness programs that fatigue the body and create overuse injuries, Pilates is a holistic form of body conditioning that leaves you refreshed and alert with a feeling of physical and mental well-being.

With regular practice, Pilates can yield numerous benefits:

*increases and creates balance between strength and flexibility, particularly of the abdomen and back muscles

*improves posture, balance, and core strength

*improves coordination, dynamic stability, and body awareness

*improves bone density and joint health

*increases lung capacity and circulation

*releases stress

*promotes injury prevention

*improves performance technique for athletes and dancers

How to Start Your Pilates Practice?

Preparing for a Pilates practice is essential as this will enable you to receive all the Health Benefits of the exercises and breathing. The greatest advantage of Pilates is that it can be practiced almost anywhere by people of all ages.

We recommend that you wear comfortable, loose, and stretchable clothing as this will allow the freest movement of the body. Practicing Pilates on a relatively empty stomach or about one to two hours after a full meal is essential. Doing exercises and breath work right after eating or drinking can place stress on the digestive system. Also, create a space that is free of distractions and is mentally soothing.

Always begin with easier exercises to warm and condition your body and, then, gradually progress towards more energizing exercises. Avoid any feelings of strain, discomfort, or excess fatigue. Practice with the intention of quality and control rather than quantity and struggle. Allow yourself time to relax or modify exercises, if needed. All aspects of a Pilates practice are equally important, so take time to enjoy the entire practice.

If you are practicing Pilates from a DVD, preview the video practices prior to performing so that you are familiar with the exercises and level of the practice. This will also allow you time to gather any props and materials that will be suggested. Always choose a practice with a level that is appropriate for your experience. If you have any previous or current health issues (i.e. heart or circulatory conditions, respiratory conditions, muscle or joint problems, pregnancy, diabetes, smoking), we strongly recommend that you consult a qualified physician prior to practicing Pilates. When performing the poses, maintain awareness on each movement and the alignment within each position. Remember, listen to the demands of the body as strain or fatigue should be avoided.

Michelle Trantina is a certified Hatha Yoga Teacher and the Co-Founder of http://www.myyogaonline.com and http://www.myyogamusic.com. Visit http://www.myyogaonline.com to learn more about Michelle and On-Demand Yoga, Pilates and Meditation lessons.

Pilates Home Gym Machines

There are at least two opposing versions of what can be regarded as the indicator of general health conditions and physical fitness. The first one, a more modern western concept, puts the emphasis on the strength of muscles. Bodybuilding is therefore a key element to this perspective. The ancient eastern concept, puts the emphasis on stretching rather than on strength; on harmony between physical and spiritual element within ourselves and not the outer body. Hatha yoga is the best example of a "sport" of this second kind. If we take this second concept seriously, then where do we place pilates? Although pilates makes use of many different machines to achieve its goals, its basic aim and methodology is a bit closer to that of yoga than to that of bodybuilding.

For those of you who prefer to exercise at home, here is a short list of pilates home gym machines. All of them can be used at home: reformer, Pedipull , resistance bands, Cadillac, barrel and chair. To understand the differences between them I recommend buying a pilates DVD from one of the online stores. That way you'll get to know the machines and exercises and it will be faster than searching and reading articles online. But to help a little here are some brief descriptions of the basic machines and what they offer.

A Pedipull , one of the simplest and easiest pilates machine models to use. Pedipull is a pole in a shape of a "T" bolted to the wall or to the floor. It has two parallel spring attachments, both with handles. Pedipull is used mainly for improving posture, providing spinal realignment. It strengthens hand muscles, arms, back, legs and breasts. This is one of the "bodybuilding" style machines used in pilates.

The best known manufacturers of pilates machines for home and studio use are Peak Pilates, Stott Pilates, Balanced Body, and Equilibrium. However traditional Pedipull can be hard to find. Most modern machines like Cadillac or reformer can have Pedipull included in some way. Check the manufacturer specifications carefully.

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