Pilates or Yoga?

MissLadyInWaiting

Which one is better? or should i do both?

backinthenines

They are very different so it depends what you want.

Pilates promotes core strength.

Yoga promotes flexibility.

There are many different forms of yoga, such as Hatha, Iyengar, Bikram, Ashtanga Vinyasa, which are also very different. Bikram and Ashtanga are much harder forms than Hatha etc.

jellyfishjen

Try both and then go to which ever you enjoy the most or if you like both alternate them. I like to mix my exercise up. Keeps me interested and I like to think I'm using muscles in different ways which must be helpful.

Cudders

If I had to choose, I'd choose yoga. There are combination yoga-pilates classes and DVDs out there also which may work for you. I personally would choose yoga as the type of yoga I do (vinyasa flow) works pretty much everything, whole body strength, core and flexibility. I love Shiva Rea's DVDs, you literally drip with sweat once done.

MissLadyInWaiting

well i love Pilates but i've read that it makes you 'long & lean' and i'd rather be curvy, i dont want pilates to get rid of my curves. and i would love to be able to do yoga but there is no classes where i live and i cant find any good online beginner routines

Cudders

The long and lean is really a description for toning your muscles, as a contradiction to building muscle bulk. You don't have to worry about it getting rid of any curves!

backinthenines

well i love Pilates but i've read that it makes you 'long & lean' and i'd rather be curvy, i dont want pilates to get rid of my curves. and i would love to be able to do yoga but there is no classes where i live and i cant find any good online beginner routines

Oh dear oh dear oh dear....

There is a lot of rubbish information around to confuse people. Pilates doesn't make you "long and lean". It's standard core conditioning and will give you stronger abs, obliques and lower back through slow and controlled movements.

It's not cardiovascular in essence so doesn't burn many calories. It won't make you "bulky" either as it's not really proper strength training. Pilates is great for anyone with a weak core.

MissLadyInWaiting

thank god, i have a Pilates book but haven't used it cause i had been worried. definately going to start doing Pilates, and then work on my flexibilty with stretching, and when i'm more flexible i'll do Yogas thank you all so much