Comments on: New York City: Pilates or Yoga?

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:40:13 +0000

I vote for PILATES!
I respect the practice of yoga and its benefits, and I really want to like it… but to be completely honest – I just never looked forward to taking a yoga class the way I do with pilates. Maybe like Ashley mentioned, it has to do with my natural rhythm?

On the other hand, I embraced pilates from my first class. I love the strength, length, balance, and mind/body contol that it fosters. I enjoy the challenge of trying to visualize and engage the different muscles that need to be activated in different movements. Each class is almost like a physical therapy session. I encourage anyone who hasn’t quite connected with yoga to give pilates a try! It may be just what you are looking for!

By: Gail

Gail — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:12:04 +0000

That was beautifully said. What a great description of your love for yoga…. and though short, your description for pilates
was thoughtful and well said.

By: Ashley Maher

Ashley Maher — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:28:13 +0000

When I go to a yoga class I am not usually going for my body. I go to focus on quieting my mind and getting in touch with what it is telling me. For me yoga is a challenge. I think we all have a natural rhythm that usually makes us lean towards either pilates or yoga. The slow pace of yoga seems to go against my natural rhythm and I think that is why it is so effective for me. I can hear all my mental monkeys coming out that hold me back in my life. So during my yoga practice I can challenge those monkeys and get familiar with how they can be worked on at other times. I can practice staying calm and relaxing when my mind is telling me I can’t.
I agree that it should not be a yoga vs. pilates. We can benefit from both. However I know that I NEED pilates in my life on a regular basis. The way it balances my muscles and keeps me aligned is essential for my health and well being. Yay Pilates!!!

By: DanaDlugosz

DanaDlugosz — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:12:37 +0000

I totally agree that Pilates is a strength training program. In my opinion Yoga is a practice where one can work on mind-body connection. Not that Yoga does not focus also on body awareness and strengthening, but it is not the main focus. I love both Yoga and Pilates, as, they help me work on different aspects of my life. In Pilates, my focus is very much on rebalancing the muscles of my body to become stronger and supported in my torso so I can stand straighter and taller! In Yoga I get a much needed stress relief through meditation and stretch! They both give different things that compliment each other. I just heard someone speaking the other day about the debate of Pilates or yoga. The person pointed out that it really should not be either or, because both really compliment each other. We should do both! I definitely agree with that statement!

By: Barbara Dixon

Barbara Dixon — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:28:22 +0000

Doing Pilates at least three times a week at the upper east side’s, Mind Your Body, has made a tremendous difference in my body. It has not only shaped my body more than I would have ever imagined, but it has also given it an inner strength and increased my stamina in other sports.