Anybody who knows their fitness facts will be able to tell you that Yoga and Pilates aren’t all that different from each other. Here’s a look at how the two are related:

Yoga is an ancient practice which involves the use of breathing techniques and bodily movements to attain physical and mental wellbeing. However, contrary to what is generally perceived, yoga is not just a mere mental exercise or physical workout alone. Yoga is a systematic series of different physical postures or “asanas” that help us strike the perfect balance within our body while various “mantras” help us in focusing our thoughts towards finding inner peace.

Pilates, as we all know, is a well-known exercise technique of modern times. Originally invented by health and fitness guru Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, today Pilates is an integral part of any good workout regimen. Both Yoga and Pilates are an extremely popular form of exercise for hundreds of people, from Hollywood celebrities to your next-door neighbor.

Just like several exercise methods, Yoga asanas aim to strengthen and stretch the body. Similarly, the Pilates program too is designed to stretch and strengthen the core or powerhouse of our body. Pilates is also practiced to add definition to the body, enhance strength, and develop a good posture which is again not unlike the effects of practicing Yoga.

In fact, Yoga and Pilates are so similar in some aspects that people who practice both tend to substitute certain techniques of one, with the other. Here are few tips to help you practice Pilate and Yoga at home:

1. Before you begin practicing, make sure you are wearing comfortable clothing which allows you freedom of movement. Also, the room you intend to practice in should be ideally well ventilated. You should also ensure you have enough space around for you to move your arms or legs in all directions without any objects obstructing your movement. This way, you won’t hurt yourself or break something while shifting from pose to pose.
2. Both Pilates exercises and yoga postures especially those that involve compression of the mid-section should never be attempted on a full stomach. It’s always a good idea to listen to your body instead of going ahead with the exercises anyway, since practicing too soon after eating or drinking will make you feel uncomfortable.
3. When practicing either yoga or Pilates its best to use non-slip surfaces like a mat or rug. This especially important when practicing on your back as is the case with certain Pilate exercises since the padded surface will provide protection for your spine.
4. One of the most important things to remember when attempting a Yoga asana or Pilates pose is to not overdo it. In other words, do not try to execute positions or body movements you aren’t physically comfortable with, because if you push yourself beyond your personal limitations, you might end up injuring yourself.

Keep these tips in mind when practicing yoga and Pilates and you should be well on your way to healthier and happier lifestyle.

The Pilates workout system is one the most effective and fast-working exercise programs out there. Today, many places like schools, community centers, gyms etc. hold Pilates courses and the reason for this widespread acceptance of Pilates is that it focuses on strengthening and toning different muscle groups at the same time and because users who have practiced Pilates have experienced amazing results in a short period of time.

Apart from being the surname of its inventor, Pilates is also short for Proximal Integrating Latent Agile Toning Exercise. The Pilates workout is a systematic set of exercises which are designed to develop the powerhouse of your body, through breathing, strengthening, stretching and balancing. Although it is a strenuous activity for short periods of time, it isn’t a cardiovascular workout and doesn’t put too much pressure on the cardiovascular system. This means that Pilates is an ideal form of exercise for people of all fitness levels.

The history of Pilates goes back to the Second World War when the inventor, Joseph Pilates, who was an intern at an English hospital, created a machine out of springs and defunct hospital beds to help wounded soldiers recuperate and regain and maintain their fitness levels. Born in 1880 in Germany, Joseph Pilates moved to New York in 1926, bringing with him his then-new exercise techniques and termed it as Pilates. And the rest, as they say, is history.

As mentioned earlier, a Pilates workout brings together the combined effect of breathing techniques and special stretches on Pilates equipment. To this effect, Pilates maybe compared to Yoga, but at the same time, it is far more dynamic than Yoga in nature. When using a Pilates machine, the exerciser is put through systematic motions while keeping the torso stationary and stretching the limbs in different directions. Doing so makes the core of the body more flexible and stronger.

The Pilates workout is an extremely beneficial form of exercise and thousands of people have experienced amazing results just by spending a few minutes doing Pilates each day. Many individuals report that doing Pilates makes their bodies better toned, stronger and more balanced unlike other exercises. Other benefits associated with Pilates include weight loss, heightened energy levels and a great overall feeling. Pilates is also a good way for injured athletes to train while recovering. It’s also an ideal workout plan for older people or pregnant women as it isn’t as strenuous as other exercises such as a cardiovascular workout. However, one must not forget, that despite all its benefits, a Pilates workout is a great supplement to any exercise plan, including aerobics and cardio, but it cannot be treated as a single workout plan on its own.

On the whole, Pilates certification for instructors can be segregated into two different parts. One part is the Pilates mat certification and the other is a complete Pilates instructor certification, which basically covers all types of Pilates equipment including the mat. Following is a brief outline of the comprehensive and mat Pilates certifications, along with other options:

Pilates Certification for Mats Pilates Instructor:

Training for mats instructor Pilates certification is generally available to Pilates students who have shown a natural aptitude in their classes. A Pilates mat instructor training covers all the fundamental mat exercises as well as methods to modify them in order to suit different people at different fitness levels. You can expect the mat instructor certificate examination to be a written test as well as a teaching demonstration.

The basic mat instructor certification course is usually offered as an intensive course over the duration of a weekend or two weekends. Generally such courses will cost you around $100 to $300. However, bear in mind there’s no standardization procedures for Pilates training, so you can expect to get exactly what you pay for. This is why its always a good idea to do some research about the certifying body that you intend to join and find out if it has a decent training program.

Pilates Certification for Comprehensive Pilates Instructor Certification:

In order to get a full certification as a Pilates instructor for all Pilates equipment, you need to have accomplished at least a year of Pilates study, which includes private lessons. It may also require you to have successfully completed mat teacher training, as well. The complete certification course includes a basic study of the human anatomy and physiology, evolution of the Pilates technique and the history of Joseph Pilates, along with an exhaustive instruction on various exercises for different equipments and related modifications.

Such a comprehensive Pilates certification course can take you over a year to complete and also require you to spend a major chunk of your time as an apprentice teacher in a Pilates studio. For the full course, you can expect to pay nothing below $2,000, although the cost of the course can vary, as do the programs included in your course.

Another option as far as Pilates certification courses go includes a course in Hybrid Pilates.

Hybrid Pilate is basically a combination of Pilates with other exercise techniques and fitness apparatus. For example, certification courses are now available in Yoga-Pilates, Pilates with exercise bands, Pilates on Ball etc. As interesting as this may sound, it’s important to remember that Pilates is a very precise method of exercise and has its own set of principles, so it’s important to at least get a mat instructor certificate before trying to learn crossover teaching techniques.

Apart from the certification course, you should know that even though certification is becoming the norm these days, it isn’t a necessity. There are many exceptional Pilates instructors who have been teaching Pilates for many years now, but don’t have a “certificate.” Thus another valid way of learning to teach Pilates is to take up apprenticeship under established Pilates instructors.

If you are looking to learn how to teach Pilates, keep the aforementioned options in mind and choose a course that suits you best and go ahead with it, since there is nothing really as fulfilling as being able to teach people to exercise and lead happier and healthier lives!

As any fitness buff will tell you Pilates is one of the best ways to lose weight fast and to tone and strengthen the core muscles of your body. However, without Pilates equipment, Pilates won’t work for anyone. Pilates equipment is an integral part of the Pilates program, since it creates resistance for your muscles to work against. Following is a brief review at some of the key Pilates equipment.

Pilates Equipment #1 - The Reformer

The Reformer is by far the most well-known piece of Pilates equipment and can be spotted in just about every Pilates studio in the world. It consists of a sliding carriage with foot bars, jump boards, arm and leg pulleys. The combination of these features allows the exerciser to work different muscle groups in different parts of the body using the same equipment.

Reformers are basically of two types. These are Spring Reformers and Gravity Reformers. As the name suggests, spring reformers use springs to produce resistance. This reformer requires the exerciser to lie on their back and pull with their arms or push with their legs. Similarly, the gravity reformer also works on the push and pull concept; however, the key difference is that the gravity reformer uses a person’s own weight to create resistance, rather than springs. The gravity reformer keeps the person in a diagonal position so that gravity pulls down on them, producing the necessary resistance.

Pilates Equipment #2-The Cadillac

The Cadillac, also known as the Trapeze, is a bit like cage minus the bars and just the frames. It is along the frame that springs, extra bars and straps are attached. These are used for performing several Pilates exercises. For instance, if you want to exercise your legs, you need to lie down in the opposite direction to the strap you want to use, then wrap the strap around your leg and pull it down against the direction of resistance offered.

Pilates Equipment #3-The Wunda Chair

Another popular Pilates equipment is the Wunda chair. A Wunda chair looks like a bench but is slightly higher, has two bars attached on each side with a spring. One of the exercises that can be done on the Wunda chair is to push on the bars while sitting or standing on the floor or the bench itself.

Pilates Equipment #4-Mats:

Pilates also includes a series of exercises that can only be done on a Pilates mat in order to tone and strengthen certain parts of the body. Mat exercises usually focus on only the trunk and the hips. The mat is basically used for protecting the back during exercise and doesn’t offer any resistance for the user. At the same time, Mats are the cheapest of all Pilates equipment and mat exercises are very good, especially for those on a budget.

The Pilates equipment mentioned above is only a few of the variety of equipment that you may find in a Pilates studio. Those, however, aren’t part of the original Pilates equipment and are either derived from the original equipment or created based on different applications of various Pilate techniques. For anyone who wants to experience the very best results of Pilates exercises, the appropriate Pilates equipment is a must.

Pilates exercise is a series of exercises that will help to tone and strengthen the body. Pilates exercise can help improve coordination as well as give you greater flexibility and is a favorite among professional dancers as well as Hollywood celebrities.

Invented by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, this type of exercise focuses on developing the core muscles of your body. While it may look easy to do, it is actually a very precise type of exercise and using the proper form is key to having the desired outcome. However, once you learn the proper form, Pilates exercises are quite simple and easy and you can do them at home or join an exercise class at your local gym.

Although you can do Pilates with nothing but a mat, there are some pieces of equipment that can be helpful towards sculpting and shaping the body. The Reformer is an aid you will find in any Pilates gym and has jump boards, pulleys for the arms and legs and a sliding carriage with foot bars. It allows you to efficiently work your different muscle groups and comes in two varieties - the Spring Reformer and the Gravity Reformer.

The Cadillac is another piece of Pilates exercise equipment you might find in the gym. This is a frame with straps, bars and swings that allow you to gain resistance in your exercises. Another piece of Pilates exercise equipment is the Wunda chair, which is much like a tall bench and allows you to exercise while sitting or standing.

While you can find fancy Pilates exercise equipment in any gym that offers Pilates classes, you don’t necessarily need fancy equipment in order to do Pilates. All you need is some loose clothing and a good mat. Buy a Pilates video and study the form before you attempt any exercises. This way you’ll be able to get the form right and receive the full benefit from the exercise right in your own home!