WHAT IS YOGA?

There is so much more to yoga than just the poses (or asanas) you've practiced in the past. A spiritual discipline that dates back over 5,000 years in India, ayurveda makes use of the body as a means of connecting with one's inner self while also strengthening one's physical and mental stamina and awareness. Working with the chakras, the seven energy centres in your body, is a fundamental aspect of yoga. The mind is projected through these chakras, and if a chakra is blocked, a person may have mental or bodily disorders. The asanas in yoga can assist in stimulating and balancing the chakras in various ways. Hatha yoga is a good place to start for novices, but there are many different types of yoga out there. Yoga's basic goal of bringing the body, mind, and spirit together is the same regardless of the form of yoga practiced.

The benefits of yoga

There are many physical and mental benefits to practicing yoga, including:



Increased flexibility and mobility

Increased strength and endurance

Increased balance and stability

Improved breathing

Improved posture and body awareness

Reduced stress and anxiety

Improved sleep

WHAT IS PILATES?

Contrary to popular belief, even though Pilates appears to have been around for a long time, it is still a relatively new kind of exercise. Physical trainer Joseph Pilates created Contrology, a technique of exercise aimed to correct muscle imbalances and increase strength, stability, and flexibility in dancers and athletes in the early 1900s. In addition, he created a variety of tools for enhancing and challenging the workouts. After Joseph's death, the method was renamed Pilates. Pilates combines elements of calisthenics, yoga, and ballet, but emphasizes the use of the mind to control the body and focuses on precise, controlled movements that straighten the spine, rather than relying on brute force. It's important to remember that Pilates is based on six core principles: breathing, focus, centering, control, and accuracy.