Pilates

[slazio]

Has anyone tried Pilates? If so do you really enjoy them and what have you seen and felt in doing them on a regular basis? Do you mix it with a cardio workout? What are the pros and cons.

[ellery]

Pilates is an excellent workout, it's just one that requires a lot of brain involvement - concentration to make sure your form is right. You can either do it on mats or on the equipment. It's sort of like yoga, so if you like yoga, you'll probably like pilates.

I've done both, and prefer yoga because it's a little more active, more moving around. It's just a matter of preference.

Hope that helps! :)

[sneezles]

Like, Leah, I've done them both and like them both for different reasons. I have 2 pilates videos one using the ball and the other just the mat (don't think I could talk DH into the other thingy...can't think of the name).
When I am sore from weight training or just really tired I find that yoga is very energizing. Pilates seems to challenge me more as far as form and endurance. JMHO!

[Grace]

I've already posted in several places that I love Pilates. And Ellery, I find it interesting that you think Yoga "moves around more" - I find just the opposite. Yoga is more holding poses (at least the yoga I've done). And while I like that very much, particularly for relaxing and stretching, I don't get much of a "work out" with yoga. Pilates for me is a LOT of moving, and once you've progressed past the beginner classes that focus on learning the moves properly with correct form, you go on to classes where everyone already knows the exercises and the form and you do them in quick succession. I come out of there with a very fast beating heart, glowing red cheeks and sweating a LOT. But I think it has a lot to do with the teacher and type of yoga you do too. I understand there's yoga out there that is very strenuous. But I still prefer Pilates! :D

[ellery]

Yeah, there are many different types of yoga, just as I guess there are Pilates. I think Pilates is more influenced by the instructor, however, and that they tend to incorporate yoga into the practice (just as yoga can steal from pilates). The yoga that I enjoy is more the mixed kind, some Ashtanga, some other stuff (handstands, funky poses, etc.). That kicks my ***! :)

Plus, I'm not one who gets a lot out of videos. I need the class interaction.

Not knowing what slazio's options are (classes vs. videos), it's hard to say. Everybody's different! (thank goodness!)