I have been on a journey for some time; trying to find a workout that pushed me. When I lived in Lake Tahoe I belonged to a studio called Mountain Yoga. This is where I was introduced to Yoga and Pilates. My instructor’s name was Dorathy. She was a very interesting woman talking in a way that made me feel that I was living at a different moment in time. Talking about your energy system and deepening your practice, I thought was only meant for hippies. I was about to find a new part of my life. Dorathy was a dancer and was married to an acupuncturist. She had a young son who would be in some classes sitting in the corner with his toys, quiet as can be. She loved to mix Pilates and Yoga together in “harmony.” We would listen to Bob Marley and class would always go over its given time. I loved my time with Dorathy and hope she is enjoying life wherever she is.
When I moved to San Diego I had heard of a place offering Pilates reformer classes. I had always wanted to try the reformer and finding a studio the offered it was, at the time, a dream come true. I started to do semi private training sessions with a lady named Jessica. She was a skinny little thing without any body fat on her at all. Every inch of her was a toned structure of muscle. It was clear that she had been doing Pilates for some time. She was a great instructor, pushing me more and more to achieve my small goals one at a time.
Now, I realize, that I did not explain what the Pilates reformer is. Pilates is a series of exercises either done on a mat or on a reformer that uses your own body as a weight. It is focused using your “core,” your stomach. You can use props such as bands and balls as well. A reformer helps make sure you are doing the exercises properly by the use of a machine. Your breathing plays a big part on your practice as well. Doing various breathing exercises is a big part of Pilates . I enjoyed going to my Pilates classes yet it became very expensive. I also wanted a more intimate setting. The studio was stark and lit with artificial light with a radio for ambiance. I wanted something more like the Mountain Yoga experience.
I had a girlfriend tell me about a place called Sculpt Fusion Yoga. It’s a hot yoga studio where each class is around 95 degrees. They had candlelit practice as well as diverse classes and music selections. You also could try for a week free. I thought that I had nothing to lose and would give it a try. After the first class, I was hooked! I bought a package of classes and have been going fever since.
The differences of Yoga and Pilates in my mind is that Pilates focuses on building strength from your core. Yoga also builds strength from your core, as well as strength through flexability. Both focus on breathing as a technique to help deepen your practice. I feel that both are a great form of exercise. I was lucky enough to experience many different kinds of classes. Blends of the two as well as their individual practice. There is no right or wrong approach. For me, I just feel I get more out of Yoga and continue to deepen my practice almost every day.