PILATES SAN FRANCISCO

Although much has been said about this topic, people I meet are always asking me which do I like better – yoga or Pilates? Of course I chose Pilates as my profession and I do prefer that method but I also believe that Pilates owes a great deal to yoga which came thousands of years before it. So many of the principles and body positions in classic Pilates repertoire seem to derive from yoga. Both are profound mind body systems and impart increased focus, concentration and body awareness.

 

For me the foremost difference is that Pilates is dynamic. We move through every position rather than hold it. So we are achieving functional range of motion and articulation without some of the potential joint, ligament and tendon strain that could result from maintaining a pose. Pilates on the apparatus also has the benefit of the spring loaded resistance so we are increasing strength as well as flexibility and coordination.

Here are just a few of the intersections of yoga categories and Pilates exercises:

 

• Yoga:
  • Seated and Twist
• Pilates:
  • Spine twist (mat)
  • Saw and Circle Saw (mat, cadillac)
  • Mermaid (chair, reformer, cadillac, step barrel) Mermaid rotation (cadillac, chair, reformer, step barrel)
•  

• Yoga:
  • Standing
• Pilates:
  • Stepdowns (chair)
  • Lunge, Eve's lunge (reformer, chair)
  • Splits on ledge – forwards and sideways (reformer)
  • Split (reformer)
  • Ballet stretches (cadillac, ladder barrel)
•  
• Yoga:
  • Arm Balances
• Pilates:
  • Tendon Stretch (reformer, chair)
  • Pushups (mat, step barrel)
  • Inverted Pushups (ladder barrel, reformer, chair)
  • Handstand (chair)
  • Plank (mat)
  • Control Stretch (reformer, mat)
  • Long Stretch (reformer, mat)
•  
• Yoga:
  • Core
• Pilates:
  • Hundreds (mat, reformer)
  • V-Sit (barrel, mat)
  • Criss Cross (mat, cadillac)
  • Single/Double Leg Stretch (mat, reformer)
  • Strap Work with Curls (reformer)
  • Climb a tree (ladder barrel, reformer)
  • Teaser (mat, reformer, cadillac)
  • Semi Circle (reformer)
•  

• Yoga:
  • Forward Bends
• Pilates:
  • Rollback (cadillac, step barrel, ladder barrel)
  • Rollup (mat, chair)
  • Push Through (cadillac)
  • Cat (cadillac)
  • Stomach massage (reformer)
  • Rowing Back (reformer)
  • Monkey (cadillac)
  • Rolling Like a Ball (mat)
  • Knee Stretch (reformer)
•  
• Yoga:
  • Backbends
• Pilates:
  • Bridge (mat, cadillac, reformer)
  • Extension (ladder barrel, step barrel)
  • Scooch (cadillac)
  • Swan & Flying Swan (chair, mat, reformer, cadillac)
  • Basket (mat)
  • Pulling Straps (reformer)
  • Swimming (mat, reformer)
  • Flight/Tricep Extension (chair)
  • Hanging Up (cadillac)
•  
• Yoga:
  • Inversions
• Pilates:
  • Rollover (mat)
  • Shoulder Stand (mat, cadillac)
  • Short Spine (reformer)
  • Long Spine (reformer)
  • Seal (mat)
  • Bicycle (mat)
  • Upstretch (reformer)
  • Elephant (reformer)
•  
• Yoga:
  • Restorative
• Pilates:
  • Pelvic Clock (mat)
  • Coccyx Curl (mat)
  • Roller Relaxation

• • Legwork (reformer)
  • Sling Work for Breathing (cadillac)
  • Psoas Stretch (roller)

 

If a client is free of serious spinal issues that would limit which movements they can safely do (such as osteoporosis or stenosis), a well rounded Pilates session could include movements from each of these groups.