In the wake of films like Morgan Spurlock’s “Super Size Me” and increasingly worrying figures on the level of global obesity, the world seems to have been delivered a swift electric shock and told to get back into shape – or else. But if you think that keeping fit is all about bench-pressing and weight-lifting in soulless gyms, you might be surprised to learn that you’re more suited to a comprehensive Yoga or Pilates regime. A dedicated stay fit routine has to involve a lot of effort if it’s going to work; but, if you choose to take up fitness regimes like Yoga or Pilates, you’ll be sure to have a fulfilling spiritual experience as well as a physical one.
Yoga, for instance, has become an increasingly popular pastime of choice in America. Yoga itself is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy and refers to a particular set of ancient spiritual practices that originate in India. Today, in India and across the world, Yoga is seen as a challenging discipline that requires physical and spiritual mastery. The four main paths of Yoga are: Karma Yoga (Yoga of Action), Jnana Yoga (Yoga of Knowledge), Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of Devotion) and Raja Yoga (Yoga of Meditation). The benefits of Yoga are far-reaching and lifelong: not only will Yogic practices help people maintain their physical well-being, but they will also help towards the path of contentment.
As a physical fitness regime, Pilates has also become increasingly popular in recent years. While Pilates and Yoga are seen to have many similarities, Pilates was actually developed in the twentieth century by Joseph Pilates; the German physical fitness expert moved to New York in 1926 and began teaching his methods to dancers, including American ballet choreographer, George Balanchine. Pilates wrote at least two books on his method, including “Return to life Through Contrology” and “Your Health: A Corrective System of Exercising That Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education”.
Contrology is a method which refers to the way in which the mind is used to control the muscles; as a program, Pilates focuses on the way core postural muscles help keep the body balanced and how they are essential in providing support to the spine. Additionally, Pilates strengthens torso muscles and teaches good breathing techniques – so it’s is a fantastic exercise regime to take up if you suffer or are likely to suffer from back pain.
The beauty of physical fitness techniques like Yoga and Pilates is that you don’t need heavy sets of equipment or expensive appliances in order to reap their physical and mental benefits. Yoga and Pilates even make it easy to stay in shape when you’re on holiday, and many hotels provide complementary stay fit kits complete with Yoga Mats and Pilates bands. So you can rest assured that, if you choose to take up Pilates or Yoga, you’ll not only be on your way to a better body – you’ll also be shaping a more rewarding lifestyle.
Andrew Regan is a freelance online journalist who enjoys keeping fit.
