1. Hatha Yoga's Early Beginning
Yoga is an ancient technique, right? Well, yes. But you might be surprised to know that hatha yoga became popular in India less than 100 years ago. Krishnamacharya learned about the hatha yoga exercises from his father and popularized the exercises in India. Born in 1888, his early years of teachings were a financial struggle. Hatha yoga became more popular in the 1930s when he taught and tweaked the exercises for rowdy boys at the gymnastics hall of the royal palace.
2. Joseph Pilates and his Exercise Program
Born in 1880, Joseph Pilates popularized the Pilates exercises. A sickly child, Pilates decided to turn his life around when he was a young man. He pursued gymnastics, boxing, yoga and joined the circus. Experts recognized the power and quality of his exercises early on. The governments of both Germany and England sought him out to teach his exercises. Discovered by the famous boxer Max Schmelling after World War I, Pilates came to the United States as part of Schmelling's team. He didn't want to leave England at the time and received the incentive of his own Pilates studio in New York; he accepted.
3. Differences and Similarities of Yoga and Pilates
Many postures, movements and yoga asanas are the same in both Pilates and yoga. Yoga originated out of Northern India 5,000 years ago--hatha yoga is only one part of the larger whole. However, due to the overall depth and breadth of the yogic tradition of meditation, philosophy and oneness with self and universe, hatha carries some of this tradition. Pilates also is a lifestyle and a means of transforming one's life. Just ask Mari Winsor and students of Joseph Pilates. Intuition, balance and centeredness are some of the qualities that the correct practice of Pilates bestows. Yoga builds strength and especially flexibility. Pilates focuses on the core or powerhouse muscles--by way of building strength, establishing balance and creating better circulation in the body.
4. Flexibility Versus Strength and Grace
Pilates is very graceful. Dancers are attracted to the exercises. In fact, some injured dancers say they received healing with the Pilates exercises, possibly because of circulation improvement in the body. Strength comes from the powerhouse in Pilates, which radiates out to all muscles in the body. It is an exercise that uses many tiny muscles overlooked and often not used in other exercises. Yoga builds strength too, but there is more emphasis on holds and on extreme flexibility. Pilates is more like dance with movements moving from one position to another. Even though Pilates and yoga can both be performed on a mat, Pilates also comes with many types of equipment both small and large.
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