Yoga Pilates

It's not surprisng that yoga and pilates are so tightly coupled since Pilates is an offshoot of the yoga asanas and is primarily focused on strengthening one's core. The combination of yoga and Pilates results in using yoga poses to lengthen one's spine and build up the core muscles.

One feature of yoga and Pilates is the Supine Workout,  This exercise workout incorporates moves from yoga and Pilates resulting in a tigher focus to gain strength and flexibility. When doing any yoga and Pilates besure to focus on your breathing, inhaling and exhaling through your nose.

Breathing Exercises

In Supine Breathing, the exerciser needs to lie face down on the floor keeping the knees bent, with the feet flat on the floor. Then, one hand should be placed on the lower belly and the exerciser should inhale, concentrating on the expansion of the ribcage and also feel the fingers separate. When the exerciser exhales, the breath should flow and the tension in the shoulders and face should be relaxed. This exercise should be repeated for four to six breaths.

Cat Stretch

Another yoga Pilates exercise is Cat Stretch wherein the exerciser should kneel on all fours with the knees under his hips and hands should be on the shoulders. Then the exerciser should spread his hands out on the floor with the palms flat and should contract the abs so as to bring in the head, neck and back into alignment.

First, the exerciser should inhale and tip the sitz bones up in the direction of the ceiling and, at the same time drawing the shoulders back and down, away from his ears while looking up. Then, the exerciser needs to exhale and tuck the chin and at the same time pull the belly in the direction of the spine.

The back should be rounded and he should feel a stretch down the spine. This should be repeated four to six breaths and the exerciser should move smoothly between each move.

There are other similar yoga Pilates exercises that can be performed and they include Thread the Needle, Plank, Side Planks and Sun Salutations, Warrior, 100’s, Leg Circles, Tree Pose, Plank and Side Hip Flexion and Extension.