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	Home Videos Photos Press Articles Animals Writing Classes Bellydance Pilates Yoga Contact	Pilates Talk Is Pilates The Same As Yoga? It's Not As Easy As It Looks Practising Pilates At Home Take It Slowly Top Three Tips For Attending Pilates Classes What Equipment Do I Need For Pilates? Is Pilates The Same As Yoga? Pilates is not the same as Yoga. Not at all. There are a few similarities - both are done barefoot, both are done on mats, both synchronise movement with breath, and both will increase your flexibility and strength. Beyond that, Pilates and Yoga are very different disciplines. But rather than me describing the differences, the best thing you can do is to experience them by trying several classes in both Pilates and Yoga and see which best suits you. It's Not As Easy As It Looks When you view a Pilates class, it can look like the participants are doing a whole lot of nothing. I remember when I first saw a Pilates class - it seemed to me that everyone was just lying around! But then I tried a class for myself and discovered that it was anything but that. My point is not to be alarmed to find that what can look like people rolling about on mats (ie. Pilates) is extremely challenging - even if you're already fit. Don't despair: you will improve and reap the benefits if you remain patient, attend class consistently, and always strive to put in your best effort. Practising Pilates At Home If you'd like to begin doing Pilates practice at home, I highly recommend starting with just five minutes a day. Stay on five minutes of Pilates every day for a week or two before increasing to ten minutes a day. Continue like that - with five minute increases every week or two - until you have reached whatever daily maximum you want to remain on. Starting from such a small amount of time and increasing the time slowly means you will succeed in practising Pilates at home and stick to it long term. Take It Slowly An unfortunate trend has developed of instructors teaching their students to execute Pilates exercises quickly. There is a small handful of exercises in Pilates that are done at speed, but the rest are slow. In fact, it's safe to say that around 99% of Pilates exercises are done very slowly. Slow, careful movements is what Pilates is all about and what makes it so useful and safe for rehabilitation after injury. My advice: avoid high speed Pilates classes. They're not only missing the point of Pilates, but are also potentially dangerous. Top Three Tips For Attending Pilates Classes Comparing yourself to others in the class is a waste of energy. Don't do it. Be realistic: always aim to improve, but recognise when you're not ready to advance or when you need to rest during class. Use Pilates as an opportunity to not only strengthen your body, but also your mind. Do this by keeping your focus on your breath throughout the entire class rather than allowing your mind wander. What Equipment Do I Need For Pilates? A high-quality mat is the most essential of piece of equipment for Pilates. Also, if your teacher uses bands or balls in class, you might want to buy your own instead of using those made available to you as it's more hygienic to use your own stuff rather than communal equipment.

Pilates Talk

Is Pilates The Same As Yoga?
It's Not As Easy As It Looks
Practising Pilates At Home
Take It Slowly
Top Three Tips For Attending Pilates Classes
What Equipment Do I Need For Pilates?

Pilates is not the same as Yoga. Not at all.

There are a few similarities - both are done barefoot, both are done on mats, both synchronise movement with breath, and both will increase your flexibility and strength.

Beyond that, Pilates and Yoga are very different disciplines. But rather than me describing the differences, the best thing you can do is to experience them by trying several classes in both Pilates and Yoga and see which best suits you.

It's Not As Easy As It Looks

When you view a Pilates class, it can look like the participants are doing a whole lot of nothing. I remember when I first saw a Pilates class - it seemed to me that everyone was just lying around! But then I tried a class for myself and discovered that it was anything but that.

My point is not to be alarmed to find that what can look like people rolling about on mats (ie. Pilates) is extremely challenging - even if you're already fit. Don't despair: you will improve and reap the benefits if you remain patient, attend class consistently, and always strive to put in your best effort.

Practising Pilates At Home

If you'd like to begin doing Pilates practice at home, I highly recommend starting with just five minutes a day.

Stay on five minutes of Pilates every day for a week or two before increasing to ten minutes a day. Continue like that - with five minute increases every week or two - until you have reached whatever daily maximum you want to remain on.

Starting from such a small amount of time and increasing the time slowly means you will succeed in practising Pilates at home and stick to it long term.

Take It Slowly

An unfortunate trend has developed of instructors teaching their students to execute Pilates exercises quickly.

There is a small handful of exercises in Pilates that are done at speed, but the rest are slow. In fact, it's safe to say that around 99% of Pilates exercises are done very slowly. Slow, careful movements is what Pilates is all about and what makes it so useful and safe for rehabilitation after injury.

My advice: avoid high speed Pilates classes. They're not only missing the point of Pilates, but are also potentially dangerous.

Top Three Tips For Attending Pilates Classes

Comparing yourself to others in the class is a waste of energy. Don't do it.
Be realistic: always aim to improve, but recognise when you're not ready to advance or when you need to rest during class.
Use Pilates as an opportunity to not only strengthen your body, but also your mind. Do this by keeping your focus on your breath throughout the entire class rather than allowing your mind wander.

What Equipment Do I Need For Pilates?

A high-quality mat is the most essential of piece of equipment for Pilates.

Also, if your teacher uses bands or balls in class, you might want to buy your own instead of using those made available to you as it's more hygienic to use your own stuff rather than communal equipment.

In the words of Mahatma Gandhi:
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

SAY NO TO PUPPY MILLS! SAY NO TO ANIMALS IN PETSHOPS! SAY NO TO BREEDERS!

Adopt a homeless animal instead - they all deserve a second chance!

At Say No it's estimated that 130,000 dogs and 60,000 cats are killed every year in Australia because there are not enough homes for them all. And the global numbers amount to millions upon millions every single year.

Puppy mills are a major contributor to the terrible problem of overpopulation. Puppy mills are essentially 'dog factories' where dogs are forced to churn out litter after litter, with no thought for the welfare of the dogs and all thought for profit. The dogs live in appallingly dirty, cramped conditions all their lives, and when they no longer serve their purpose they're killed, dumped or sold for cruel and painful medical testing.

Petshops fit into the picture because puppy mills are generally where petshops get their animals from. Furthermore, having animals in shop windows encourages impulse purchases, and adding an animal to your family should be a conscious, careful decision - NOT one to be made while shoe shopping.

Breeders contribute enormously to the tragic statistics above too. And it doesn't matter whether they're professional breeders or backyard breeders, and whether they breed for profit or not, because while there are homeless animals sitting on death row in shelters, any and all animal breeding is utterly irresponsible.

Now, here's where you come in. You can either be part of the problem or part of the solution. You can either buy animals from puppy mills, petshops or breeders and be part of the problem. Or you can adopt from a shelter or rescue organisation and be part of the solution.

If I haven't convinced you, visit your local shelter or go to Death Row Pets to see the homeless animals. Let their innocent faces convince you that adopting is the only responsible and compassionate choice.

"To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being."
- Mahatma Gandhi

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