Stretch out for core fitness

Pilates and yoga have long been popular fitness techniques. The principles of Pilates — centering, concentration, control, breath and flow are very similar to the basics of yoga. Which is why fitness instructors have hit upon the fusion of yoga and Pilates — called Piloga or Yogalates, to provide a total and effective workout regimen.
Shabari Rao, a Bengaluru-based fitness instructor who conducts these fusion classes, observes, “Unlike other workouts, both yoga and Pilates concentrate on internal workouts. The focus is on strengthening the core while obtaining the meditational advantages and flexibility benefits of yoga.”
She adds, “Both yoga and Pilates cultivate greater strength and are based on proper body alignment. They contribute to the aesthetics of the body and the focusing of the mind.”
A Yogalates or a Piloga class usually begins with traditional yoga poses followed by suryanamaskar. After completing these poses, the participants are made to do more intensive core exercises as recommended by Pilates.
“The combination of the two forms allows the fitness buff to retain the benefits of yoga, while adding core strengthening moves that will tone their bodies. Pilates works well with core muscles, especially those of the abdomen and when fused with yoga, are an excellent workout for the complete body. An hour can burn up to 700 to 800 calories,” says celebrity fitness trainer, Satyajit Chaurasia.
There are some skeptics who are concerned that this fusion may detract from the benefits of both yoga and Pilates. It is also feared that the meditational benefit of yoga can be diluted by the intermingling, thus making the exercises fast-paced, detracting from the measured pace which concentration and meditation call for.
To this Shabari Rao replies, “The extent of fusion varies from one trainer to another. The way to make it more effective is by not diluting the plus points of both forms. What I usually do is to include the breathing pattern of yoga while doing the intense stretches.”

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