Pilates and Yoga? Similar, or distinctively different?

This is a big topic, but trying to make sense of it for myself I will offer some ideas...feel free to comment as you wish! 

Yoga has developed from ancient roots noted in the Vedic culture around 4000 years ago. It evolved as a discipline to enable a person to reach spiritual enlightenment through harmonising the mind, body and spirit. Joseph Pilates initially developed his "Controlology" system for rehabilitating injured soldiers and dancers about a 100 years ago. His system was closely linked to the anatomy and physiology of the human body and was carefully thought out; not just a physical system it emphasised the holistic nature of health and the link between body awareness, the mind and the self. He himself was keen on Yoga and acknowledged its influence on his own system.
          There are many aspects to these similarities and differences but the religious/spiritual dimension of Yoga and Pilates seems key for many people. Unfairly, in my view, the fact that Yoga is embedded in Hinduism means for some people you must be pushing them towards this religion if you practice Yoga. Utter nonsense in reality as it is practised by people of all religions, or no religion across the world without pressure to conform to any set of beliefs in normal classes. Pilates by contrast does not have this cultural referencing and is normally viewed as a physical system for developing core strength by the public. Compare and contrast as they say...there are no church halls which refuse to allow Pilates to be taught on religious grounds, unlike Yoga. It does amuse me too that some Christians say, without irony that they do not wish to be influenced by Eastern religions like Hinduism. Really, have a look at an atlas, is Jerusalem in the Western hemisphere ? 

More of this debate in a future blog....it could run and  run! 

"We stand on the shoulders of giants..."

Issac Newton used the phrase "we stand on the shoulders of giants" ironically about the work of scientists which preceded him, but it has great relevance to the guru/student tradition in Yoga. The wonderful 93 year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch (pictured above) is accredited as being the worlds' oldest Yoga teacher; she embodies the modest and enthusiastic attitude of the finest Yoga teachers. She was in turn a pupil of B.K.S. Iyengar who was one of the most influential Yoga teachers of the 20th Century. He trained alongside Patabis Jois (the founder of Ashtanga Yoga) with his guru Krishnamacharya. I have seen pictures of Krishnamacharya doing Yoga on his 100th birthday and they are amazing! This special lineage finds its origin in the 4000 year old tradition of forest gurus and their devotees which resulted in the Upanishads, sacred works in the Vedic culture embodying the wisdom of Yoga. My first Yoga teacher Ann is still an inspiration to me and a great support as I try to develop as a teacher.....
I leave the final comment to Tao Porchon-Lynch, something I can relate to myself :
“I love yoga, it brightens my day and makes everybody smile.”
Om Shanti

Yoga Diversity, freediving to new limits...

On the Yoga Sports Science (TM) course we are on the look out for trends in the use of Yoga in sport. For example, Yoga is credited with transforming the sport of freediving and has been key in the performances of world record holders in this discipline; not only does it allow them to hold their breath for longer periods but the whole meditative focus and physical discipline of Yoga have become integral to their lives and sporting goal achievement.
Yoga Journal did a feature on Francisco "Pipin" Ferreras, world freediving champion and yoga enthusiast..... "Ferreras, breaker of 50 world records for freediving, routinely plunges to depths of more than 100 meters and slows his heart to 10 beats a minute. Sitting still, he can hold his breath for an astonishing eight minutes."  Ferreras himself became switched onto Yoga when his first teacher held his breath for fourteen minutes when he decided to try it ! Sara Campbell came to freediving as a Kundalini Yoga teacher and within a year of starting broke world records in this discipline and is now a renowned teacher weaving in her Yogic knowledge to dive specific techniques. A similar story emerges of the Sivananda Yoga Acharya Brittany Trubridge giving the freediving coaching edge to husband William, a 15 times world record holder in different freediving disciplines.
Just to sound a note of caution though, the Yoga techniques used by top freedivers  are very advanced  and should not be undertaken without the guidance of a qualified Yoga teacher to ensure they are practised safely.   


More can be found on the freediving personalities quoted above at :
http://www.sarafreediver.com/
http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/320

http://www.brittanytrubridge.com






      














    

A balanced Yoga diet?

New Years resolutions abound ! Campaigns offering to let you drop two dress sizes compete with discount gym membership to lure you in ... Yoga itself doesn't offer anything quickly but can reveal amazing gifts with perseverance. Bringing the mind , body and spirit into a unified balance is one of the goals of Yoga, in a more general sense it's good to reflect at this time of year what it means for you. There are no "musts" and "got tos" with this but what is our current Yoga practice like?  If you like backbends, as I do, do they dominate your practice? Do you add in breathing practices regularly? What might you change to develop a more rounded Yoga practice in you life? Well, the mat beckons and along with the "wedge/bridge and coil" sequence I'll temper it with some forward bends.... easy does it though!          

Yoga Mat..ernity, why pregnancy and Yoga are so suited...!

Yes, this is much on my mind ! I am starting a new Pregnancy Yoga class in Swansea in February. I have had a number of Yoga students who were pregnant in my normal classes in the past but I want to offer them a specialised class with more individual attention now. The potential benefits are so worthwhile, Yoga in pregnancy can tone, stretch, offer breathing techniques and relaxation at a time when they are very welcome ( I am told !) . The holistic approach of Yoga to maternity fits in with Ayurvedic principles developed over the ages; this is in stark contrast to Western medicine which took a contrary view until fairly recently - pregnant women were patients to be processed by the medical system. Thankfully this Western view has changed and mothers to be are rightly at the heart of the decision making process for their  own pregnancy and Yoga is routinely recommended as a positive option. As always though, every case is individual and it is essential, in my opinion, to get the approval of a GP or midwife before starting Yoga or other specific antenatal exercise, particularly if you are new to Yoga.          

Lever-arched-folders... Yoga students , not stationery !

The Yoga Sports Science (TM) course I'm following is covering , amongst other things the correct neutral positions for standing, stitting and lying down and very good stuff it is too ! I always found bio-mechanics fascinating in the context of Yoga practice, teaching and in the wider field of sport. It brings to mind , one of my favourite safety concepts in Yoga which links to levers in physics. In one respect the body is like  a wheelbarrow; in the case of the wheelbarrow, it is a 2nd class lever, the effort is applied by lifting the handles, the load is contained in the hopper and and the pivot is provided by the axle of the wheel. The longer the handles, the more force that is applied through the 'barrow. So , in theory, like the old adage, you could lift the world if your 'barrow handles were long enough!
So how does this apply to the human body? If you imagine someone coming up from a standing forward bend , their hips are like the 'barrow axle , the back muscles provide the effort and the torso is the load. If the arms are extended in front they act like long handles and greatly increase the load on the back muscles. The lower back is vulnerable anyway and this invites trouble ! I would advise sweeping the arms sideways (in line with the chest , or behind it) when coming up; also, bending the legs a little at the knees to share the effort of lifting with the thighs...it's so much easier. "Non- harming" (Ahimsa) is an underlying Yoga principle, be kind to yourself.. you deserve it .        

Clerical error ? Why Yoga can be compatible with all religions ....

This is a classic question! Gabriele Amorth , the Vatican's exorcist has come out with the provocative statement that Yoga is evil as it leads to the worship of Hinduism. I believe he is fundamentally wrong - Yoga can be described as a discipline aimed at uniting the mind, the body and the spirit, which is compatible with all the world's major religions and philosophies. True, it started out in the Vedic culture of India about 4000 years ago and was adopted by the early Hindu faith, then became integral to Buddhism, then Taoism . Aspects of Yogic thinking entered, or were reflected in Sufism and strands of mystic Judaism and Christianity. Hardly exclusive to Hinduism then? Yoga can also be described as a path to your own enlightenment , or to fulfil your potential in any way meaningful to you . It does prescribe what you must think. Some Yoga classes involve chanting , some of these chants link to deities from the Vedic period which were adopted by the Hindus, it does not fit in with my religious views and I would not join in with them, which as a principle applies to us all and generally applies to all Yogic practice. Yoga has brought stress relief and comfort to millions of people in its history and reinforced positive life patterns which have been hugely beneficial. To describe this as "Satanic" or "evil" is preposterous in my view.

What do you think? Post any responses you wish , either side of the debate!    

Namaste