Yoga and Pilates. Two types of floor exercise that involve stretching and ab work, right?

While yoga and Pilates do share certain characteristics, there are important differences. Figuring out how each can benefit you first requires understanding their differences and how they compare to a basic stretching program.

A logical place to start is where all three exercises intersect: increasing flexibility through stretching the muscles and connective tissues. A solid stretching routine, however, stops there.

Stretching is the most limited exercise of the three, says Elizabeth Larkam, a certified Pilates instructor and spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise.

"Pilates encompasses stretching but also focuses on strengthening the muscles that support the spine, pelvis and shoulder area," she says. "Yoga encompasses stretching, but also strives to create a balance between the mind, body, and spirit."

Mind trains body

The Pilates program was developed in the 1920s by Joseph Pilates (puh-LAH-teez), who created a set of exercises for injury rehabilitation using apparatus with springs.

"Joseph Pilates believed that the mind trains the body," Larkam says. "Although he was very influenced by yoga and the emphasis on breathing found in yoga, it was not his intent to emphasize the spiritual aspect in the activity."

Instead, Pilates focuses on strengthening the body's core, or the abdominal and back muscles, by developing pelvic stability and abdominal control. Participants will feel increased support of their spines as they stand taller and their lower abdominal areas flatten, Larkam says.

Because Pilates tones and elongates the muscles rather than bulking them up, the exercise is very popular with dancers and performers.

Merging philosophy, meditation and healing

While the Pilates program is less than 100 years old, yoga was born about 5,000 years ago as a philosophy and evolved into a meditative and healing art. Yoga means union, or the union of the mind, body, and spirit.

Although eight different forms of yoga exist, most classes in the United States focus on Hatha yoga, which is the yoga of physical postures. These postures, called asanas, are designed to work on all the bodily systems, tone the muscles, stimulate the circulation and improve overall health.

Yoga also emphasizes awareness of the breath to reinforce the postures, and teaches participants to breath through their noses and deep into the lungs.

As you master the postures, breathing and relaxation techniques, you'll benefit from a calm mind, increased ability to concentrate, and less stress and tension. The meditative aspects of yoga may also help transform body image issues, fears, or negative emotions into energizing, positive thoughts.

These days, more people use yoga to battle the symptoms of physical illness, such as high blood pressure, asthma, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or back pain.

Yoga on your iPod

But you shouldn't worry about not having enough time to do yoga. You can find yoga classes from yogi2go.com as downloadable MP3s and transfer them to your iPod so you can do your yoga anytime, anyplace -- even while flying 35,000 feet in the air. 

Film composer and record producer Mark Governor came up with the idea on a 14-hour flight to Thailand while wondering how he could do his yoga aboard the airplane. In March 2006, he and yoga instructor Tracee Newell of West Hollywood, Calif., launched their virtual yoga studio, which now includes 15 classes, including one for commuters and "Yoga for Coffeebreaks."

Another company, Podfitness.com, allows users to mix MP3s of personal training instruction with their own music for a customized workout.

Governor said classes on Yogi2go.com are not substitutes for going to the yoga studio to interact more closely with other yoga buffs and experienced teachers.

"What I've noticed for myself is your practice breaks down when there is a break in your routine, if you're busy with family, or on a big deadline, or traveling," he said. "We thought this was a way to integrate yoga into your daily routine."

Combine your Pilates and yoga with healthy eating. Check out Nubella's 6,000-plus Recipe Database.

Editor's Note: This article was written by Barbara C. Bourassa. It includes information from the Los Angeles Times.

Nubella News, a division of Marketing Technology Solutions, Inc., offers content intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We encourage our readers to seek prompt medical care for health issues and consult their physicians before starting a new diet, fitness regimen, or medical treatment.