Having managed to strain my lower back last night. 
I’ve decided it’s time to start either pilates or yoga. My flexibilty is very poor and my core strength is even poorer. What would you recommend pilates or yoga?
I was thinking about buying a dvd from amazon, as there are no yoga or pilates classes anywhere near me. Could anyone recommend a dvd that they use ?
Thanks
Although I like and incorporate both methods in my programming it is my HO that a comprehensive functional strength program will get the job done best!
When I was doing yoga regularly, I felt really great on my runs. And a lot less sore all the time. I can’t comment on pilates but I think yoga is the way to go for us inflexible folks.
You could do PiYo which combines some of both…
http://www.turbowear.com/store/home.php?cat=7
Some of the pilates techniques are somewhat difficult to do properly just from watching a video. But I believe most triathletes would benefit more from Pilates than Yoga. Pilates will work to balance out your muscles. Yoga will do that somewhat also but tends to be way too “type B personality” for me. My wife kicked me out of the class she leads because I was yawning too much.
If you really want to do pilates right but without an instructor, you should get your DVDs from one of the certification sites, such as Stott Pilates.
Try both and see what you like.
I associate Pilates more with core strengthening. A lot of Pilates DVD’s and classes seem to be - “17 different ways to do sit-ups.” Your abs will kill you.
Yoga is pretty varied. There are yoga poses more for strength. There are others more for flexibility. Still other yoga styles are more meditative. My favorite yoga DVDs are Rodney Yee’s - his DVD for strength and also the DVD for flexibility. I also hear there is a DVD called “yoga for triathletes” or something.
For fun and some good laughs, get one of those stability balls and then a yoga and Pilates DVD that show you how to do the exercises on the ball. Very difficult and keeps me entertained.
I find I need to vary the DVD from week to week. I get bored with the same thing over and over.
My wife is an advanced certified yoga instructor. Since we met I have been doing Yoga 6+yrs. It is such an advantage and well worth the time. I have had no injuries at all since. I find any DVD by Rodney Yee to be good. He has one called “Yoga for Athletes” that is good. I like his teaching style. Another good DVD/ instructor is Sean Corn. PM me if you need more direction advice. I can pass it along to her. She may also know of classes in your area that are not published.
S
Having done both for years, I’m a full on pilates convert. i started with yoga about 6 years ago, but was sort of bored and unchallenged. the nap at the end made a type-a like me crazy. pilates is the way to go for core strength. abs and lower back. yoga is mush more stretching oriented. that said, the right pilates teacher will do the hard core work AND some stretching.
Thanks to you all for the advice.
I’ve just ordered Yoga for Athletes by Rodney Yee from Amazon.
hopefully my back will be better by the time it arrives !
I’ve done both and prefer yoga. It can be as easy as you want it or as hard as you want it. Some yoga sessions take more out of me than runnning 20km.
Great thread. I was just wondering about this same issue last night. I have Rodney Yee’s Power Yoga DVD and was considering getting another similar video or maybe a Pilates. I may have to get Blockbuster to send me a couple of each to help me decide.
i started with yoga about 6 years ago, but was sort of bored and unchallenged.
You should try a different type of yoga then! It can be really-really athletically challenging, lively, with great tunes. You will WANT the “nap” at the end.
Hey… I have really liked Baron Baptiste’s Power Yoga. It’s a 3 DVD set, so you get some pretty good bang for your buck. Each DVD builds up to the next one, but I find that even repeating the first one is excellent for stretching and flexibility, so you have some versatility instead of doing the same routine over and over.
I wish I could speak to the pilates vs. yoga question, but I have never tried pilates. Friends of mine who regularly do pilates have nothing but good things to say about it… and happen to look great with their ripped physiques.
For what that’s worth!
Jodi
You might want to also check out a few yoga studios. Most offer discounted trial periods for new students and a good instructor can help insure you get the full benefit from the poses. Subtle changes can make a big difference.
I was going to ask the same question as I think either Yoga or pilates might help on the injury provention front, whilst I work to improvem my running - currently having some calve / tendon issues.
Would it be fair to make a rather basic statment that Pilates offers a bit more strength type workout whilst Yoga a bit more flexability (though the both off some).
I was thinking of looking for a class on my main recovery day so Yoga maybe the one to go for.
MY wife used to do pilates and now is a yogameister (or whatever). My daughter was a dancer and teaches pilates and takes both. They would both say start with pilates and then move to yoga.
BTW, do I listen???