Starting off your fitness journey is a great decision. Still, with so many workout options available, it can be confusing to know which one will serve your fitness goals best. While some prefer high-intensity gym workouts and aerobics classes, others may look to involve low-impact workout options such as Pilates, yoga, and barre in their fitness routine.
If you are thinking about joining a yoga, barre or Pilates class, knowing their differences and associated benefits will help you make the right choice for your goals and needs. Read on to find out more about these three popular fitness workouts and decide which one is the right fit for you.
Yoga
Originating in India, Yoga is the has the richest tradition. It is a complete body and mind workout that can involve various techniques such as yoga poses , breathing exercises , or mindfulness practice. There are many different forms of yoga such as Flow, Core and Hot yoga , and each style has its own benefits.
The only important prop required for yoga is a mat that will help you prevent injuries. However, you might need a yoga strap, bolsters, or blocks for extra support.
Yoga offers a wide range of health and fitness benefits depending on what you are seeking. Physical benefits include increased flexibility and muscle strength, reduced stiffness and joint pain, and improved posture and coordination. By improving the health of your bones and muscles, yoga also helps protect your body from injuries.
Regular yoga practice also offers mental clarity, calms the mind, increases body awareness, relieves stress, and improves concentration. If you are seeking mind, body and spiritual awareness, joining yoga classes could be the right choice for you.
Pilates
Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates in Germany during World War I to help rehabilitate injured soldiers. Later on, this fitness method was broadened to help everyone strengthen their bodies. A typical Pilates class consists of a series of controlled, sustained exercises with an emphasis on muscular exertion in the abdominal area, lower back, hips, thighs and glutes.
The Pilates reformer classes utilise props such as pilates circle, ball bands, stick and weights to get the most out of the routine.
Pilates is a full-body exercise that strengthens your core while improving your posture, flexibility, and mobility. This can also help tone your abdominal muscles along the way. This intense workout method has also proved to be effective in relieving lower back pain and preventing future injuries.
Pilates and Yoga are often compared – so if it comes down to a choice of Pilates VS Yoga, how do you know which is better for you? Pilates workout requires a lot of concentration to bring your body posture and breath in sync, hence, is known to improve your ability to focus. Those who are already enjoying yoga classes but looking for more vigorous core training may benefit from Pilates as well.
Barre
Barre is known to be a blend of ballet-inspired exercises, yoga poses, and Pilates. It is an intense and effective form of workout and is suitable for all fitness levels. Contrary to the popular belief, practising barre doesn’t require any prior dance experience. Barre requires you to use your own body weight for resistance and while focusing on small movements.
Barre classes are almost always done in-studio, as they require you to stand at a barre. Other equipment that may be required include light dumbbells, rubber balls, resistance bands, sliders, mats, and grip socks. Barre at home? Just grab a chair or find a countertop for balance.
Barre is an intense and fun cardio workout that helps you burn loads of calories while improving your muscular control and endurance. It also helps in strengthening your core, arms, thighs, and glutes to ensure the proper functioning of your entire body.
Finding the Best Approach For Your Fitness Goals
Before starting with any workout program, it is a good idea to know what to expect and which fitness goals you will achieve. No matter whether you pick a yoga, barre or Pilates class, it is important to perform the exercises under the supervision of a trained instructor.
At ab Studios, we aim to provide a space for people to explore the possibilities offered by yoga, barre, and Pilates. To avail yourself of all the benefits offered by these fitness workouts, you can enrol in our classes in Singapore to learn under the guidance of certified instructors.
Besides offering classes for yoga and barre training to students, we also offer yoga teacher training and barre teacher training at our respective studios in Singapore.
Not sure where to start? Our newbie pack will let you try out different yoga, barre, and Pilates classes to help you find the right fit. Visit our FAQ page for more information or schedule your class now.