Highland Physical Therapy

Health Benefits of Yoga and Pilates

​Yoga and Pilates are two popular forms of exercise with a variety of benefits. They both focus on creating balance in the body through stretching, strengthening, and improving flexibility. Additionally, they provide many mental health benefits such as reducing stress levels and enhancing concentration.
The practice of yoga dates back centuries, but the modern version is based on eight principles: proper breathing, relaxation, diet, exercise, positive thinking and meditation, personal integrity and self-discipline.It has been found to improve physical strength and endurance as well as flexibility. In addition it can also work to reduce pain and improve circulation throughout your body. Practicing yoga regularly can also help to promote trust in yourself as well as heightened awareness.

​Like Yoga, Pilates focuses on stretching, strengthening and improving flexibility while also incorporating breathing techniques. Additionally, it emphasizes proper posture and alignment of the spine as well as increasing core strength.

​The Benefits of Yoga And Pilates

​Yoga and Pilates are great forms of exercise that offer a variety of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Practicing these disciplines regularly can help individuals become more flexible and toned, build strength, manage stress levels, reduce aches and pains, improve overall well-being, get better sleep quality, and much more.Yoga and Pilates are two forms of exercise that are well-known for their ability to reduce the risk of injury and pain. Studies have shown that both yoga and Pilates can help to strengthen the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the body, which can help to protect against strain or trauma.

Additionally, engaging in regular sessions of either activity can help to improve posture and balance, increasing flexibility while mitigating potential injuries.

Both yoga and Pilates can also be beneficial when it comes to relieving existing pain from injury or chronic conditions such as arthritis. Gentle stretching movements incorporated into each practice can ease tension in tight areas of the body, as well as helping to increase mobility around affected joints.

Deep breathing techniques often used in both yoga and Pilates can help to reduce stress that might be exacerbating the issue, while relaxation techniques such as those found in yoga practice can also provide relief from pain. As such, using yoga and pilates together is a great way to reduce the risk of injury or relieve existing pain.
​
Below are examples of exercises that you can do in order to stay active and healthy this Spring.

​5 Exercises From Yoga and Pilates to Try:

1. Cat/Cow Pose (yoga): Start by getting onto your hands and knees with your wrists below your shoulders and your knees below your hips. Take a deep breath in which will lift up the chest for Cow Pose; then exhale by dropping the belly towards the mat for Cat Pose. Repeat alternately between the two poses for a gentle backflow.
​
2. Warrior I Pose (yoga): From Mountain Pose, step the feet apart and turn to face one foot; bend into the knee at that leg while keeping the other leg straight with toes pointed forward. Reach arms out so they are parallel to the ground, with palms facing down. Hold for 10-15 seconds, then switch sides.​3. Bridge Pose (yoga): Lie on your back with bent legs and feet flat on the floor about hip-width apart. Place arms relax beside your body with palms up or interlace hands beneath you as you inhale and press hips towards ceiling, bringing chest closer to chin. Feel a stretch in glutes and hamstrings as you hold for 10-15 seconds.

4. The Hundred (Pilates): While lying on your back, bring legs up to a tabletop position with knees bent, feet flexed and arms extended parallel to the floor at shoulder height. Lift head, neck and shoulders off mat as you inhale for 5 counts; then exhale for 5 counts while pumping arms up and down. Repeat for 10 sets of inhales and exhales.

5. Roll Up (Pilates): Lie on your back with legs out straight in front of you, toes pointed towards the ceiling. Place hands behind neck or head with elbows wide open as you slowly roll up using your abdominal muscles, lengthening across the spine until you are seated upright. Hold for a few breaths then roll down slowly until you reach the start position.
By incorporating these exercises regularly into your practice, you’ll feel stronger, more balanced and flexible in no time!

​How Pilates and Yoga Can Help You Prevent Pain or Eliminate It

​Exercises such as yoga and Pilates are incredibly beneficial not only for managing existing pain points, but also preventing injury in the future. Through these exercises, users can increase mobility, flexibility, balance and strength which can help reduce the physical difficulties of everyday life tasks.
​
The practice of mat exercises also helps to restore focus and mental wellbeing through breathing techniques and relaxation exercises. Therefore, practicing mat exercises regularly can have a positive effect on overall health and wellbeing, making it an essential component for any healthy lifestyle.

Struggling With Pain When Exercising? Doing Pilates or Yoga And Have Questions On How It Can Be Used to Treat Pain? ​

​If you’ve been struggling with pain when exercising and it is keeping you from staying active, come see us!We understand how frustrating it can be for those who are experiencing pain who are trying to stay active; however, proper physical therapy coupled with an effective treatment plan could make all the difference and you can continue to get the exercise you need if you can eliminate the pain you are feeling with physical therapy.

Reach out to one of our physical therapists at 208-237-2080 for more details on how we can help you manage your pain. We are passionate about helping and supporting you as you strive for wellness and your ability to stay active!

​Proper Exercise Can Help Reduce and Treat Pain

​If you’re struggling with pain and you want a plan to help alleviate it – our team is here to help!

You can get quick, natural pain relief so you don’t need to take pills on a regular basis.If you are feeling pain or want more examples of ways to stay active to avoid or prevent pain in the future, make sure to contact our team. You can also discover the root cause of the problem, which will mean that you can stop it once and for all, and avoid it coming back in future.

We also offer a free discovery visit to get the conversation going and help you find the right treatment to help you reduce or eliminate pain.
​
Reach out to one of our physical therapists at 208-237-2080</stro ng> for more details on how we can help you manage your pain. We are passionate about helping and supporting you as you strive for wellness and your ability to stay active!

​Other Free Resources

3 thoughts on “Health Benefits of Yoga and Pilates”

  1. Thank you for sharing this insightful and informative post. I found the information you presented to be valuable and the explanations to be easy to understand.

  2. Thanks for helping me understand yoga can benefit both your mental and physical state! I have a friend who has been experiencing back pain while doing normal office work. I will talk to her about finding a yoga class where she can try this out before returning to the office.

  3. Thanks for the blog filled with so many information. Stopping by your blog helped me to get what I was looking for. Now my task has become as easy as ABC.

Comments are closed.