Yogalates

The word Yoga refers to a group of spiritual practices originating in India, from as early as the 3000s BC and can be defined as a system of “technologies or disciplines of asceticism and meditation, which are thought to lead to spiritual experience and profound understanding or insight into the nature of existence.” Asanas, or postures, make up only one element of Yoga, which is concerned principally with the cultivation of the mind using meditation, to further one’s acquaintance with reality and finally achieve higher states of concsiousness through developing harmony with one’s atman, or inner self.

The Pilates Method is a physical fitness system developed in the 1920s by Joseph Pilates. The program focuses on the core postural muscles which help keep the body balanced and which are essential to providing support for the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and natural alignment of the spine, and aim to strengthen the core stabilising muscles.

Yogalates is an integration of the best of both practices, developed by Louise Solomon; it supplies a vigorous, holistic Method based on the scientific understanding of the human anatomy combined with 5000 years of inner exploration, and refinement, behind the diverse collection of yogic disciplines we have today. My girlfriend and I have been doing Yogalates regularly for less than half a year now and are both astounded by the effect it’s already having on our bodies and minds. I’ve no idea how it does it, but after doing Yogalates I feel mentally sharp, energetic, toned, my body is looking increasingly stream lined and I feel relaxed and calm. Best of all, the longer I’ve been practices Yogalates, and regular meditation, the more pronounced the benefits seem to become. To me, it just goes to show what can be gained from combining modern scientific accomplishments with the deeply spiritual arts - particularly those of the East - whether or not one agrees with the subjective, unscientific, and frankly supernatural claims made by some new age spiritualists and gurus.