Pilates vs Yoga

Sunday, April 19, 2015 · Mike Davis

Good morning! Wow, looks like we have a beautiful days here in the Granit state and despite rain late yesterday it was really nice as well. Tomorrow’s Boston Marathon weather will be okay running temperature of high 40s with clouds, but the wind which will be in double digits could make it not so ideal. Any which way this special event will go off and many great memories will be once again made. Many great friends will be down there to run tomorrow so best of luck to all of you running! Enjoy each step. I was asked the other day what the difference is between Yoga and Pilates, as well as which one is better for runners? Hmm… No doubt if you have enjoyed a few cups of coffee with me you will have heard me bestow the virtues of Pilates many a time. I have also done quite a bit of yoga, in fact I have probably done more yoga than Pilates. It is a very difficult question to answer because both have some similar value when it comes to core, stability and range of motion. However they are different and those differences directly affect the extent of their value to runners or even other endurance activities. The question as to which is better is simple; they both have great value, but if the question is; which one benefits runners better that is a different answer. Yoga has been (and still is) a very popular activity for runners as they seek for ways to improve balance, range of motion and core strength. Along with those supposed benefits yoga offers meditative benefits that is also found helpful with relaxation. Personally I started yoga many years ago help with my arthritic hip in hopes that I could improve my range of motion as well as improve my overall balance. It was most definitely not easy for me and it was not very relaxing for me either. Now if you know me, you probably are not surprised by this. Trying to get my thick body to various poses while remembering to breathe proved to be quite a challenge! However because I wanted badly to help my running, I stayed with it despite the challenge of not falling over and possibly taking someone down with me. The results were mixed, while I improved a bit with muscle lengthening, I didn’t really see any improvement with stability. Core strength is another area that was not effected much by my time in yoga, but the poses that we did regularly for core were no more challenging than the core strength training I was already doing. The most important measurement for me is my level of discomfort with my hip and after a good amount of yoga attendance I did not feel any improvement with that. Overall the greatest benefit I received from yoga was valuable stretching that I have been able to incorporate into my running and strength training workouts. As I have shared in the past I was fortunate to be able to get an appointment with one of the top sports doctors in the country a little over 18 months ago and discussed my MRI and overall struggles with my arthritic hip. I was truly hoping he would give me some hope through a procedure or even a pill that might be new to the world. After asking me a few questions and reviewing my most recent MRI he bluntly told me that there was nothing medically that would give me relief from the arthritis. After that letdown statement he went on to tell me that running could still be very much a part of my life and that I would be better off to stay active. He then asked if I had done any Pilates? I responded that I strength train and have done yoga. He responded by informing me that Pilates provides the greatest benefits for runners and active people in general. We had about 2 minutes of discussion about strength training and then he sent me on my way. I went away feeling disappointed that one of the best doctors couldn’t do anything for me medically, but he did give me something. On my drive back from Boston I called my friend Bob who I knew was training to be a Pilates instructor. I told Bob about my brief doctor’s visit and of course he totally concurred. We discussed setting up a small Pilates class and some hope was coming back to me. A few weeks later we did in fact get together for a small Pilates class and I must say it was hard as heck! Unfortunately circumstances prevented another class so I still wasn’t able to realize the benefits. Fast forward to just before I opened the “Center” and my happenstance meeting with an old neighbor and just like that NFLR had a certified Pilates instructor! While Erica is different than Bob her classes have definitely challenged my hips, core and just about every other functional muscle. Each week I get a little better at maintaining the movements and all the while I feel burning in those areas that I am weakest in. Understanding the focus muscles for each movement continues to improve and has really challenged me as well. I am tremendously pleased to report that while my arthritis has not gone away, my hip definitely does not bother me to the same degree as it did before. For me I have to make sure that I get to at least a weekly Pilates session as I believe the consistent improvement with Pilates translates to the improvements with my hip. Now it is pretty apparent that my yoga vs Pilates is going to overwhelmingly side with Pilates being better choice for runners and that is absolutely correct. That conclusion is in no way a slam at yoga because I believe yoga has many wonderful benefits and has great value. However between what one of the best sport docs imparted on me and my own experience with both, I have no doubt that Pilates should be part of every runner’s life! Not only runners, but any other endurance sport or for those that want to keep their body strong and functional as they age. The difficulty is that Pilates is far less available than yoga so finding a Pilates studio is not as easy as finding a yoga place. I don’t know if it is because of the scarcity of Pilates studios, but Pilates also seems a bit more expensive than yoga. However for my money I would rather make Pilates a part of my life no matter the obstacles. Thankfully we were able to find a Pilates instructor for the “NFLR Coach & Endurance Resource Center,” and we have tried to make it affordable for all as well. We have 2 classes weekly, Wednesday’s at 6:30am and Thursday’s at 5:30pm. For a $10 drop in you can experience exactly what I am talking about. This is not to say that I won’t ever go back to yoga, but it would be for different reasons than I make the effort to stick with Pilates. Hope you enjoyed your coffee with me this morning and I hope your week ahead is awesome. Be well! God Bless! Mike