Yoga is a 5000 year old tradition that was developed with the purpose of giving practitioners greater self understanding, a physical and mental release of tension and greater personal freedom in terms of more positive thought patterns and a feeling of greater space in the body. Through the regular practice of yoga postures, core strengthening exercises, breathing techniques, and deep relaxation you can:

• increase core strength and flexibility
• unlock energy blocks
• detoxify muscles through deep stretching
• tone internal organs
• obtain greater awareness of body and mind
• reduce stress and tension
• prevent and reverse degenerative diseases and injuries
• improve breath control to better nourish the body and mind
• quiet the mind and learn to prepare the body for meditation

Pilates is also a method of exercise and physical movement that is designed to stretch, strengthen and balance the body. A Pilates workout will typically have less stretching exercises and more exercises that focus on toning surface muscles and strengthening deep muscles next to the spine, as well as the abdomen, and pelvic floor. Through the regular practice of pilates, you can expect to:

• strengthen your core and important postural muscles
• develop a leaner body
• improve overall health, particularly lung capacity, coordination and circulation
• create a balance between strength and flexibility

In order to give busy people the opportunity to reap the benefits of both yoga and pilates in one dynamic work-out Feel Good Yoga also provides Level 1 and Level 2 Yogilates classes. During yogilates classes, participants can expect to stretch and strengthen all the major muscle groups with particular emphasis on muscles that support a healthy spine and posture so that a strong, streamlined physique can easily be obtained. The main focus of yogilates is to strengthen what Joseph Pilates referred to as "the Girdle of Strength" or powerhouse muscles where your abdominals, lower back, pelvic floor and buttocks meet. These are the muscles that support the spine and hold the upper and lower parts of the body together.

 

The regular practice of Yogilates is particularly helpful for weight loss, toning, arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and osteoporosis. Bone density and joint health improve and many participants experience increased body awareness, something that often spills over into daily activities and improves overall muscle recruitment patterns.