Barre vs Yoga vs Pilates: Which one is right for you?
Incorporating a new fitness workout into your life and making sure you stick to a regular routine takes hard work and can be quite overwhelming at the beginning. Making the decision to take action is the most important step to change your life and take you one step closer to achieve your goals. The more committed you are, the sooner you will notice physical changes and a positive impact on your life.
Today there are so many types of fitness workouts available that deciding which one is better for you can be quite difficult. One great way to start is by choosing a low-impact class such as Barre, Yoga and Pilates. These workouts are specially designed to help you gain strength and flexibility, sculpt your body and work on your balance, while increasing your cardiovascular endurance. They are suitable not only for beginners, but for all fitness levels as well. All three of them have minimal impact and no risk of injury.
But which one is right for you? Trying to assess your fitness level and future goals will make it easier to decide which workout will bring you the most advantages.
Getting to know the specific approach and methodology behind these three workouts will help you understand their similarities, as well as their differences (philosophies, principles and techniques) so you can decide which program is best suitable for your goals.
BARRE — Body Awareness
Barre consists of a combination between Ballet, Pilates and Yoga. Its origins can be traced back to Germany in the 50s, where it was first designed as a modified workout for athletes recovering from injuries. Its rehabilitative exercises provide a physical challenge with very low impact. Barre combines coordinated movements with elegance and athleticism, allowing you to develop a lean dancer’s physique. These different forms of movement will make you feel more aware of your body and increase your self-confidence. Barre also has a strong mat work component that focuses on building core strength and stability.
Even though it has less of a focus on breathing than Yoga and Pilates, Barre will also have a positive impact on your mental health and your ability to manage stress and anxiety. In comparison to these workouts, Barre has a much more significant cardiovascular component, with workout segments specially designed to increase your heart rate in order to burn more calories.
Benefits
▪ no dance experience required
▪ build core strength and muscle definition
▪ improved posture
▪ body-lengthening techniques
▪ increased cardiovascular endurance
▪ body awareness and sense of movement
Who is Barre for?
Barre is appropriate for everyone who wants to improve their fitness performance, while gaining a strong sense of movement and body awareness. Read more about Paola’s BodyBarre and the PBB Method.
YOGA
CLEAR MIND
Yoga is about finding balance and union between body and mind, the main focus being on using breathing techniques while executing different poses (asanas). It was firstly originated in ancient India as part of spiritual and philosophical disciplines and later developed into many different styles practised all over the world.
You will be challenged to execute different stretching positions that will work every muscle in your body and test your flexibility, while developing breathing techniques that will allow you to connect your mind and body. Yoga can be more focused on meditative and restorative aspects or have a more physical approach, depending on the class you intend to join.
The meditative side of Yoga has many mental benefits, as it provides you tools to help with stress relief, anxiety management and ability to focus. This improvement in mind control will also manifest as positive physical change, such as improved sleep quality and circulation, better posture, low back pain relief and injury prevention.
Benefits
▪ self-confidence and positive thinking
▪ stress relief and anxiety management
▪ improved sleep quality
▪ mobility and flexibility of joints and connective tissues; increased bone density
▪ weight loss, build and tone muscle mass
▪ low-back pain relief and injury prevention
▪ more balance and coordination, better posture
Who is Yoga for?
Yoga is suitable for men and women of all ages and fitness levels. The great thing about Yoga is that you can adapt your workout according to your level and capacities, by choosing between a more physical intense approach or a more meditative, slower-paced one.
PILATES
STRONG CORE
Pilates was created by a physical trainer, Joseph Pilates, in Germany. Its exercises are based on repetition and large motion range, using a combination of mat exercises and equipment to strengthen the core, hips and lower back muscles. Pilates really works and stabilizes the core, as it activates the deepest layer of abs, the transverse abdominis, a muscle not so frequently target on other types of exercise.
While also making use of breathing techniques, Pilates is not as philosophical as Yoga, being actually more physical-oriented. Its breathing techniques, however, are more focused on improving your ability to perform and not so much on the relaxing and calming effects of meditation. Pilates also focuses on repetitive movements in opposition to the dance and choreography-based approach of Barre.
Benefits
▪ deep core development
▪ total-body strength and tone
▪ better posture
▪ increased flexibility
▪ strengthen and lengthen the muscles
▪ lean, muscular physique
Who is Pilates for?
Like Yoga and Barre, Pilates is also a low-impact workout, which makes it appropriate for everyone who wants to experience a core-centric approach. It is also a great workout to ease into more intense forms of physical exercise.
Read more about PBB Method:
The PBB Method is a “one-stop-shop” workout which will strengthen your body, improving your posture and cardiovascular fitness, lengthen tight muscles and work you deep to the “centre” (core) with every movement. You will work hard and reap the rewards!
