Pilates/Yoga + Strength Training

mrpink6789

Hey,

I got a 6 week course on Pilates or Yoga as party of a crimbo present. I have been doing some reading on each as have never done anything like these before. Yoga will improve my flexibility while Pilates will improve flexibility but also my core strength, is that right?

I do stronglifts 5X5 and my goal now is to get stronger.

Does anyone do Yoga or Pilates and if so have they found it was beneficial to do with strength training? Also will any of them get in the day of my muscles recovering if I do them on rest days?

Cheers for any advice,

BobbyJohn

Pinkie,

Yoga will definately improve your flexibility, if you aren't the most flexible lifter in the world. Pilates doesn't really work flexibility as much as yoga, it will assist in core and with muscle balance though.

Yoga - has various forms, some are really mild and meditative, others a bit more physical. I hate the meditative ones (Hathe or something like it). Iyenga or Ashtenga, I think, are the more physical.
If the class is more dynamic this may affect your rest days for a week or so.

Pilates will most definately affect your rest days for the first week or so. But it could pay more dividends for you. Stronger core = stronger body

Torakx

This is something i have been considering myself also.
Im looking to start doing mixed martial arts soon.
So to compliment my cardio which im working on at the moment by jogging, i was thinking it might be good to be doing alot of flexibility drills too.
Does anyone have any links to particular exercises or yoga drills i can learn online which show me how to stretch and give me more flexibility to my legs? i need to be able to kick high at some stage and i figure being able to go one better and learn some yoga might be even better for flexibility.

Its hard for me to know how much i should be stretching to do that each day.At the moment i can nearly touch my toes with legs straight lol

How Strange

Torakx wrote: »

Does anyone have any links to particular exercises or yoga drills i can learn online which show me how to stretch and give me more flexibility to my legs?

IMO, yoga is not an activity which can be done in drills. Even if you don't subscribe to the meditative side of it (I don't) its the type of activity where improvement is progressive and you need a yoga teacher to help you stretch into poses and maintain the correct alignment.

For that reason, I'd recommend taking up a class in Astanga. You can do the sun salutes and downward dogs yourself at home on other days which would definitely help stretch your legs and give more flexibility and as you improve in class you can work on the other poses at home but to see real improvement you need to participate in a class at least to learn the basics.

mrpink6789

Cheers for the replies, I'm going to run with beginners Pilates for the 6 weeks as from what I have read it shouldnt mess with my recovery until it moves in to advanced stage. Will judge then if its any use.

I hope I'm not the only guy there!....or wait maybe I do

How Strange

mrpink6789 wrote: »

Cheers for the replies, I'm going to run with beginners Pilates for the 6 weeks as from what I have read it shouldnt mess with my recovery until it moves in to advanced stage. Will judge then if its any use.

I hope I'm not the only guy there!....or wait maybe I do

Given a choice between pilates and yoga I'd chose pilates. Its a lower intensity of a workout, if thats the right word, and it really is excellent for strengthening your core muscles.

There's usually one or two guys in the classes I've been too and they're normally there on the recommendation of a physio to recover from an injury of one kind or another.