Warrior Addict
  • Shop
  • WA® YOGA
  • WA® ZEN
  • Brand Warriors
  • Values
  • News
0
0 Items
Subtotal FREE
View Cart Checkout
  • Sales
  • New In
  • Gifts
  • Mats
  • Bottoms
  • Tops
  • Accessories
  • Seasonal Sales
  • Sample Sales
  • Pre Loved Sales
  • Pants
  • Shorts
  • vests
  • t-shirts
  • long sleeved
  • Hoodies
  • Pro-planet Activists
  • Peaceful Revolutionist
  • Transparent Traders
Warrior Addict
  • 0
  • Shop
    • All
    • Sales
      • Seasonal Sales
      • Sample Sales
      • Pre Loved Sales
    • New In
    • Gifts
    • Mats
    • Bottoms
      • Pants
      • Shorts
    • Tops
      • vests
      • t-shirts
      • long sleeved
      • Hoodies
    • Accessories
  • WA® YOGA
  • WA® ZEN
  • Brand Warriors
  • Values
    • Pro-planet Activists
    • Peaceful Revolutionist
    • Transparent Traders
  • News
Sign up to our Newsletter
I have read and agreed with Warrior Addict Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
Like Us On Facebook
Posted in News
August 28th 2020

Should Men Practice Yoga or Pilates?

I actually like both practices. I'm not qualified to teach Pilates. I am a yoga teacher and a personal trainer. So you might expect me to be biased towards yoga, however I honestly enjoy mat-based Pilates, reformer-based Pilates and various styles of the yoga ‘asana’ practice (the physical practice of yoga).

So what actually differentiates these practices physically?

Reformer Pilates involves using what is known as a ‘bed’ (it looks like a wooden rowing machine with some extra cables on it). This type of movement practice is going to involve pulling motions. When you pull something or row something, you're going to engage your bicep and then you're going to engage your latissimus dorsi back here, your rhomboids, your trapezius. And possibly if there's a hinger motion as well, you will utilise some of your spinal erector extensors, posterior chain. This is something that is often really missing from a yoga practice.

Black & White Image of a Pilates Studio

There are certain ways that you can lie on your front and then raise your arms up into flexion. Or you could lie back on the floor and push the backs of your hands into the floor and get this engagement in your back isometrically. But it's not typical in a yoga practice. In fact, it's incredibly rare to see or do something like that really in a yoga class.

So, physically, I believe that Pilates reformer has an advantage.

However regarding whether men should practice, Pilates or yoga, I believe that it really depends on the teacher. If you find a good teacher who talks anatomically, who has a knowledge of the movement practice, making you feel safe and you understand what's going on.

Yoga or pilates for men?

Keep going back and working with that teacher. Explore other teachers, explore mat Pilates, reformer and yoga. Keep informing yourself and you'll be able to make better decisions about who you're going to practice with, where you're going to practice and what you're going to do.

Eventually you will have a better body awareness and know how to activate the correct muscles appropriately yourself.


This article was created for us by our Global Brand Warrior, yoga teacher, personal trainer and Broga Master Trainer Ben Harrison. For more about Ben, click here

We would like to give credit to The Boxgrove for images used in this article

Comments
There aren't any comments yet.
Sign up
Related Articles
May 25th 2022
Oh Shala Community Festival

Come and join us at the Oh Shala Community Festival 2022 in the Chiltern Hills - area of outstanding beauty.


Read more
April 28th 2022
Our Top Tips For Outdoor Yoga This Summer

There is nothing better than doing yoga alfresco but there are a few top tips to follow if you don’t want to resemble a sausage yoga roll…


Read more
March 4th 2022
MEET THE FOUNDER OF MARI DESIGN

We are launching the Warrior Addict Mini Market Place with the awesome brand Mari, read about its founder Maisie in this awesome Q&A where she gives you some great advice on how to make natural dyes and a amazing mantra to live by.


Read more
Back to news
Warrior Addict
  • Contact Us
  • Customer Support
Copyright © 2023 Warrior Addict. All Rights Reserved.
X
Save this instruction or podcast to your personalized page by becoming a WA member

Forgot Your Password?

Not a Warrior Addict Member?
Join and find out about the Benefits
X
X
Media Title
X
How would you like to checkout?

Forgot Your Password?

Are you experiencing any problems during check out?
Please email us support@warrioraddict.com