Pilates, yoga, and beyond: Finding the right home workouts for your fitness goals

There are many reasons why it is difficult to get to the gym nowadays. Whether you are working from home, travelling or socially distancing, it's important that you find a way to stay active and healthy.

Exercise routines are difficult to keep when you are at home, travelling with work, on vacation, or quarantined. Fitness facilities may be difficult to access or you might find it difficult to adjust to a new routine.

It can be difficult to pick the best home workout program, as there are so many to choose from nowadays from beginner pilates to intense HIIT style workouts.

You might miss the social connection from going to the gym or swimming laps with your workout buddies at your local pool.

It may be disappointing to exercise on your own if you're used to a class with an instructor who motivates you.

However, with the right approach and the right level of determination, you can be sure that you will find a home workout that will match your lifestyle and your goals moving forward.

Let's take a look at how you can find the right workout to help you to reach your fitness goals without leaving the comfort of your own home.

With many gyms across the country still shut down due to the Coronavirus pandemic, at-home workouts have become the norm.

At-home workouts have been a bit of an adjustment for people who take fitness classes at gyms and studios as you need to find your own inner motivation. Working out in a fitness class doesn't require much thought as your body simply follows your instructor's directions.

By taking the pressure off yourself, you can concentrate on the workout at hand and ensure that you get the results you want.

Listen to your body

When doing high-intensity workouts, you should also pay close attention to what your body is telling you.

Make sure that your workout program is suited to your fitness level, rest when necessary, and do not ignore pain.

A high-intensity workout plan including a food diary and restrictions might not appeal to you if fitness is new to you.

In spite of their similarities, yoga and pilates differ in some fundamental ways. They both seem like pleasant ways to exercise, but which is better?

Both Pilates and yoga are group fitness classes that use mats. Both promote a toned, lean body. Yoga comes in more than a hundred varieties.

Some of them are fast-paced and intense, while others are much more gentle. Depending on the type of yoga you choose, your workout will vary in intensity. Iyengar yoga and hatha yoga are gentle, slow techniques.

The pace and challenge of Bikram and power yoga are higher. With yoga poses, you can gain more flexibility. However, while there are many books and DVDs on yoga, it is a good idea to attend classes taught by an instructor who can demonstrate each posture so you get it right from the outset and avoid injury.

In the early 20th century, Joseph Pilates created a system of physical fitness called Pilates. Pilates originated during World War I in order to strengthen, stretch, and stabilise certain muscles to help soldiers regain their health.

The Pilates method uses fewer, more precise movements in order to achieve the Pilates principles: alignment, centering, concentration, control, precision, breathing, and flow.

Joseph believed that mental and physical health are interconnected, developing a method of total body conditioning. Pilates is similar to yoga in that it has many benefits, helping the body to lengthen and align, as well as increase flexibility and muscle tone.

Due to how it addresses the mind and body, you can achieve relaxation while practising yoga by focusing on how your breath is used.

Taking deep breaths during times of stress can help you relax specific muscle groups within your body. Pilates exercises are typically more intense than yoga and you will probably see results faster.

If you're unsure as to whether to choose yoga or pilates in your quest for a fitter you, take the time to try them both out and see which one will be a better addition to your home workouts moving forward.