Synergy!

Because I do both personal training and Pilates instruction, people ask me which is better.  The answer, of course, is “It depends.”

Some people like one or the other better.  And yes, this is a perfectly valid reason to choose one or the other.  One person’s hip hop is another person’s car alarm, and someone else’s symphony is another’s idea of nightmare.

Weight training, especially the way I prefer to do it, incorporating intervals, generally gets the heart rate up more.  It focuses more on building muscle mass and usually involves more sweat.

Pilates allows more time for focus on the quality of movement, on alignment, and on flexibility.  At the end of a session, most people feel longer and more supple.  It is great for relaxing the mind, improving posture, and training balance.  I also find it useful as a bridge back into weight training for those who have been injured since it teaches good form.

“Both” is also a great choice.  Combining weight training and Pilates can create a synergy in the body, making us strong, lean, and flexible.