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This is used only for completion purposes. The web author is not in any way associated with Ralph Lauren.
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PILATES AND YOGA IN THE YEAR 2005 In this modern age where almost everything comes in handy and food establishments suddenly filled every corner in town, it is undeniable that many people, especially health experts are alarmed of the impact of this change to one�s health. With the existence of different fast food chains here and there, people become bombarded with so many chow varieties. Consequently, in an attempt to become physically fit in this new age, weight-conscious people came up with many different fitness exercises. Jogging and dancing became popular. Then came aerobics and many gym studios filled with different equipments built to cater to our bodies� needs. As the fitness craze became more and more popular, many other trends came to rise and many ancient forms of enhancing the body were revived. Tai chi and Taebo are good examples. And recently, yoga and pilates are gaining many followers among Westerners and Filipinos as well, and promise to be a continuing trend this year of the wooden rooster. Though the widespread of these two exercises happened only recently, history tells us that they have been prominent during the ancient years. Yoga can be traced back in Northern India more than five thousand years ago. It is a science developed by the Indians, which deals on the mental, spiritual and physical well-being of human beings. Indian philosophy dictates that one should be free from the bondage of the material world. Yoga is a manner wherein a person can understand his potentials and develop them. This mind-and-body ritual was refined by the Vedic priests. Several years passed and a man named Patanjali developed his Yoga-Sutras or the classical yoga. He was often referred to as the father of yoga. Centuries later, yoga masters further refined the ritual and produced the Tantra Yoga which is composed of techniques to cleanse the mind and body and then later, the Hatha Yoga. This methods of exercise spread out in India, through the efforts of T. Krishnamacharya, and in the early 1990�s, in the West when many yoga masters came. One of them was Indra Devi who opened a yoga studio in Hollywood. Since then, many people where attracted and became followers of Yoga. With its popularity, especially among Hollywood�s icons, Yoga came to many countries such as the Philippines. Pilates, on the other hand came from the West. It originated in Germany from a man named Joseph Pilates. According to history, J. Pilates was physically unhealthy as a child. Determined to develop his physical capabilities and gain confidence, he created an exercise program for himself. This exercise was built to give strength to the body and mental wellness. The exercise was popularized when Pilates became a captive in England during the World War One. This discipline was also derived from Pilates� orientation in yoga, Zen, and ancient Greek and Roman thoughts. Many people consider Pilates as the modern counterpart of the techniques in Yoga. Nonetheless, both of them serve one purpose: to enhance the human mind and body. Pilates is about stability and stillness in motion, realigning the bones and improving posture and Yoga is about flexibility, deeper breathing and concentration. Nowadays, Yoga and Pilates are often incorporated in many exercise programs, since they are complementary. These two may not be the sweaty kind of workout for an individual but its impact on a person�s physical and mental health is really great. In the Philippines, both Yoga and Pilates are gaining the weight-conscious-people�s attention. Different people of all ages, gender and body sizes and shapes can definitely adopt the techniques in these two fitness trends in the country in an easier, even out-of-the-gym manner. The nature of Yoga and Pilates exercises are deemed to be appropriate for Filipinos nowadays. In an environment where time passes by so fast and many of us work simultaneously, workouts are only for those who have the time and money to go to the gym. With Yogilates (Yoga and Pilates combined), we can go through quick exercise even in the comfort of our homes. Yogilates program is suitable for people who always sit at a desk or behind a wheel many hours each week since it promotes good posture and endurance in everyday activities. Moreover, these new fitness trends, resting on the principle of promoting mental, spiritual and physical awareness, greatly affects how a Filipino/Filipina would see himself/herself. Uncovering the principles of mind-and-body development would trigger one to take care of his/her inner and outer self. If we would look at our Filipinas nowadays, we may notice that a lot has changed. They are no longer confined in their homes rearing their children, but they are also involved in tasks usually given to men. They can handle office matters and other jobs that Filipinas before were not allowed to take. More importantly, at present, many Filipinas are involved in physical wellness. Yogilates can definitely contribute to defining a Filipinas outlook in life, like how she would wear her clothes because of how she feels about her body, her self, because it goes beyond the physical training � it teaches humans how to discover oneself. Moreover, Yoga and Pilates� popularity in the Philippins may have been a product of colonial mentality. When these trends became popularized by Hollywood celebrities in the United States, a lot of health experts in the Philippines tried to adopt a cheaper way of doing them, such as using fewer Yogilates equipments. The trend of Yoga and Pilates also comes down to economics. How? Numerous workers nowadays are inactive or maybe overweight, thereby costing their place of work/company to lose profit due to unproductive worker activities. Because a number of the workers are not physically fit, the rise in absenteeism, health and medical expenses are very rampant. Workers are necessary in an economy because they contribute to the production of a good or service. Low production would mean low revenue and consequently affecting the country�s economy. This is why many businesses offer exercise programs that contribute to physical and mental health. Fortunately, Yoga and Pilates are the two best fitness programs that deals with mind, spirit, and body concerns. Yoga and Pilates promise to be one of the trends in 2005 and probably in the years to come because many are drawn to the benefits and appropriateness of these methods to the kind of lifestyle many modern people live. Philippines can benefit from the effects of these fitness techniques if their advocates continue to multiply. |
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This is used only for completion purposes. The web author is not in any way associated with Ralph Lauren. |