In the past when people discussed the benefits of exercise, they tended to focus on the three S's: Strenghtening, Stamina and Slimming. Therefore, they usually followed a strict regime of weight lifting, intertwined with some form of cardovascular work-out to increase endurance. Recently however, other benefits of exercise are being recognized as just as, if not more important. These include increased flexibility, coordination, improved posture and stress relief.

Part of the reason for the recognizance of these new outcomes of regular physical activity are the new trends toward low-impact training methods, such as Yoga and Pilates.

The main obvious difference between Yoga and Pilates stems from their location of origin. Yoga, which has been popular in North America for many decades, stems from an ancient forms of meditation in Asia. Pilates, a more recent, trendier addition to workouts, was developed by a German born doctor, Joseph Pilates to help wounded WW1 soldiers recover their strength. Both of them center around improving flexibility and strength, while providing psychological benefits as well.

The roots of ancient Yoga are based upon energy flow and how it affects our mind and body. If the energy is allowed to flow freely, we feel refreshed and . centered. However, when we are overtaken by stress or anxiety, the disruption in the flow of energy also affects our body in negative ways, causing tension, muscle spasms and even pain. Yoga aims to keep the body strong and supple by a system of stretching and breathing. The breathing itself has many benefits, because with its roots in Eastern meditation, Yoga's main objective is to unify the body and spirit. Participants attempt to hold poses of varying difficulty while controlling their breathing. Through the exercise, they learn to attain a sense of balance and harmony.

Pilates' main objective is purely the conditioning of the body. It focuses on the strenghtening the "core", muscles that lie deep in the abdomen and around the spine. Participants work on isolating and engaging those muscles, leading to increased strength and improved posture.

The goal of Pilates is to develop long, lean muscles, unlike the bulky mass that can occur as a result of traditional weight lifting.

Although both provide numerous benefits, yoga focuses more on spiritual balance, combined with stretching and strenghtening. Pilates strives to tone muscles to improve the way you look and carry yourself. So if it's a spiritual lift that you're after, combined with some stretching and body conditioning, then yoga's the one for you. However, if you'd prefer an intense core body workout, along with a stronger, more toned mid-section, try Pilates.

Better yet, try a bit of both! A successful exercise plan does not have to be limiting. In fact, it's better to add variety and interest to your routine. Combine a bit of yoga or Pilates along with biking, hiking or aerobics. The more fun and varied your exercise routine is, the more likely you are to stick with it!