Need peoples thorughts - Just started with yoga and pilates instructor

I just started yesterday with a yoga and pilates instructor.  I have worked out and done lots of cardio and weight (more typical trainer things) in the past.  i am curious what other peoples results have been when primarily doing pilates and yoga.  how quickly do you start to see results.  do you tone us?  I would like to loose some body fat as well to see the tone that I do get.  Will this happen along with a cardio routine and a good diet?

 Why in the world would you trade in proper strength training for the decidedly inferior Yoga/pilates methods?

 Gisele's publicist boasts of her yoga, but Joe Dowdell who trains her at Peak Performance gym in NY talks of her Romanian deadlift and squats. Madonna's PR flak talks of Pilates and ballet, but you seriously don't get arms like that from anything but lifting iron.

 Yoga and Pilates can be enjoyable on their own terms, for flexibility, soft tissue work, strengthening the mind/muscle connection and a whole host of other valuable fitness qualities, but it will have next to no impact on the fitness qualities you're looking for when you're looking to lose fat and gain muscle definition. ('tone' is a very misused word, technically it refers to your muscle's state of reflexive contraction at rest. For some reason "fitness" magazines like Shape have decided to misuse the term.)

I did not say that I was trading anything in.  I am adding this to my routine and I wanted to know what other peoples results and such have been from their yoga an pilates routines.

Wow.  did not post to get beat up.  so sorry I even asked.

 Uh, which part of

 Yoga and Pilates can be enjoyable on their own terms, for flexibility, soft tissue work, strengthening the mind/muscle connection and a whole host of other valuable fitness qualities, but it will have next to no impact on the fitness qualities you're looking for when you're looking to lose fat and gain muscle definition.

did you feel was 'get beat up'?

this part

 "Why in the world would you trade in proper strength training for the decidedly inferior Yoga/pilates methods?"

It sounds like you are attacking me.  As if I have made some stupid decision to pick up a new exercise.  As if Yoga and pilates are not reputable forms of exercise.

 

Well. I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with melkor. I did almost nothing but pilates about 2 years ago. And about 2 weeks after I started, my waist was an inch and a half smaller. Maybe that's just because I was standing up straighter or something. But over all, it's a good exercise for your muscles if you're going for lean muscle mass. I mean, I really felt it. It all depends on form, though.

Melkor - "Madonna's PR flak talks of Pilates and ballet, but you seriously don't get arms like that from anything but lifting iron." I wonder. Have you ever seen a ballerina? My sister does no exercise outside of her ballet classes, and she has some of the best toned arms I've ever seen. I danced for a while, too. Try holding your arms in 2nd position for 10 minutes. It's no joke. ;)

Well, they aren't. Not in a weight loss context.

 There are many benefits to embracing yoga as a lifestyle, calorie burning and fat loss is however not one of them. Same goes for Pilates - it's a good place to start, but it will have next to no impact on the advanced trainee like yourself.

 If you're starting from sedentary and have never exercised before, both yoga and pilates are excellent places to start, and they make great complements to any fitness routine as long as you're using them for goals consistent with what they're actually useful for. Active recovery, some strength endurance, flexibility work, mind/muscle connection, certainly.

  And

I have worked out and done lots of cardio and weight (more typical trainer things) in the past.  i am curious what other peoples results have been when primarily doing pilates and yoga.

certainly sounded like you were going to trade in proper strength training using weights and cardio, which is a very goal-appropriate method of training for fat loss, for yoga/pilates which is a very goal-inappropriate way to train for fat loss, increased muscle definition and basically every fitness quality you said you wanted.

 For the right goals, Pilates and yoga will work. But there's a decided mismatch between your goals and what Pilates/yoga can do for you.
(Edited to add:) If you were going to replace proper strength training with Pilates, anyway. If you're going to be adding Pilates/yoga on top of what you're already doing, I see no reason why it shouldn't give you a net positive benefit.

 Ballet dancers are slim, flexible and very, very slight, usually. Their body control is astounding, strength endurance and flexibility only matched by Olympic gymnasts, and a dedication to their craft that's nothing short of breath-taking. At least if we're talking pro or semi-pro dancers with a company.

 You can call Madonna's biceps many things, but slight is not one of them ;)

Well I would agree that pilates and yoga are not for weight loss but I think adding them into a healthy diet and a good cardio routine you can probably get very good results.

My goal is to be healthy and look good and live a long life.  I think that I will achieve those goals.  And I am very excited about learning more about pilates and yoga and what it can offer me.

To be fair, you did ask a lot about toning.  But you do have to watch yourself in this forum.  There are a bunch of people who think that pumping iron is the only 'real' exercise.  That being said, Melkor is right.  Yoga (which I do because I like it) probably isn't going to do a lot for muscle tone in a reasonably fit person.  Pilates might do a little more.  I am not sure what kind of results you are looking for or how toned you already are, but you might not see much difference after doing yoga and pilates.

Thanks clharr - this forum used to not be quite like that.  I mentioned toning because i have heard that pilates is great for that.  And it is good at lengthing, which i need. 

Well all the same I am very excited about my new adventure in this area and with this trianing routine.  Guess in the end that is all that matters. 

But any tips that I can get to make the activities more effective are definitely welcome.

You may find it helpful to consider Pilates Revealed by Dr. Mel Siff when you discuss Pilates - there's a lot to learn that the Pilates marketers aren't going to tell you, like the fact that "Toning" does not exist, and making "long, lean muscles" is a physiological impossibility.

 Your muscles are the length they are, and nothing short of surgery will change that.

 If we're discussing flexibility a la ballet dancers or gymnasts, that's a different story - flexibility is a trainable skill even if muscle length is genetically determined.

Original Post by clharr:

To be fair, you did ask a lot about toning. But you do have to watch yourself in this forum. There are a bunch of people who think that pumping iron is the only 'real' exercise. That being said, Melkor is right. Yoga (which I do because I like it) probably isn't going to do a lot for muscle tone in a reasonably fit person. Pilates might do a little more. I am not sure what kind of results you are looking for or how toned you already are, but you might not see much difference after doing yoga and pilates.

OH! I hope you're talking about me! No one has ever said weight lifting is the only "real" exercise but if you can find something that disproves it's better for muscle gains than pilates, yoga, yogalates or whatever the catchy program featured in this week's issue of Us is, I'd love to know about it!

 

PS: You mean muscle gains. Muscle tone doesn't exist in the context you are using it

DC had done the iron thing and she wants to try something different.  Yoga and Pilates are exercise too.  Even if they are not the most efficient way to build muscle, they will work the muscles and strengthen them.  They will also increase flexibility.  The most important thing is that DC is being active and she is enjoying it.

Oh, and DC, let me know how the Pilates goes.  I did one session and it was a blast.  If it works for you, I might sign up a class.

Again, no one said they aren't exercise! I'm the first one to admit the best exercise is the one you're doing.

 Well, adding yoga/pilates to a weights routine - that's not a bad idea, I'm sure a lot of us could use some help destressing, and us lifters tend to not spend enough time stretching and doing soft tissue work in general.

 1)As a complement to a resistance training program, it's a very good idea.

 2)As a replacement for a resistance training program, it's a very bad idea.

 If the original question had been phrased to make it clear that it's the first, rather than the second option that's the case in DC's program... the answer probably wouldn't be very different in essence, but I would probably not have been so floored by the possibility that anyone would even think that option 2 was a viable idea that I lost my verbal composure ;)

Original Post by spirochete:

Again, no one said they aren't exercise! I'm the first one to admit the best exercise is the one you're doing.

True enough.  I am prone to hyperbole.  You do have to admit though, that the iron crowd here is a bit....   umm....  enthusiastic?

According to your profile as of 2/29/07 you are 121 lbs and 17% bf.  How close those numbers are to true I don't know but lets assume those numbers are correct, so that puts you in the athletic range to start with.  Second that is 21lbs of fat and of that 15lbs are essential.  So that leaves you with 6lbs of fat to lose so instead of concentrating on fat loss you should be concentrating on gaining muscle to fill in those lagging areas.  A lot of times people feel they have a fat insert body part but the truth is that there is not enough visible muscle to protrude so it looks empty.  If you want to add pilates then by all means go for but I doubt you have done proper weight training and tried to add muscle.  Your profile says " I am working out at least 4 times a week and try to make it 5 if I can.  I have been doing cardio at least 4 times a week and some days I also do weights." IMO Some days I do weights is not a consistent and deliberate weight training program.  Make the decision that you would like but I think most of us want you to have the facts to make an informed decision not a "SHAPE" Magazine decision.  Best of luck to you.

Original Post by clharr:

True enough. I am prone to hyperbole. You do have to admit though, that the iron crowd here is a bit.... umm.... enthusiastic?

That's probably because lifting heavy (for you) is proven to be the best way to lose fat, preserve muscle and excellent for bone health. If you're not doing weights (real weights; not  mindless rambling from machine to machine), which most women seem not to be, you are doing yourself a HUGE injustice.

People seem to be overlooking one of the most important benefits of Pilates and indeed yoga. Core strength. Also, in both there is a huge resistance factor involved in many of those positions. I notice a big improvement in my performance while running, biking and, yes, weight lifting since upping my yoga and Pilates time. Notice some time when you are running or watch somebody who is. Notice how much of that kinetic energy going through your legs originates in your core? Also, a more flexible athlete (we are all athletes here)  is less injury prone than one who isn't. And nothing beats yoga and Pilates for improving your flexibility.

Just the other night I was in a pilates class where some how they got a couple of meat heads to come in and try- they didn't make it through half the class and of course their excuse was it was stupid and pointless....

It is good to use yoga and pilates in combo with weight training and cardio

"People seem to be overlooking one of the most important benefits of Pilates and indeed yoga. Core strength"

-Yes, Yoga and Pilates can make your core stronger, but weight lifting will give you greater gains in core strength in shorter time.

"Also, in both there is a huge resistance factor involved in many of those positions."

-And when you increase your strength to where that "huge" resistance factor isn't providing a challege how do you increase the resistance? oh ya, you can't.

"Also, a more flexible athlete (we are all athletes here)  is less injury prone than one who isn't."

-Depends on where your flexible.  Some joints are designed for stabilization and increased flexibility in those joints (knees, lower back) can leave you more prone to injury.