Yoga Tops - Yoga tops should allow you to move freely without having them fall in your face. Tee shirts should be short enough so that your lower body is not hidden, so you can more easily check your alignment. Some women like to wear sports bras (especially those who practice Bikram yoga). If you choose to wear one, make sure that it holds you securely and that nothing falls out when you are bending or stretching. You don’t want to wear something that is going to cause you to worry about what you might be showing to rest of class.

Yoga tops come in many bright and attractive colors. You might also have fun wearing shirts with characters such as Yoga girl on them.

Yoga Shoes - Most people do not wear shoes during their practice. However, they might be useful if you practice outside in a park, on a beach, or some place where you would not want to take off your shoes and socks. Yoga shoes look very similar to other athletic footwear, except that soles allow for considerable flexibility in your foot and tops of shoes are very lightweight. Some popular brands include Puma yoga shoes and Adidas shoes for yoga.

Jacket - Many people might not think that a jacket is an important part of yoga clothing, but I beg to disagree. I think it is absolutely critical to take a jacket with you to your yoga class. I have been in many classes where temperature has been quite cool (some are downright freezing). While temperature often doesn’t matter too much while I am moving during poses, it becomes quite a different story when time comes to meditate.

I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult if not impossible, to relax when I am cold. Bringing a jacket with you gives you an option of covering up during relaxation period if you are feeling chilly. Feeling warm and comfortable allows you pleasure of letting your body relax fully.

So yoga clothes should be functional, comfortable, and give you freedom to totally enjoy your practice. Have fun with them and enjoy wearing ones that make you feel good!

Pilates exercises focus on muscle balance and coordination. - Many people who do weight lifting have muscle imbalances. Strong muscles get over trained and weak muscles get more strained. That is because muscles are worked in isolation. With Pilates, you use many muscles at same time. You also stretch and strengthen muscles during same exercise. This helps correct imbalances and develops better body alignment. In addition, you learn how to more effectively coordinate movements in your entire body, which will help you as you go about your daily activities.

They focus on body awareness. - In Pilates, you are always focused on your body – your alignment, your breathing, way you are doing your movements. This increased body awareness can help you maintain better posture, it can help you relax muscle tension through proper breathing, and it can help you reduce stress.

They are energizing, not exhausting. - With traditional weight lifting programs, your body often feels depleted after you finish your workout. An interesting thing about Pilates exercises is that after you do them, you feel more energized than before you started. The combination of deep breathing, high quality, low quantity movements, helps your body function better as a whole. The result -- you have more energy to go about your day.

I love doing Pilates. I have seen dramatic changes in my body and I exert much less effort than I did when I was using traditional weight training programs. I have significantly strengthened my abdominal and back muscles and I have improved my overall posture. I also look better in a bathing suit.

Try doing some of these exercises for yourself. When you do, I’m sure you’ll be hooked on them too.