Pilates and yoga are excellent low-impact workouts that can improve your flexibility and core strength. Though they have similar results, in practice, they are very different. So which one is better?
Constructive Debater 1 Marie
I personally like Pilates better because it provides faster results. German physical trainer Joseph Pilates created this exercise at the end of World War I to help soldiers rehabilitate their bodies. Because it’s low-impact and heavily centered on balance and stability, fitness experts often recommend Pilates to people who have arthritis or joint injuries. Pilates is also more well-supported by science than yoga, with many studies backing its effects.
Constructive Debater 2 Charlotte
What’s great about yoga is that it’s not just a physical exercise but also a spiritual one. Yoga is an ancient spiritual practice that originated in India and seeks to unite the body, mind, and soul. The goal is not limited to strengthening the core; there is a heavy emphasis on breath-to-movement connection and staying in the present. Yoga can improve your body’s condition and bolster your mental health and spiritual connection.
Rebuttal Debater 1 Marie
Pilates can be done on a mat using weights or specialized equipment like the classic reformer. This equipment is unique in that it uses springs, levers, and your body weight to provide resistance. If you want a more intensive and challenging workout than yoga but want to avoid injury, Pilates is perfect for you. Yoga is too tedious and light, making it easy to get distracted from finishing the exercise. Pilates focuses on more controlled movements, and you can feel its effects on your body.
Rebuttal Debater 2 Charlotte
The other thing that’s great about yoga is that there is such a wide variety of practices. There are hatha, ashtanga, vinyasa, and yin yoga, to name a few. There’s something for everyone. If you want something faster and more intense, you can go for vinyasa or Bikram yoga, also known as “hot yoga.” Or if you feel like relaxing, you can do yin yoga before sleeping. Yin yoga has slower movements, focusing on holding poses for a long time, aiding recovery from intense workouts.
Judge’s Comments
Pilates and yoga offer various benefits, so why not do both? You can warm up your core with a Pilates session and finish with a yoga workout.
Hannah Kim For The Junior Times junior/1728632616/1613368104
1. Who created Pilates, and why was it originally developed?
2. What is the main focus of yoga, according to Charlotte?
3. What type of equipment is used in Pilates to add resistance to the workout?
4. Name two types of yoga practices that Charlotte mentions in her argument.
1. Have you ever tried yoga or Pilates before? Which one do you think you would enjoy more?
2. Do you like exercises that focus more on physical strength or on relaxing your mind? Why?
3. Which sounds better to you, a faster, more intense workout or a slower, more relaxing one?
4. If you had the chance to try both Pilates and yoga, which one would you want to do first? Why?
Introduction>>
Constructive Debater 1 Marie
Constructive Debater 2 Charlotte
Rebuttal Debater 1 Marie 
Rebuttal Debater 2 Charlotte
Judge’s Comments
