Over the last few years pilates and yoga, both mind-body workouts, have taken the world by storm. What is it about that 6am Bikram yoga class with the line out the door, or that Reformer class with the month long waiting list? People just can’t get enough! While pilates and yoga both whip you into shape physically, I’m convinced it’s the mental and spiritual practice that keeps people hungry for more.
After a long stressful day at work, taking a yoga or pilates class is a sure fire way to calm and focus the mind. Both disciplines focus on turning inward and practicing body awareness. By placing your intention and awareness on the body or breath you become instantly present. The worries, and thoughts whirling in the mind quiet and tension subsides. And for crazy busy celebs, mind-body work is exactly what they need and desire. So, take a cue from the stellar ladies below and roll out a mat for some centering yoga or pilates.
Kerri Walsh, Beach volleyball olympic hopeful in Bejing, attributes her chiseled core to her pilates practice three times a week. “It makes you more felxible, so you’re stronger and more stable, too.” As if she doesn’t already work out enough! Those olympians just train, train, train.
Madonna, who’s turning 50 this year(!), literally transformed her entire self using mind body exercises. Madge’s friend Sting introduced her to the practice of Ashtanga yoga during a session with yogi guru Danny Paradise. 
Besides her amazing physical metamorphosis, yoga allows Madonna to find mental calm and clarity.
She told ABC’s 20/20 “I want to be liberated from my ego, less concerned about what other people think of me.” She also said,”I remember that I couldn’t sit still for a second. I was always on the move. I was often pretty aggressive, wild and unpredictable, but all that’s changed.”
In the August issue of Self, Rebecca Romijn discusses her weekly fitness regime, which surprise, surprise, includes lots of pilates. She keeps up with her super fit, high octane beau Jerry O’Connel by practicing pilates three to four times a week and working the elliptical for 30 min. five days a week. The 30 year old model is more in tune with her mind and body then ever before…”When you’re in your 20’s, you’re sort of going along for the ride, still partying and not quite getting it. I don’t regret one second of it. But you’re constantly looking to the external to find happiness. The older you get, the more you realize it comes from a much deeper place.”
Victoria Beckham also swears by pilates because she can’t stand the gym. Since, the pilates method offers thousands of movement variations I can see why it keeps her excited about staying fit. Running on a treadmill staring at the wall could never keep my interest either! She admits, “I like to do pilates, even though I should go more often.”
