FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV wanted to know: are all those claims about creating longer and leaner muscles through exercise true? She asked an expert and posted the answer in our Fit Community. You've probably heard it numerous times before — a workout that promises to give you longer, leaner muscles (we've often heard this said about PIlates or ballet-based training methods) . . . so can Read more

Mat classes are the most affordable way to reap the benefits of Pilates. Taught across the country at gyms and private studios, group classes mean you don't have an instructor cuing and correcting your every move. Make the most of your time on the mat and be mindful of these common mistakes I've seen in classes over the years. Not Going Deep There are many benefits to Pilates, but getting in Read more

Breathing. You're doing it right now without even thinking about it. Put a little thought into the action, and you just might find yourself soaring through your next tempo run. When you're going the distance running, swimming, cycling, and even rowing you need to power your muscles with fresh oxygen. To do this, you need to breathe deeply. Unfortunately, most of us are just breathing into our Read more

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar! If you're a novice like me, you might not realize that there are many different kinds of Pilates.  And those incarnations are not defined as "hard, very hard, and nearly impossible." Celebrity trainer Sara Kapuchinski just opened her new LA studio i heart fitness xo, where she teaches West Coast-style Pilates to a Read more

You've fit in intense 20-minute workouts and slaved away in spin class all week. So when it comes to your rest day, help your body rehab by stretching or taking yoga — it'll complement your normal workout routine to keep you on the right track. A light workout like yoga will complement all the calorie-burning, high-intensity exercises you do in your workout. That's because stretching your Read more

Pilates has a rep as a girly exercise form that attracts ladies who lunch. Private sessions can be pricey, but mat classes will work your entire body. Originally called Contrology, the practice was actually developed to rehab injured soldiers after WW I — talk about functional fitness! After teaching the method for years (and rehabbing my own chronic back injury with it), I have decided Pilates Read more

New to Pilates and yoga, but can't decide which class to take? Or maybe you love yoga and Pilates but can't squeeze both into your hectic schedule? These fitness dilemmas can easily be solved thanks to a new wave of Pilates- and yoga-fusion classes popping up all over the US. Reap the benefits from both practices in just one class. Wondering where to start? Here's a rundown of some yoga-Pilates Read more