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Pilates, Tai Chi or Yoga - which is least shit?

29 replies

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 12/08/2019 00:58

OK, Dr says that for health reasons I should take up pilates, tai chi ("the kung fu type" according to the Dr, though I can't find anything about this) or yoga. It's for a long term incurable condition. I don't need to lose weight etc - that's not what it's about!

The trouble is - I hate sports. I lead an active lifestyle (dog walking, cycling for transport etc) but I've never managed to get into exercise for the sake of exercise. The idea of running in circles around a track seems worse than pointless. I've quite literally never seen the inside of a gym. My antipathy towards sports largely stems from school, where I was always always always last (in races, in being picked for teams... In absolutely everything, no matter how hard I tried). It was quite demoralising, being made a tit of twice a week, never finding any form of success and routinely feeling humiliated. It has never quite left me (please don't tell me to get over it - that's not the point of the thread)

I'm picturing any of the options involving me trying to balance on one leg, falling over and having the rest of the class start sniggering, or just generally being the worst in the class forevermore.

I'm an adrenaline junkie, so rollercoasters and skiing are rather more appealing than more sedate things...

I'm also skinter than skint, and probably will be for at least the next year, so that's a consideration too. I can muster a pair of primark leggings and old trainers, but expensive kit or lessons isn't realistically doable.

Please help me out - what's going to be the least shit of yoga, tai chi or pilates, for someone deeply unsporty and deeply skint?

OP posts:
SchnitzelVonKrumm · 13/08/2019 00:13

Pilates all the way. People from early 20s to 60+ in my classes. Can't bear the woo-ness of yoga and its dull adherents.

TigerJoy · 13/08/2019 00:15

Another vote for yoga with adrienne

I don't get people who say yoga isn't hard work. My OH was being dismissive so I took him through a simple series of poses including the warrior poses and he was begging for mercy within 5 minutes

Find some local yoga classes too so you can get some tips on form

Tojigornot · 13/08/2019 00:15

I would start with Body Balance. Then you can see which bits you like best.

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OxanaVorontsova · 13/08/2019 00:17

I enjoy Pilates but have no experience of the other two. I also love skiing if that’s helpful! My class is led by someone who trained after having her own connective tissue problems.

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