Yoga is a relaxation and meditation exercise that originated in India 5,000 years ago, and where body poses and stretches, often done barefoot on the floor or on a yoga mat are performed to improve flexibility. It encourages the use of joints that are not normally stretched, improves strength, balance, stamina, muscle tone and blood circulation.

There are various types of yoga, each with a different emphasis. Popular styles include Hatha yoga, which tends to be slow-paced and is used as an introduction to yoga practice; Vinyasa yoga where breathing is synchronised and with more vigorous set of stretches and poses, and Ashtanga yoga (or power yoga), an even more intense and fast-paced form that is based around a set series of poses performed in a specific order.

Iyengar yoga emphasises the holding of a pose for long periods rather than the continued flow of movement; Hot yoga is performed in a heated room to encourage sweating and Integral yoga incorporates chants, meditation and breathing exercises.

The respiratory and physical aspects of yoga has been shown to have beneficial effects on those suffering with arthritis, asthma, back pain, high blood pressure, headaches, depression, multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue. It thoroughly massages all the internal organs of the body including those that may never be stimulated normally, which helps to keep disease at bay.

Pilates is similar to Yoga, which is another type of stretching-breathing combination of controlled exercises beneficial for the mind and body. Developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, it aims at improving the back, abdominal and pelvic muscles through gentle, repetitive exercises. The result is improved flexibility, co-ordination and posture.

The mat exercises focuses on working the torso whilst the use of Pilates machines, built with various weights and pulleys helps to strengthen the body. Both forms follow the movements and principles specified by Joseph Pilates to help align the mind and body.

Pilates is different from yoga because it uses machines as well as the mats, and yoga has a stronger spiritual dimension than Pilates. Pilates also involves more repetitive movements than yoga, is more regimented and focuses on core muscles whereas yoga works the whole body. However, both can be practiced together as part of an all over body exercise regime for improved health and fitness