Consequences of Pilates Training with and Without Yogic Practice on Body Composition Balance of Male Youth

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to find out the Consequences of Pilates Training with and without Yogic Practice on Body Composition Balance of Male youth. To achieve the purpose of this study, the researcher examined body mass index of 750 students studying in various schools of Virajpet, kodoga, Karnataka and found out 200 obese students. Out of these 200 obese students, 80 obese students were selected at random; their age ranged from 15 to 17 years as per the school records. The selected subjects were divided into three experimental groups and a control group with twenty subjects in (n=20) each. Experimental Group I (PTG-20) underwent Pilates training, Experimental Group II (YTG-20) underwent yoga training, Experimental Group III (PTYTG-20) underwent combination of Pilates and yoga training and Group IV served as control group (CG) for the training period of 12 weeks. All the subjects were informed about the nature of the study and their consent was obtained to co-operate till the end of the experiment and testing period. Pilot study groups and experimental groups (namely PTG, YTG and PTYTG) were given training independently with separate subjects in each group. A qualified physician examined the subjects medically and declared them fit for the study. The subjects were free to withdraw their consent in case they felt any discomfort during the period of their participation, but there were no dropouts. The body composition was measured by anthropometric measures and balance is measured by physical performance test, as a result of two training programmes, the following improvements occurred on body composition and balance among the obese students. It was concluded from the results of the study that the Pilates, yoga training and combined training showed significant improvement in balance, when compared with control group as well as pre-test. Due to the influence of Pilates, yoga training and combined training significantly reduced the body fat percentage, when compared with control group as well as pre-test. Combined training was identified as the best training and was a suitable training system to improve all the selected criterion variables when compared to the Pilates and yoga training. Pilates training methods were identified as one of the methods to improve all the selected dependent variables.