Yoga and Pilates Watches

Yoga involves many muscle groups through both stretching and strengthening. While its primary form has these orientations there are multiple variations including Bikrams which involves yoga conducted in rooms over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The question often arises, "Why should I use a heart rate monitor for yoga?". The answer is to gauge intensity, calories burned and to measure resting heart rate.

Pilates involves more core strength training and, as such, results in a more elevated level of heart rate. The same benefits of measuring training intensity and the use of energy are part of the reason to use a heart rate monitor for pilates.

For both yoga and Pilates the single most important requirement is to have a very comfortable and flexible chest strap that has good adhesion, so it does not move around as you bend and flex your torso. After much testing we feel that the Suunto M Series chest straps are by far the best for both Yoga and Pilates. The primary reason for this selection had to do with the slight bit of latex coating in the chest area on the Suunto dual comfort strap, this latex keeps the chest strap in place even when you are drenched in sweat and bending in all directions.

Make sure to get a Suunto M2, Suunto M4 or Suunto M5 for this purpose as the Suunto M1 has the older plastic versions of the strap and these do not work nearly as well.

Polar heart rate monitors like the Polar FT4 and Polar FT7 also work well for pilates and yoga but the straps don't stay in place nearly as well when you are both sweating heavily and stretching like the Suunto straps did.

If you would like to speak with a real expert about your personal needs then just call us at the Heart Rate Watch Company at 866-586-7129 and we'll help you find the fitness electronics that are ideally suited to match your personal needs.