What is the difference between Pilates and yoga really? People often ponder about this question. Well, let me start by saying yoga and Pilates are both fantastic ways to get in shape and strengthen your body, but they're also different from each other. It’s like having to choose between drinking a berry smoothie and a peanut butter bomb smoothie. While both have many of the same ingredients, there are still some elements that make the end result the same but different.
Yoga is a practice focused on breathing, meditation, relaxation and flexibility. Pilates is more focused on the physical exercise that uses controlled movements which results in strength and stability.
Although they share many similarities, their differences truly make them unique. Each practice holds a certain authenticity as you will come to learn.
Tune in today to explore with me the difference between yoga and pilates. Hopefully after reading this article, you should have a better idea of which ‘smoothie’ you would prefer.
Who Created Pilates And Who Created Yoga?
The creator of Pilates was Joseph Pilates (1880-1967). He was born in Germany. He created his own system of exercise based on his philosophy about the human body and believed that the mind, body and spirit were interrelated.
As a child, Joseph suffered various medical conditions, but because of his drive and determination he overcame these ailments and became a gymnast, skier and diver.
Later in life he moved to England and worked as a circus performer. When World War I broke out he was imprisoned along with other German citizens.
He then started creating the series of exercise routines that he called "contrology”. Due to limited activity and distressing conditions in the internment camp his fellow Germans became injured and ill. He started to rehabilitate them with these controlled movements along with available items like bed springs and beer keg rings.
He used these items to create resistance training techniques for his patients.
After the war in 1925 he moved to New York and started a Pilates studio where he trained students, evolved the Pilates movements and invented the Pilates equipment. Little did he know that time how popular Pilates will become and that it will be practices by millions all over the world.
Unlike Pilates, Yoga was created thousands of years ago and is deemed to be a spiritual practice. It is believed that it originated long before any religion or belief systems were created. Yes, it was practiced during the pre-Vedic era, but it wasn’t until the great Sage Maharshi Patanjali systemised the practice through his Yoga Sutras. Since then, many Yoga Master has contributed to the practice, developing and evolving Yoga into what we know it today.
For many, Yoga is not just an exercise but a way of living. If you look at the literal meaning it means to unite.
A part of Pilates was inspired by Yoga so there will definitely be similarities between the two of them.
Pilates Principles
“The mind, when housed within a healthful body, possesses a glorious sense of power.” — Joseph Pilates
Pilates is based on three principles with the ideation that the whole body is influenced by body, mind and spirit. Here they are:
- Breath
- Whole-body health
- Whole-body commitment
These essential principles are the foundation of Pilates and by honouring them while practicing, it will help you reach the depth that is needed for transformation. The more common way of expressing the principles are:
- Breath
- Concentration
- Control
- Flow
- Precision
- Centring
Do you understand the more traditional principles more? Wonderful, now you can apply them to your routine for optimum results.
Yogic Principles To Life
Yoga is based on 10 principles, the 5 internal principles deal with our inner consciousness and is based on observance. These Niyamas are known as:
- Purity
- Contentment
- Strength of character
- Self-study
- Surrender to God
The 5 external principles are called Yamas and when translated it means moral discipline. The 5 Yamas are based on morality, proper conduct and self-restraint, they are:
- Not causing physical harm or acting violent
- Being truthful in all things and keeping promises
- The restraint of sexual purity
- No stealing
- Not being greedy
As you can see looking at these yogic principles, that Yoga clearly has much more spiritual depth to its practice than Pilates and that it's a way of life rather than just an exercise like Pilates.
Now, let's move on to some benefits of both workouts.
The Benefits of Pilates & Yoga
The main physical difference between yoga and pilates is that yoga tends to hold static poses to improve flexibility while pilates uses controlled movement to improve stability.
One of the similarities between these two exercises are that they both are body and mind practices. They also both put heavy emphasis on breathing techniques and the importance of breathing during exercise.
Because breathing is a focal point in both exercises it will helps to reduce stress and anxiety and will help you to sleep better. Both these practices are excellent for not only your physical fitness but also for your mental health.
They even share similar postures but under different names or with some ‘tweakments’.
Physical benefits that both of them share are to increase strength, flexibility, body awareness and they improve posture. Another excellent advantage they both have in store is that they improve balance and coordination.
With either one, you can choose to workout in the comfort of your home or join a group class. If you would like more personal attention you can even get an instructor to give you home classes.
Both exercises offer a range of other benefits too, let’s have a look at some of them.
Benefits of Pilates
- Increased spinal strength and improved spinal alignment
- Improved core stability
- Increased lung capacity
- Increased bone density
- Strengthen joints
- Rehabilitate joint and spine injuries
- Aids weight-loss and supports lean muscles
Benefits of Yoga
- Improved cardio, circulation and respitory health
- Promotes athletic performance
- Encourages an overall improvement of wellbeing through balancing and improving internal and external systems of the body
- It may reduce inflammation and can ease arthritis symptoms
- Develop inner awareness
- Helps you to practice your attention to the present moment not only on the mat but also in daily life
Is Pilates Better Than Yoga?
Both Pilates and Yoga are low impact exercises that can help you increase strength and stability and help you motivate a healthy mind, body and spirit. So which one is the best exercise to do and is Pilates better than yoga?
The question can only be answered by your own personal preference and fitness goals. Like mentioned before, Yoga is more a lifestyle system and Pilates is more an exercise system.
“True yoga is not about the shape of your body, but the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed; yoga is to be lived. Yoga doesn’t care about what you have been; yoga cares about the person you are becoming. Yoga is designed for a vast and profound purpose, and for it to be truly called yoga, its essence must be embodied.” — Aadil Palkhivala
If you are someone that is seeking an exercise to develop your body, mind and spirit, I would say Yoga would be your best bet. If you are looking for a lean and toned body with strong muscles I would suggest Pilates is the perfect exercise for you.
Both of these exercises is great to do with your children, as a family and with your best friends. So you can roll out the mat and spend some healthy quality time with your closest kindred.
They are both relatively affordable if you would like to join a class or do online classes and depending on where you would like to join. It is often more affordable to sign up for a month or a few classes rather than paying per class.
So go ahead and try the berry smoothie and the peanut butter bomb to get a taste of the one you like the best.
To summarise and conclude, both yoga and Pilates incorporate breathing techniques, but yoga focuses more on meditation. Both yoga and Pilates focus on body alignment and muscle development, but Pilates uses small movements to target specific muscles.
Which one are you leaning more towards? Or do you want the best of both worlds? Whatever you decide there is no doubt that you are in for a rewarding experience.
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