How is yoga different than Pilates?

Question

With so many workouts to choose from, it’s important to pick the right regimen to suit your lifestyle and fitness goals. What is the difference between yoga and Pilates, and what are the benefits of each one?

Answer 1

Yoga, as we all know it, is aimed to unite the mind, the body, and the spirit. Yogis view that the mind and the body are one, and that if it is given the right tools and taken to the right environment, it can find harmony and heal itself. Yoga therefore is considered therapeutic. It helps you become more aware of your body's posture, alignment and patterns of movement.

It makes the body more flexible and helps you relax even in the midst of a stress stricken environment. This is one of the foremost reasons why people want to start practicing Yoga - to feel more fit, to be more energetic, be happier and peaceful. The Yoga movements are performed, mostly, in a group setting on a special Yoga mat with an aid of a Yoga instructor. The body's own weight is used for resistance and a great deal of focus is accorded to the flow from one posture into the other. There are many different Yoga styles and they differ in their emphasis. No one style is better than the other. The Style you use is a matter of personal preference or a matter of need.

Vinyasa Yoga, for example, makes use of modified Yoga Poses that are designed to meet the specific needs of an individual and to enhance healing, flexibility and strength of joints. The poses also intend to promote the feeling of well-being and strength. Practices may also include meditation, reflection, study and other classic elements, but the emphasis of this branch of Yoga practice is on coordinating breath and movement. As you can imagine, given the scope of practice, the inherent therapeutic applications and the heritage of the lineage, the training requirements for teacher certification are extensive.

Pilates seek to reach much the same goals, also via a series of controlled movements. The major difference is that the Pilates technique not only has a full complement of matwork, but it incorporates work on the Pilates machines. The emphasis of the exercises is to strengthen the abdominals, improve posture, stabilize and lengthen the spine, improve balance and overall strength. Pilates gives you a longer, leaner, dancer-like line.

Unlike many other training programs, Pilates works the whole body, emphasizing control, precision and concentration in both the mind and the body. Movements are not performed rapidly or repeated excessively instead, the focus is on quality not quantity. The abdominal muscles, lower back and buttocks ("powerhouse") serve as the center of all movement, allowing the rest of the body to move freely. This focus on core stabilization makes one stronger from the inside out and is critical for the advancement of the client. The low impact nature of Pilates makes it ideal for injury prevention and rehabilitation. Its six principles-concentration, control, centering, breathing, flow and precision-train the body to move efficiently with minimal impact on the body. The balance between strength and flexibility creates a healthy, vigorous and symmetrical workout for all muscle groups resulting in a leaner, more balanced, and stronger body.

If after reading about both techniques you are still left with a question of which of these two fitness techniques is right for you then here is the answer: Do them both in conjunction! The nature of the techniques makes it easy for them to complement each other. Get the stretch from Yoga and keep it from Pilates. Strengthen your abdominals on the reformer and watch your poses improve. Join the breathing techniques of Pilates and meditative aspect of Yoga into your daily routine and see the stress of your everyday life, begin to dissipate. Both techniques are time-proven, established, and with the help of an experienced instructor, you will surely reach the goals you set up for yourself!

Answer 2

The choice between Yoga and Pilates depends on what you are looking for. If you want an exercise that improves flexibility while toning your muscles - especially those abs - then Pilates is probably your better choice. If you want to concentrate a bit more on flexibility and a little less on toning (perhaps you're getting your strength training elsewhere), and you are also searching for something that helps reduce stress and gives you an opportunity for some quiet time, then you should try Yoga. If you have strong religious convictions, you may also be better off with Pilates, although many Yoga classes these days offer little or no philosophy and are acceptable for all religious persuasions. Either choice is good - you're enhancing your body's health in a way no other form of exercise can accomplish.

Answer 3

Mat Pilates Vs Yoga

Answer 4

well real pilates classes use an apparatus to maneuver your body and to help support you through some of the movements. Both yoga and pilates will help you get in shape. I did yoga since about 1996, It helped me to stay limber, helped me with my breathing and strengthen my core, and really helped me to relax after a stressful day. Yoga is normally done on a yoga mat. Nowadays some classes combing yoga and pilates into the same class. Both systems use similar moves. I believe you will notice the biggest difference when you use the pilates machines. And in yoga you tend to hold poses for an extended time, while pilates it seems that you repeat some moves for many repetitions to build strength. Mat pilates is very similar to yoga. I did yoga before I ever tried pilates, so I am more familar with yoga. I find yoga to be a great form of exercise. I would say both yoga and pilates are very similar in the type of body you will create, a strong lean body. You will not create a ton of mass with either exercise. If your goal is to gain size you are better off with weightlifting. But if you want to get leaner and more limber, and do some meditation and relaxation then both pilates and yoga should help you achieve your goals. And for the average exercise person, those are the most important goals, since most people are trying to lose weight and get leaner.

take care and namaste

Answer 5

you through some of the movements. Both yoga and pilates will help you get in shape. I did yoga since about 1996, It helped me to stay limber, helped me with my breathing and strengthen my core, and really helped me to relax after a stressful day. Yoga is normally done on a yoga mat. Nowadays some classes combing yoga and pilates into the same class. Both systems use similar moves. I believe you will notice the biggest difference when you use the pilates machines. And in yoga you tend to hold poses for an extended time, while pilates it seems that you repeat some moves for many repetitions to build strength. Mat pilates is very similar to yoga. I did yoga before I ever tried pilates, so I am more familar with yoga. I find yoga to be a great form of exercise. I would say both yoga and pilates are very similar in the type of body you will create, a strong lean body. You will not create a ton of mass with either exercise. If your goal is to gain size you are better off with weightlifting. But if you want to get leaner and more limber, and do some meditation and relaxation then both pilates and yoga should help you achieve your goals. And for the average exercise person, those are the most important goals, since most people are trying to lose weight and get leaner.

Answer 6

Both yoga and pilates will help you get in shape. I did yoga since about 1996, It helped me to stay limber, helped me with my breathing and strengthen my core, and really helped me to relax after a stressful day. Yoga is normally done on a yoga mat. Nowadays some classes combing yoga and pilates into the same class. Both systems use similar moves. I believe you will notice the biggest difference when you use the pilates machines. And in yoga you tend to hold poses for an extended time, while pilates it seems that you repeat some moves for many repetitions to build strength. Mat pilates is very similar to yoga. I did yoga before I ever tried pilates, so I am more familar with yoga. I find yoga to be a great form of exercise. I would say both yoga and pilates are very similar in the type of body you will create, a strong lean body. You will not create a ton of mass with either exercise. If your goal is to gain size you are better off with weightlifting. But if you want to get leaner and more limber, and do some meditation and relaxation then both pilates and yoga should help you achieve your goals. And for the average exercise person, those are the most important goals, since most people are trying to lose weight and get leaner.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Yoga is more stretching and a flexibility exercise.
Pilates is more strengthening/muscle conditioning with the added component of stretching/flexibility. Yoga is more about relaxing and pilates is about using your body weight to achieve muscle tone. Yoga and pilates believe the core is the center (core = back, abdominals, and hip flexor). Every movement emanantes from the core. I do both. I like Pilates more because it has the strengthening component and flexibility, so you are working one area while stretching another. Brooke Silar wrote a couple of excellent books on Pilates. The Pilates Body-Brooke Silar. Jennifer Kries does yoga and pilates and is an excellent instructor. She has a few different videos. One of them offers a combination pilates/yoga/ballet. Ballet dancers use a lot of the pilates exercises. You should try them both and see what you think. You can find more information at www.jenniferkries.com or by going to Amazon and looking up the Pilates Body by Brooke Silar or seeing if she has a web page. Karen Voight does pilates and yoga. She's another excellent instructor with a great web page. www.karenvoight.com. Hope this helps.
I love them both. My abs have never looked better since I began pilates 3 years ago. If you train with a pilates instructor, they use apparatus to strengthen, tone, and stretch you out. I've heard that it can be quite expensive. But it's easy to do some pilates and yoga exercises on your own. They both help improve your posture.

Answer 9

Seeing so many factual responses, I will give a more personal account of my experiences with these practices:

The difference between yoga and Pilates is vast. Yoga is a diverse set of holistic practices that originate from spiritual practices. Pilates is functional and originates on physical aesthetics. In practice, as similar as they may seem, there is great difference in how they are taught. Pilates seems harsh to me and best done only if you are physically prepared in strength and flexibility and wish to further your perfection in these limited areas. Yoga, however, comes in many varieties - something that it not always well-conveyed to the public - because yoga is several thousand years old. Some yoga practices can be as harsh as Pilates and a good way to injure yourself if you are unprepared while others are so relaxing that it is easy to simply fall asleep in class. This is not unexpected and some instructors will even warn students that it is possible that sleep may happen in what is called "corpse pose" at the end of a class - they even have a bell to wake people at the end.

Another interesting observation is that, having had akido and karate instruction before my yoga and pilates experiences, some of the harder stretching forms seem very similar to spear and sword poses. For example, when the hands are held high clapsed together, this is also a position that could include holding a sword high. In another position where the arms are stretched wide apart, this is a position that could include holding a spear in position. So it is very likely that yoga practice, it all its diversity, included braches that focused on ancient military exercises.

Lastly, breathing and an understanding of how breathing ties into the practices is the hallmark of a quality instructor. I have encountered some instructors that did not spend sufficient time speaking about nor giving time in the practice for breathing, which to me is one step worse that forgetting the spiritual origins of yoga. In my limited experience, hatha yoga instructors have been better about this than others.

Pilates was most likely designed at least in part from yoga practices, but there are many modern researchers that would neglect to appropriately cite their ancient influences on the gamble that most people will not recognize their plagarism so that they could get copyright and profit from what should be free public knowledge instead of expensive training regimens.

Answer 10

If you do Yoga as it was intended, it incorporates meditation in its practice. It is also a part of some religious expressions, to reach a transcended state. The watered down Yoga taught on every street corner is just a good way to breathe, stretch, and exercise. The main difference that still remains is Yoga is done with no props. Pilates now has a whole new line of stuff, and machines, that can be used. Either way you go is good. They both work, and are beneficial.

Answer 11

That’s an awesome question!! I wont’ repeat what the others above me have said but I will tell about my personal experiences with yoga. Its one of the best exercises that you could possibly do. I do a 25- 30 minute workout every day and I’ve lost a lot of weight. But the best part about yoga is that instead of just losing weight you also tone your body. I used to have chubby thighs but after doing yoga I’ve losing weight but at the same time all the cellulite isn’t showiogn.. its slowing going away and getting toned. However, some people don’t’ like yoga cuz of all the concentration required. Its one of those exercises where you hold a position for a minute so it doesn’t appeal to all. If you are into cardio or something up beat yoga isnt’ for you. I’m in college so I’m pretty busy. Yoga is one of the few things in my life that actually helps calm me down and help me do better in general. Another use of yoga is that your body controls how much you can take. There is very little chance of overdoing the exercise and hurting yourself. But you need to be VERY careful if you’ve never tried yoga before. There are some extremely complex steps that if done wrongly can hurt you. So get a teacher or a proper yoga book to help you out. If you cant’ do an exercise its your body’s way of saying slow it down.. take it one step at a time. So basically … YOGA ROCKS. You should definitely try it. ;)