Kristi Cooper, a seasoned Pilates professional and co-founder of Pilates Anytime, explains the difference between Pilates and Yoga.
I am a Pilates instructor who happens to love yoga. To me, taking a yoga class and taking a Pilates Mat class are very different experiences even though they yield similar results in terms of connection to my body and mind. Before we discuss the differences, let's start with the similarities between Pilates and Yoga.
Pilates and Yoga fatigue my muscular system fully yet simultaneously rejuvenate me. Both Pilates and Yoga can be physically intense or physically restorative. Both practices, done with consistency, can provide a pathway to a greater understanding of self and spirit. Ultimately, both attempt to tap into the core of the body, mind, and spirit through movement and breath.
A major difference between the practices is their longevity: Yoga has been around for 5000 years, and Pilates was invented only 100 years ago. The greatest difference between Pilates and Yoga, however, is the path each discipline takes to reach the core. Yoga adopts an internal approach. Pilates takes an external approach.
Yoga: An Internal Approach to Well-Being
Yoga begins with stillness. In yoga, time is taken at the beginning of class to find harmony between the body, the mind, and the spirit. It is a process of breathing, letting go, and becoming present. Once accomplished, the poses and movements become the means for moving energy through the body so your entire system feels at ease, connected, and balanced by the end of class. The path towards harmony is manifested from the inside, then slowly, expansively moves outward.
Benefits of Yoga
- Mental Clarity
- Improved Flexibility
- Injury Prevention
- Muscular Strength
Pilates: An External Approach to Well-Being
Pilates begins with action. The exercises, the movement patterns themselves, are the vehicle driving us towards increased awareness, greater balance, and connection to our mental and physical centers. To experience the synchronicity of the body, mind, and spirit in Pilates, we focus on breath, on letting go, and on becoming present. The path to harmony initiates from the outside, then deliberately and precisely moves inward.
Benefits of Pilates
- Improved Flexibility
- Injury Prevention
- Better Posture
- Improved Ability to Focus
- Balanced, Toned Physique
- Strong Core
- Better Body Awareness
Can I practice Yoga and Pilates?
In the end, you don't have to choose between the two. Your Pilates workout can complement your Yoga workout and vice versa. Do both, mix it up, or focus on Pilates. The key is to keep moving! Pilates Anytime has classes that will enhance your yoga practice and level up your Pilates practice, no matter your experience level.