What’s the difference between Pilates and yoga?
One of the most frequently asked questions from people who are just learning about Pilates is, “What is the difference between Pilates and yoga?”
Pilates and yoga do have some similarities in that they are both mind-body movement practices. Many people who practice one, enjoy the other.
And while the two are very different, they are great complements to one another; people often enjoy both practices.
Below are five ways that Pilates differs from yoga.
Do you have any to add? Comment below!
Please note that while I love yoga, I am not a certified teacher. This is written from a Pilates perspecitive. There are so many different variations of Pilates and yoga, it would be hard to say definitively what the differences are in terms of benefits and what you might experience in a class. Therefore, I tried to stick to factual, surface-level differences that might help people understand how they differ, without presenting one as better than the other. I hope that comes across in the copy.
Pilates is relatively new.
Pilates has been practices since the 1920's when Joseph and Clara Pilates opened their 'Body Conditioning Gym' in New York City.
Yoga's origins can be traced to northern India over 5,000 years ago.
Pilates uses specially-designed apparatuses.
Yoga is done on a mat, and some simple props like a yoga block or strap may be used.
Pilates, however, does incorporate floor exercises, but that is just one part of the Pilates system.
The full Pilates system uses specially-designed, spring-based apparatuses including: reformer; cadillac; wunda chair, high chair, small arm chair; ladder barrel; spine corrector; guillotine, pedi pole; small barrel; and small props like the foot corrector, toe gizmo, neck stretcher and more. These apparatuses were created by Joseph Pilates.
Pilates is resistance training.
While yoga uses body weight, Pilates uses spring resistance.
Although mat classes (often considered the heart of the Pilates system) are widely offered in studios and online, the floor series is a part of the full Pilates system.
There are no poses in Pilates.
While yoga involves physical poses, Pilates will have you constantly moving.
The traditional Pilates system prescribes a specific number of repetitions for each exercise which are performed in a specific order. Transitions take you from one exercise to the next so you never stop moving. As you learn more skills, more exercises are added.
Pilates is a full-body exercise system.
According to Wikipedia, yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated in ancient India and aim to control and still the mind.
Pilates is a mind-body practice in that it teaches you to use the mind to control the body. But it is not a spiritual practice in the same sense as yoga. It is a workout. It focuses on balancing strength and flexibility, and mobility and stability to help you achieve your maximum physical potential.
In Pilates, every muscle, including the often neglected stabilizers, is used to its full potential. Flexibility in Pilates is achieved through movement.
The above are some of the ways Pilates differs from yoga.
It is also important to keep in mind that there are MANY variations of both yoga and Pilates.
There is a huge range of Pilates-based offerings available.
Classical Pilates will generally teach the full, traditional Pilates system on all original Pilates apparatuses. Mat and equipment classes are often offered to make the work more accessible.
Contemporary Pilates classes deviate from the classical system but are based on the Pilates principles.
And there are even now classes that are loosely inspired by Pilates, using modern machines called “Megaformers.” Although megaformer classes are not “Pilates,” they are often mistaken for Pilates because the equipment loosely resembles the Pilates reformer, and some studios use the term “Pilates” in their marketing to attract more customers.
You can find all types of Pilates classes, for different levels, from gentle, restorative Pilates, to incredibly athletic and fast-paced classes.
There are also mat classes, reformer classes, chair classes, private lessons on all apparatuses, virtual or in-person classes… the list goes on.
Yoga also has a variety of styles including: Ashtanga yoga; Hatha yoga; Hot yoga; Iyengar yoga, Kundalini yoga; Power yoga; Restorative yoga; and Vinyasa yoga.
So, if you didn’t get what you expected or wanted out of your first Pilates class, don’t give up! Try a different class and see if it better meets you needs.
If you have any questions about Pilates, I am happy to answer any questions directly if you email me, Tracy Belcher, at hello@pilatay.com.