Difference Between
Pilates vs. Yoga
Introduction
Over the past few years, increasing numbers of people have embraced workouts that stimulate both mind and body awareness. Two main types of exercise techniques naturally integrate this awareness into their practices: Pilates and yoga.
Both are low impact exercises. They can be practiced either at home or in a class. While Pilates and yoga have several similarities, their philosophies are different. Yoga strives to unite the mind, body, and spirit; it is mainly about a peaceful lifestyle and focused mind.
Pilates is mostly about physical conditioning. It does, however, emphasize mindfulness to control your body. Let’s take a look at these two techniques to discover how they differ.
Pilates
Pilates was invented in 1920 by Joseph Pilates. The concept behind this exercise technique is to gain flexibility, strength, and body awareness without building muscle mass. It is a type of resistance exercise.
However, if you are just getting started with this sort of exercise, you may experience an increase in heart rate. Besides having a full mat routine, Pilates also involves various exercises, such as the Cadillac and the Reformer, that can only be done on dedicated Pilates machines.
This exercise technique mainly strives to:
- Improve posture
- Improve core strength
- Stabilize and elongate the spine
- Develop balance and overall strength
Pilates is based on six major principles that should be used along with the mindset you will hone as you go along, to help you build that long, toned body you have always dreamed of. These principles are concentration, centering, control, flow, breathing, and precision.
Yoga
Yoga was initially invented in India with the sole aim of using physical activity to connect an individual’s consciousness with the universal consciousness. These days, it is more specifically geared toward improving your physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Practicing yoga most often involves slow, repetitive movements that mainly focus on building strength and increasing flexibility. Generally, yoga offers a meditative atmosphere for you to improve your overall quality of life.
This calming exercise technique can be very therapeutic; it can sometimes incorporate various types of meditation, which can be beneficial for individuals who are looking to relieve stress or anxiety. There are several different forms of yoga, such as Hatha (which can help you relax after a long day), and Sivananda (which is useful in enhancing flexibility and muscle strength).
Conclusion
Pilates and yoga are generally categorized into the same exercise group. They sometimes labeled as mind-body or low-impact training. While they are both effective, especially for someone who is looking for a lower impact exercise, they are very different techniques.
Yoga’s main goal is to help relieve stress while maintaining a healthy body. Pilates, on the other hand, forces you to enhance your body awareness, working from your core to build a stronger body. These two exercise techniques normally complement each other, so it is advisable to combine them for optimum results instead of focusing on just one of them.