It is common for Yoga and Pilates to get grouped into the same category – especially among those who aren’t familiar with them both or to those starting out! Although both of them have a number of similarities and share some key health benefits such as increased strength and flexibility – they are both unique and differing practices that possess a number of different benefits. When doing yoga, it is common to typically adopt a position and hold it, or flow from position to position. However, in Pilates typically the doer adopts a position and will then focus on challenging the core through a variety of arm and leg movements. In this informative article, we will help define the differences between yoga and pilates so you can decide which is best suited to you, your goals and your individual journey!

 

The Origin of Yoga

Yoga is referred to and often seen just as a form of physical exercise – when it in fact is a truly multifaceted practice, which over its rich past has become intertwined with philosophy, religion and spirituality. It can also be considered a meditative activity. The meaning of the word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’, meaning ‘to yoke’ or ‘or to unite’, and essentially aiming to create a union between body, mind and spirit. It also aims to create a union between the individual self and universal consciousness. Although its origins trace back to northern India over 5,000 years ago – its exact origin cannot be traced and there is much debate about when exactly it started. According to legend, the first Yogi was Shiva, who many thousands of years ago reached enlightenment in a place called Mount Kailash. The legend goes that he had seven disciples, who became known as the seven rishis – these are long considered the founders of most spiritual traditions in the world. Like many legends, Shiva’s presence can not be proved true, but equally cannot be proved untrue! 

 

The Types Of Yoga 

As Yoga has evolved throughout time, there are many different types of yoga designed at different flows, paces and for differing benefits depending on what your goal, difficulty level and the style you enjoy are. Let’s break down the 8 main types: 

 

1. Vinyasa (Flow) Yoga

Vinyasa is a style of yoga characterised by stringing postures together from one move to the next in a seamless manner using breathwork. The word Vinyasa in Sanskrit literally means ‘to place in a special way’. These classes offer a variety of postures and each class is different unlike fixed form Yoga styles such as Bikram and Ashtanga. 

 

2. Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga is a much slower paced style of Yoga, focusing on a series of long-held passive floor poses that focus on the lower part of the body. Poses are held up to 5 minutes and sometimes even longer, encouraging stillness. 

 

3. Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga is a style of Yoga that comes to mind when Yoga is thought of in general terms. ‘Hatha’ means force in Sanskrit, and this style typically consists of set physical postures and breathing techniques. It is slower in pace and has more static posture holds than Vinyasa. 

 

4. Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini yoga is a more vocal form of yoga that involves singing, chanting, breathing exercises and a series of repetitive poses. The purpose of it is to activate ‘shakti’ or Kundalini energy – a form of spiritual energy that is located at the spine. 

 

5. Hot Yoga

Hot yoga is what it says on the tin – yoga done in a hot environment! Practitioners perform up to 26 asanas and two Pranayama breathing exercises – in a room set to a temperature of 104 degrees as a minimum! As the heat is turned up, this type of yoga has the ability to work out your heart, lungs and muscles at a higher level of intensity. 

 

6. Ashtanga Yoga

This style of yoga follows a specific sequence of postures that is similar to Vinyasa in the sense that each pose flows to the next. However, this is a more rigorous flow and each pose in Ashtanga is performed in the exact same poses in the exact same order each practice. 

 

7. Restorative

Restorative Yoga is a restful style of yoga that aids relaxation and is heavily centred around slowing down and opening up the body through passive stretching.

 

8. Power Yoga

Power Yoga is sometimes confused with Vinyasa Flow, as the movements found in Power Yoga are also fluid and smooth. However this style of yoga is typically more athletic and leans towards strength building. This style is commonly practised within gyms and is a great way to tone and core strength further. 

 

Benefits of Yoga 

 

Some of the commonly known physical benefits of Yoga include improved flexibility, increased muscle strength and improved posture. However it can also help lower blood sugar and pressure, lower high cholesterol levels (lowering the bad cholesterol levels you don’t want), drain your lymphs and boost immunity! 

 

Although in western society the focus is put on it being a form of exercise – it is just as much a mental and spiritual practice. One of the huge mental benefits of practising Yoga is how it can reduce stress levels. As the concentrated breathing part of yoga allows more oxygen to flow through the brain, this increases your ability to stay calm. Also, the physical benefits that yoga possesses are brilliant at helping to increase optimism as the increased circulation and lowered stress can enhance the body’s hormone functions – which can help aid better mood and a more positive outlook on life. 

 

Yoga is an incredible tool in allowing us to develop our spiritual health and inner awareness, as the pace and manner of it encourages us to slow down, listen to our bodies and to truly live in the present moment and the ‘now’ rather than getting caught up in the past or future. It allows us to find a sense of stillness and that quiet inner knowing we all possess – allowing us to connect with ourselves on a deeper level. For anyone who is trying to live more mindfully or connects with meditation but struggles to find that ‘stillness’, yoga can work brilliantly as a meditative tool that allows us to move through our thoughts and feelings in a healthy and safe way. 

 

The Origin of Pilates 

 

Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates, in the 1920s with the purpose of rehabilitation. He is often referred to as a mechanical genius and was a great anatomist who was perhaps one of the first influential figures to combine western and eastern ideology in fitness. World War 1 played a great part in shaping pilates, where Pilates was interned as a German enemy alien. During his internship, he worked as a nurse which gave him the opportunity to experiment by attaching hospital springs to bed with the aim of allowing the patients to tone their muscles even while being bed bound! These are the origins of pilates machines otherwise known as  ‘reformer pilates’. The Pilates method didn’t actually return to Britain until 1970, and was brought over by Alan Herdman after he was asked by London School of Contemporary dance to visit New York to learn about the methods of Joseph Pilates. Britain’s first ever Pilates studio was opened at The Place in London by Herdman that year. 

 

Type of Pilates 

 

Classical Pilates 

Reflected in the name, this style of Pilates follows the original system closely developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s and incorporates both mat and apparatus work. Classical is typically taught in a traditional order, making this style best for people who enjoy a structured workout that follows a set routine. 

 

Mat Pilates

This style of Pilates focuses on using only a matt instead of apparatus and largely focuses on working on the core. The movements in matt pilates are based on the mat variations of the classical Pilates system and great for improving flexibility and back strength. 

 

Reformer Pilates

Based on the rehabilitation apparatus used by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, this form of Pilates is done with a traditional piece of equipment which looks like a bed with springs, a sliding carriage, ropes and pulleys. This can appear a little intimidating at first but this will melt away once you get practising – this style is brilliant for core stabilisation!

 

Contemporary Pilates

This style is a combination of the classical form of Pilates originally created by Joseph Pilates, however, it combines contemporary variations and physiotherapy – incorporating the modern knowledge of the body and biomechanics into the Pilates repertoire. 

 

Benefits of Pilates 

Pilates is a disciplined practise that requires small movements, focusing on a particular area of the body at each time. Pilates is a brilliant form of exercise for anyone looking to develop core strength and balance, and when practised regularly is brilliant for building toned muscles, increasing flexibility as well as balance and posture. For people who don’t enjoy cardio, Pilates is a brilliant workout alternative that is known for creating long, strong muscles – and can also be a highly effective way of losing weight if combined with a healthy diet plan. 

 

Which practice is right for me? 

 

Both Yoga and Pilates look to develop core strength and balance, with both focusing on supporting your bodyweight, working all the various muscles all over the body. Both of these forms of exercise are brilliant at increasing flexibility and building toned, strong muscles. They also both heavily focus on breathing, but yoga puts an emphasis on breathwork as a meditative tool whereas in Pilates, your breath helps you maintain focus and correct posture. 

 

Although both focus on mind and body connection there is far less of a spiritual element to Pilates and it puts more of a focus on mindful movement and mind/body to muscle connection. If Pilates uses mindfulness to connect to the inner workings of the body, Yoga uses the body as a tool to connect with the mind and inner self on a deeper level. Yoga general focuses less on working on movement mechanics like Pilates does, but instead puts an emphasis on expanding the consciousness through movement. 

 

In terms of physical differences, Pilates is a better tool for rehabilitation than yoga, and is often seen as a safer option to those prone to injury when practised through a professional. Both yoga and pilates share the similarity that they target muscle groups that are less commonly used in other forms of exercise – which is why it’s super important to practice under instruction as a beginner. Both are also brilliant for practising throughout pregnancy to maintain fitness, although overstretching in both forms should be avoided at all costs! 

 

When it comes to finding the right practice for you, we would recommend trying both and seeing which you feel you enjoy more! It has been said that typically it can come down to how you operate – with more creative people (or particularly those who are more spiritual) sometimes leaning further towards yoga, and people with a more logical outlook finding their groove with pilates. 

 

When it comes down to it, it truly is down to what you connect with and what feels right for your body, mind and spirit. Both are disciplined forms of exercise, and for first-timers you may find as you hone your craft, learn to hold poses and stretches and get deeper into exercises that you enjoy and get more out of your chosen craft! Whichever you sway towards, ensure you start out with a practitioner to perfect your poses and stretches safely.