« I have heard of Laughing Yoga, is it the same as Happy Yoga? | Main | Yoga, Inc. - an opinion »
Yoga or Pilates? What’s the difference?
By Christina | April 10, 2008
I have been a fitness professional since 1986 and honestly, I love what I do more and more everyday. I remember a friend asking me one day why I didn’t start yoga and maybe even get certified to teach and I thought, not a chance. Yoga is a waste. Fast forward a year later and a few yoga classes later and I was hooked. She then asked about Pilates and again my reply was “I just don’t think Pilates is a good exercise program.” I think I will stop saying I won’t do something because it seems I do what I think I won’t and so now enjoy kickboxing, step aerobics, spinning, trekking, aquacise, yoga and Pilates!
It seems that these days everyone is doing one or the other. You can hardly look through a fitness magazine seeing an article on Pilates or Yoga. It seems “everyone who is anyone” is doing one or the other. What is so special about these practices? What are the similarities and differences between Pilates and Yoga?
Yoga is aimed to unite the mind, the body, and the spirit. Yogis view that the mind and the body are one, and that it can find harmony and heal itself. Yoga 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. The major appeals of yoga are 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.
Pilates seeks to reach much the same goals as Yoga, 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 works the whole body, emphasizing control, precision and concentration in both the mind and the body. Unlike programs like Spinning which have limited focus of muscle groups, Pilates is all encompasing.
Movements are performed slowly and the focus is on quality not quantity. The abdominal muscles, lower back and buttocks (”powerhouse”) serve as the center of all movement. 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 you have decided you love both practices you can look for fusion classes like Pi Yo or Yogalates which brings both worlds together. As always, be sure your doctor has given you the green light to exercise before you run out to the gym.
Topics: General, Pilates, Yoga |
