Yoga and Pilates are similar workout routines that many people tend to confuse and can’t quite choose between them. There are also many different variations of yoga training and Pilates training that further confuses people that want to try and practice one of them. Both of them are low-impact workouts that use bodyweight exercises to improve strength, flexibility, mobility, and endurance. They both have many benefits for your fitness level and overall health which will improve your quality of life significantly.
Because they are both great forms of bodyweight exercise we decided to compare them and see what the differences are so you can come to a conclusion about which one is better for yourself and which one you will find more interesting.
Yoga Benefits
Yoga training routines have been done for the past 3 millenniums so it’s an established way of exercising with many benefits for the body and mind. The exact roots aren’t known but it is believed that it comes from the Eastern religions. Yoga is built on 5 main beliefs including exercise, breathing, diet, positive thinking and meditation, and relaxation.
One of the main concepts in yoga is to be mindful of your movements and breathing. The standard yoga workouts include holding various poses and changing positions through flowing movement. It’s a type of mind-body fitness that looks to mix physical exercises with focus and mindfulness. The benefits of yoga have been extensively studied and researched and some of them include relief of anxiety, depression, respiratory conditions, chronic pain, high blood pressure, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and type 2 diabetes.
Pilates Benefits
Pilates is a workout routine that was developed near the end of World War 1 by Joseph Pilates. The purpose of Pilates was to help the injured soldiers recover and rehabilitate from their wounds. Pilates workout is a great way to increase muscle strength and endurance, improve posture and flexibility, improve your balance and reduce joint pain. Pilates training is focused on minimalistic small movements that engage the stabilizing muscles of your core and your back. Breathing properly is also very important in Pilates as every exercise needs to be started with controlled breath that engages the core. For Pilates training, you will need a mat and some special equipment like levers and springs but it can also be done with your body weight.
Some research suggests that Pilates can be beneficial for people who suffer from arthritis, respiratory conditions, joint injuries, urinary incontinence, and back pain.
Yoga vs Pilates: Which is Better For You?
Yoga and Pilates have a few similarities and they are both good for developing healthy workout habits. Both require little to no equipment to be done as you will only need a mat and some springs. They both also focus on proper breathing during the workout which engages the core muscles and they both require you to be focused during the exercise which has proven benefits with stress. Both yoga training and Pilates training can be adjusted to many different participants with different levels of fitness.
Yoga training is an excellent way to increase your overall fitness and improve your health but it requires substantial flexibility and mobility which can be hard for beginners. Although it can be modified for any fitness level, most yoga exercises require the individual to have proper mobility in all the joints including the spine, hips, and wrists. It’s not recommended for people who have severe limitations with their mobility in these areas because it may cause further pain if done improperly.
Pilates training is a low-impact exercise with subtle movements that can be done by anyone although it requires a bit more equipment than yoga so it may be a bit more expensive. It’s an excellent form of bodyweight exercise that will improve your strength and endurance no matter your starting fitness level. The equipment used in Pilates is only to increase the resistance which in turn puts more pressure on your strength and endurance and improves it in time. Pilates can be challenging for people who have very poor core strength because the poses, breathing, and movements in Pilates engage the core muscles constantly. The downside of Pilates is that it can be expensive because the equipment needed for some forms of Pilates is very unique and not widely available.
