Pilates or yoga: what are the differences?

Pilates or yoga: what is it?

Pilates or yoga? This is a question frequently asked by those new to these two disciplines. The choice can seem complicated and unclear when you don't know the differences. 

However, these are two very distinct physical activities. Muscle strengthening for one, breathing and meditation for the other, we take stock!

Pilates: well-being through muscle strengthening

Pilates is a sporting activity based on strengthening of deep muscles by breathing exercises and stretching accurate. 

Created by Joseph Pilates At the beginning of Twentieth century, there Pilates method aims to work your muscles in order toimprove your natural position and your joint mobility, while bringing well-being to your body. 

The Pilates method revolves around 6 fundamental pillars :

• breathing : inhale when preparing the movement and exhale when executing the movement 
• concentration : clear your mind to concentrate on the exercises and your breathing
• stabilization : find your body stability point to promote the correct position of movements 
• Control : control body and mind so that they become one
• the fluidity : make all movements fluid thanks to slow realization of postures
• the precision : the quality is favored over the quantity of movements and exercises which makes it possible to apply and deeply strengthen the muscles

Yoga: spirituality and relaxation

THE yoga for its part is a discipline more focused on meditation and the relaxation. To do this, the positions achieved allow you tolearn to breathe well, has clear your head and to you focus only on you and your body. 

Developing flexibility, improving breathing and learning to meditate are the main objectives yoga.

Thanks to this discipline, you will be able to phase with yourself to manage and reduce your stress, enhance your psychological development et find your inner balance. 

The size and benefits of yoga revolve above all around the psychological and physical well-being through self-acceptance and self-awareness, while Pilates is the bodily well-being through muscle strengthening.

Pilates and yoga: how to tell them apart?

What are the differences between yoga and Pilates? Many points link them but others allow them to be differentiated. 

We take stock together of the different benefits and objectives, breathing, exercises, courses and accessories which vary depending on the discipline!

Different benefits and objectives

There Pilates method has the main benefits of strengthen deep muscles which contribute in particular to the improvement of a natural posture. 

In addition, it allows sculpt your body evenly and of work on the flexibility of your muscles. 

THE yoga also has the objectives and benefits of Pilates because it also helps to sculpt the body. However, it has more of a spiritual dimension : uniting body and mind is the primary objective of this activity.

So, during a yoga session, you make a real psychological break from your daily life. You work on your breathing, release and manage your stress, etc. 

All of the exercises contribute to your well-being and to the acceptance and understanding of yourself and your body. Body and mind become one!

Not the same breathing

Both activities require special focus on breathing. 

So you need to focus on how you are going to breathe throughout the session and different postures. 

Therefore, breathing must absolutely be in accordance with the movements carried out to be beneficial for your body and well done.

During a session of Pilates, L'inhalation is through the nose, and expiration through the mouth. Exhaling through the mouth allows contract your abs and therefore to work on them. 

Conversely, during the session of yoga, inhalation and exhalation are always done through the nose. Breathing is therefore more intense and deep, mainly through the stomach.

Separate exercises

THE Pilates sessions are more physical than spiritual. They of course appeal to your concentration and your good breathing but are more sporty than yoga postures. 

Each exercise is done once then repeated when the series is finished. This gives you the opportunity to focus on the posture you adopt to work the muscle in the right way. A break separates the different series of exercises. 

If you do a Pilates session with a coach, they will help you reproduce the postures correctly to work on the good parts. 

THE yoga exercises are for their part thesequence of several precise postures without interruption. 

Thus, they are less focused on the muscles and more on the good positioning, there deep breathing and balance. There flexibility can be a plus during certain postures. 

Accessories specific to each discipline

THE common point between the two disciplines is that you don't need a lot of equipment to start. All you need is the basics: comfortable clothing and a mat. 

However, if you want to go further, you can use more accessories for Pilates but also for yoga. We think, for example, of a specialized machine, elastic, springs, small weights, etc. 

It's all a question of intensity that you want to put in your session! The use of props is more common during Pilates classes for intensify movements and muscles.

Dspecific courses 

Depending on the discipline, the courses are not organized in the same way. However, each coach can vary the exercises to make them signature sessions.

A Pilates session starts with a 5 to 10 minute warm-up to prepare your joints. Then, approximately 10 exercises are linked together and grouped into series. Most exercises focus on the center of your body, the perineum, back muscles and core. 

In total, a Pilates session lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour. 

For the yoga session, it also begins with a warm-up. It can take several forms: breathing exercises, warming up the joints, focusing on the present moment, etc. 

The session is then divided into 2 stroke : THE Yang, or the part that helps tone the body and Yin, the calmer part to end everything in meditation. 

During the first part, you chain together postures combining balance, breathing, flexibility, etc..

The second part of the session is a sequence of gentler postures, often practiced on the ground. To finish in style, close your eyes and lie down to listen to your body and concentrate on your breathing.

The yoga session has a total duration of 45 minutes to 1h30 in general. 

How to choose between yoga and Pilates?

Now that you know the main differences between Pilates and yoga, all you have to do is choose! For this, we give you some advice. 

Know your expectations and objectives

To make the right choice between Pilates and yoga, it is important to ask yourself the question: what are my expectations and what are my goals when practicing sport?

Many answers are possible :

• strengthen your muscles

• keep physically fit

• to clear the mind

• let off steam

• take a break from your daily life 

• for pleasure 

• learn to manage your stress
• losing weight
• resolve physical problems (back pain, bad posture, rehabilitation, etc.)

According to your expectations, your choice will take shape almost by itself ! Just ask yourself and listen to your body's needs as well. 

When are you available

Depending on your availability, the choice between the different courses may also emerge. 

This way, you will know if you prefer to opt for a individual or group lesson, if you prefer to find a course near you or near your workplace, the price of the sessions, etc.

It depends if you want to attend classes before work, on lunch break, after work, on weekends, during the week, etc.

To conclude: Pilates or yoga?

To summarize, Pilates and yoga have differentiating elements such as:

• Different benefits and objectives : deep muscle-based experience for Pilates and spiritual meditation-based experience for yoga
• Specific breathing : inhalation through the nose and exhalation through the mouth for Pilates, inhalation and exhalation through the nose for yoga
• Exercises specific to everyone : repetitions of exercises divided into series during Pilates sessions and sequence of postures without pause during yoga sessions
• Optional accessories : yoga and Pilates sessions require a mat and comfortable sports clothing but Pilates can be enhanced with additional accessories
• Classes organized differently : exercises performed in the form of series for Pilates and classes divided into two parts (one active and one relaxing) linked together for yoga

Of course, each coach can organize the sessions as they see fit! So, are you more into yoga or Pilates?

What if the answer was both? Why not combine Pilates and yoga ? The two sporting activities are complementary and equally beneficial for the health of your body. You will optimally fulfill all the expectations that your body demands.

Try Pilates and yoga at POSES Studio

At the house of Studio POSES, you can discover and try both disciplines: Pilates and yoga !

Yoga by POSES Studio is at halfway between the Vinyasa yoga and the Bikram yoga. You will love this moment of refocusing with yourself alongside our coaches. 

Pilates at POSES Studio allows you to strengthen your balance and your core muscles. The goal is to practice a intense but gentle sport, to enjoy without hurting yourself, in a world that makes you feel at home!

Accessible to all, Pilates Flow and the Yoga Flow were created for you. The coaches carry out intensive 50-minute sessions and create tailor-made training to suit beginners and experts alike. To try them is to adopt them !