Yoga vs Pilates - what is the difference?

Quite often as a yoga teacher, when I ask new students ..'so, have you done any yoga before?' I get the same answer ..'i've done pilates?'
Now although there is an element of crossover between the two, they are incredibly different. 

Yoga

Yogas history is extensive, having first been mentioned in the Upanishads (a religious Hindu text) which were written in around 800 - 200 BC. It was also part of the Rig Veda which is one of the four Vedas that were written in around 500 BCE, they are a collection of Indian Vedic Sanskrit hymns. Yoga is essentially a holistic practice and a form of moving meditation, focussing on the breath as a guide through each physical posture (asana.)

Yoga can help to increase strength and flexibility, and in fast paced vinyasa style practices you are likely to build a lot of heat in the body and therefore will also burn a few calories in the process. In a slower practice like restorative or Yin yoga where you hold postures for three to five minutes, here you work into the facia which is the deep connective tissue that sits around the muscles and joints, which in the long run also aids in improving our flexibility.

Being a holistic practice yoga focusses on the mind and body connection, so as well as practicing yoga in its physical form, your yoga practice may also include elements of meditation, where you will take the time to connect with your breath and the present moment, drawing the attention inwardly to just yourself, your breath and the moment you're in. The physical postures in yoga in addition to the breath work and meditation can have huge benefits to the mind. Yoga can also help to balance energy within our nervous system through Pranayama (breath techniques). Yoga essentially, in all of its forms is about keeping you anchored in the present moment and out of the distractions of your every day life.

Pilates

Pilates was actually developed as a way to rehabilitate wounded soldiers at the end of World War I by a German physical trainer, called Joseph Pilates. Joseph brought his method to the USA in 1923. Pilates itself focuses on small movements that require the use of stabilising muscles predominantly in the back and core. It has a strong emphasis on controlled breath and contraction of the core muscles. 

The similarities

Both are low impact and the focus is on using body weight resistance - however for Pilates there is now the addition of reformer machines and other bits of equipment that is widely used. Both can have huge health benefits by building that mind to body connection, and can aid in stress relief, alongside the physical benefits of developing flexibility, strength, our cardiovascular abilities. What links these two practices really though is the breath work, alongside the physical movement, this can have a real calming affect physically on the body and also the mind.
 

The difference

The biggest difference is yoga has a deep history and spirituality. In many Yoga classes, unlike pilates, there will be elements of its philosophy intertwined within the class, and it can also provide through this history, an ethical way to live your life should you choose that path. There are also many different styles and ways in which to practice the physical element of yoga, from slow and gentle, to challenging and dynamic. It offers set postures and alingnment cues but also free movement offering the chance to find ways to move that feel good to you.

Pilates uses very specific targeted exercises, it is a practice that requires small movements focusing on various areas of the body but primarily working on the core.

Pilates is seen as a good recovery method, but yoga is very much seen as the prevention, a way to live a happy and mindful life.

Want to know more?

If you'd like to learn more about the history of yoga, we have modules on both our 200hr and 300hr training, which is all covered in the 500hr training. Or if you are already an 200hr qualified teacher and you'd like to learn more about Yin Yoga which we mentioned above, we also have a CPD course focussed just on Yin Yoga  - of which you can view syllabuses for all of these on our website www.yogacourse.com.

If you have any questions regarding our training please email info@yogacourse.com