Pilates in the Pines

Pilates and yoga are not one in the same. Both Pilates and Yoga promote strength and flexibility, both are low-impact and good for people who may have arthritic joints, and both help strengthen the core and reduce back pain. Despite the similarities, Pilates and yoga have a slightly different focus that can help you determine which one is right for you.

Yoga was developed in India more than 5,000 years ago. Since that time it has evolved rather extensively and has a myriad of different styles. Yoga was originally developed to align the mind, body, and spirit, and to this day, that is a key focus of the practice. As such, many yoga practices often put a heavy emphasis on meditation and spirituality as well as physical health.

In contrast, Pilates was developed in the 1800s by a man named Joseph Pilates. He developed his routine based on a study of yoga, Zen, and ancient Greek and Roman exercise regimens. The result of the combination was what we now know as Pilates. 
This style of exercise is excellent for improving core stability and promoting functional strength—working with the muscles you use during every day activities like taking out the trash, picking up a heavy 5-year-old, or helping a friend move.

Pilates tends to move through poses dynamically, rather than maintaining a static position in a move for an extended period of time. This makes it similar to Vinyasa flow yoga in which participants flow quickly from one movement to the next. A pose in Pilates may be held anywhere from 3-5 seconds, while depending on the style of yoga being practiced, a pose can be held anywhere from 10 seconds to minutes. Since Pilates incorporates more movement, it is more readily considered a workout, even though it has relaxing effects that are similar to yoga.

Yoga’s heavy meditative and relaxation focus strongly encourages “belly breathing.” This style of breathing expands and contracts the stomach and is how we naturally breathe when we are in resting positions like sitting or lying down. As Yoga aims to align the mind, body, and spirit, ensuring that students are relaxed as they move from pose to pose is essential to reach this goal.

In contrast, Pilates’ focus on core strength often means that the core is tightly contracted during poses. This makes it difficult to perform belly breathing, and instead promotes deep breaths through the chest, which is more commonly done during physical exercise like running or weight lifting. Unlike Yoga, Pilates often uses resistance exercises to improve strength and stability. These resistance exercises almost always incorporate a tight core.

Pilates and yoga are both excellent forms of exercise, and each has its merits. Pilates is more readily adaptable to focus on key areas that may need specific training, whereas yoga’s focus on flexibility and spirituality may be better for those who want to relax and do a little soul-searching. Either way, your main focus should be to improve your health, and truly the best way to determine which one is right for you is to try them both out. Pilates in the Pines has Pilates courses for beginners and advanced classes too. Contact us today!