To begin with, both types of exercise are a very natural form of exercise for both and mind, and it would appear, especially recently, many more people seem to be involved in one form of Pilates workout or another. A Pilates workout can take the shape of classes or simply done at your leisure and pace in the comfort of your own home.
Both a Pilates workout and Yoga session one have similar traits but let me tell you the main differences.
Firstly Yoga as a form of exercise has been around for a very long time now. In fact, it actually dates back to almost five thousand years when it emerged in India. It is not just a workout; it emphasizes both mind and body, meditation, maintaining a proper healthy diet as well as breathing techniques.
In comparison, Pilates, a much newer form of exercise, has been in existence for approximately 80 years now, invented by a man called Joseph Pilates. Though it has certain similarities to some Yoga techniques, its main aim is to help condition the entire body. This form of exercise strengthens the muscles, thereby developing core strength into everyday movements that typically form your day-to-day life, without you even being consciously aware of it.
Yoga also involves core strength to a degree. However, its principles are more based on stretch and flexibility and less perhaps on the day-to-day body movements. Its focus is more on the inner body and more spiritual in its application.
Both a Pilates workout and a Yoga session focuses on breathing and movement at the same time. Pilates is more inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Yoga, on the other hand, is more inhaling and exhaling through your nose.
Ideally, it would help if you determined what exactly it is you want to achieve from your workout. Do you want more stress management? If so, I would suggest Yoga. However, if you are looking to burn more calories, I would recommend a good Pilates workout, the choice is yours.
Generally speaking, during a Pilates workout, you may burn between 170-370 depending on the exercises done, whereas with a Yoga workout, the calorie burn is more likely to be about 140-250 calories. Either way, they are both excellent workouts that will improve both flexibilities and achieve the right muscle tone in the process.
However, if you are specifically looking to improve your abdominal muscles in particular, then Pilates is an excellent choice.
Pilates will work the whole body without any rapid or forceful movements that can injure you and because of its low impact nature, it is one of the stronger reasons why it is an excellent form of exercise for both young and elderly alike.
The centre of a Pilates workout is working on your abdominal muscles and your buttocks as it makes a person stronger from the inside out, making this one of its core attributes.
Pilates incorporates flexibility and strength, where it provides an excellent workout for all the different muscles groups, thereby giving you a much stronger body and leaner appearance.
Both a Pilates workout and a Yoga session can have a positive impact on your body. I cannot see any negative implications for either type of exercise if done correctly.
Regarding some similarities, they do however, both give you a feeling of well- being which can only be a good thing. They also both do not involve any jerk like movements or any other form of vigorous movements.
Each form of exercise workout will give you a sense of peace and wellbeing while at the same time, strengthening your muscles. Though each has its uniqueness as mentioned above.
From a visual stance, you will see results quicker doing Pilates than you would with Yoga, which may take longer, though they are equally as good for you in their own right.
The truth is that both are effective, yet each has its uniqueness; it does depend on how quickly you would like to see results.