A very common question we hear is “What is the difference between Yoga and Pilates?”
Yoga
Yoga has been around for over 5000 years with origins in India. It became popular in the West in the 1890’s and has since grown into a modern method of maintain and improving health and fitness.
Yoga aims to improve flexibility and strength while incorporating breathing exercises and meditation. Classes often involves holding a pose for longer periods of time to work on stretching the fascia (tissue surrounding muscles and joints) which helps to increase your flexibility. Yoga is recommended for reducing injury risk, improving posture and relaxation.
Pilates
Pilates was invented by Joseph Pilates and became popular in the 1920’s after he moved to America. After moving, Joseph set up his own studio right next to the New York City Ballet to help them improve technique, recover from injuries and prevent injuries from recurring.
Pilates aims to increase muscle strength and tone while helping to reduce back pain. Pilates improves posture and spinal health through low impact activities which are great for rehabilitation. This class is often recommended to office workers, people with back pain and new mums who are cleared for exercise.
So which one is right for you?
Yoga and Pilates both address important areas of the body and each offer stress-relief components. Both classes can be safely modified to suit pregnant women and address key areas like the pelvic floor, core muscles, neck and shoulders.
There is no clear cut answer as to which one is better for you because they both have amazing benefits! We recommend trying both Yoga and Pilates to see which one you like better. Can’t pick a favourite? Do both! Yoga and Pilates are like strawberries and chocolate.. great by themselves, but together they create something even better!
Interested in trying a class? Give us a call to book your free trial!
Written by Courtney Tebbutt (Pilates Instructor)