Along with yoga, Pilates is the exercise darling of the studio world, and I really miss my local studios and gyms in these COVID-19 times. However, with all of the streaming now available, that’s hardly an excuse for sitting on my butt. I was thinking about this today, and it occurred to me that yoga is a choice – I could always go to a Pilates class instead.
Why do I practice yoga instead of Pilates?
Yoga and Pilates each offer a plethora of physical benefits. Both are usually practiced in a class or class-like setting; both work by lengthening and strengthening muscles rather than by using resistance to build mass. Both increase flexibility and mental focus. In addition, both are relatively low-impact and offer the benefits of breath as well as muscle training. This of course leads to the million-dollar question: which one is better for one’s body?
My trusty research unveiled the fact that Joseph Pilates’ exercise background included work in boxing and circus arts in addition to gymnastics. His method was developed in an effort to rehabilitate veterans of World War I, but quickly became useful to the dance community as well. While there are machine workouts associated with Pilates, lessons are generally set up as ‘mat classes,’ using little equipment other than the resistance provided by one’s own body. In this way, Pilates is similar to yoga.
A Pilates circuit concentrates on the muscles of the core, emphasizing posture and stability. It uses breath work similarly to yoga, but for a different purpose. While Pilates can be relaxing, it requires mental focus and concentration used to power through exercises that are often intense. Breathing is used as a way to move energy to the muscles in order to produce precise movement. By contrast, yoga classes can and often do incorporate forms of “bellows breath,” pranayama offers a great deal more, and is considered a separate pathway than asana – one of Patanjali’s eight roads.
The two paths aren’t mutually exclusive, and I might consider adding Pilates to their routines for a number of reasons. As Pilates was specifically developed for rehabilitation, it can be useful for injured yogis who want to maintain some level of fitness while recovering. In addition, Pilates moves might be helpful for those with weaker stomach muscles, as its dynamic strengthening works faster to build muscle. Having trouble with poses such as Kakasana (Crow) or Sirsasana (Headstand)? Some Pilates moves might help to redress the issue.
In turn, Pilates advocates can find themselves in need of a good flexibility workout, and yoga is of course superb for that aspect of fitness. Many Pilates teachers suggest stretching after doing Pilates. This is where yoga moves can be helpful. A Pilates devotee looking to branch out might consider including a weekly restorative or gentle yoga class focused specifically on relaxation and stretching.
For me, the chief difference between the two disciplines has to do with their impact. A Pilates workout is an exercise routine, lacking the spiritual overtones sometimes associated with yoga. For many people, this may be the primary reason for preferring a Pilates workout to a yoga class. For myself, the opposite is true. I’ve learned so much studying yoga philosophy – it’s made a very real difference in my life off the mat.
Pilates offers wonderful benefits and can be a great form of cross-training for the yogi looking to strengthen his or her core. I may add a Pilates workout during my week for this reason. At heart, however, I am a yogini – I love the unique way yoga focuses on spiritual development, using the body and breath as two of its tools. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter!
Yoga Cielo Stellato 