Yoga or Pilates – what’s the difference?

Written By Lynne Stephenson

A question I get asked frequently and has no short answer! Here I will try to explain the differences ….

Yoga

Yoga is an ancient practice derived from India. According to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras there is an eight fold path to liberation known as the eight limbs of yoga. These are as follows;

  • Yamas –moral disciplines and restraints

  • Niyama – positive duties and observances

  • Asana – posture, pranayama – breathing techniques

  • Pratyahara- withdrawal of the sense

  • Dharana – concentration

  • Dhyana – meditation

  • Samadhi – enlightenment.

Yoga can feel like a very spiritual and special practice. It can be perceived as a philosophy and way of life.

There are many different styles of Yoga! From Ashtanga to Hatha, Bikram, Restorative, Kundalini....the list goes on.

The forms I offer and am personally most drawn to are a slow flow Vinyasa style where we move into our postures using our breath and Yin Yoga where we hold mainly floor based postures for time to work into the deeper tissues, fascia, ligaments and joints within the body to promote mobility and activate the meridian lines (energy channels) within the body.

“Yoga is the journey of the self through the self to the self”
— The Bhagavad Gita

PILATES

Pilates is an exercise method and philosophy developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s. As a prisoner of war during the First World War, he spent time creating exercises to help his fellow inmates, attaching springs to bed frames so that the wounded could continue to exercise and rehabilitate. Later he set up a studio next to a New York dance studio where injured dancers would visit to help overcome their injuries.

Pilates called this method Contrology, or the art of controlled movements.  Movements are small and controlled that use body weight to build strength, muscular endurance and flexibility. You can do Pilates on a mat or with special equipment. Much of the strength work focuses on the muscles of the core. This helps the body to function as it should.

This may vary between different schools of Pilates but generally the guiding principles of Pilates involve concentration, alignment, breathing, centering, coordination, flowing movements, stamina and relaxation.

“The Pilates Method of body conditioning develops the body uniformly, corrects posture, restores vitality, invigorates the mind and elevates the spirit”
— Joseph H Pilates

If you’re looking to develop core strength and balance, when practiced regularly Vinyasa Yoga and Pilates are both ideal. Given that many of the poses in Yoga and exercises in Pilates involve supporting your body weight, they also work various muscles all over your body, improve mobility and flexibility and give that connection between the body and the mind. Whereas Yin is a wonderful meditative practice as well as helping to release and mobilise the deeper tissues in the body.

Lynne Stephenson