Choosing Between Yoga and Pilates – Here’s the Answer

What kind of exercise did you do today? Golf and tennis are rapidly becoming popular among the 2030 generation, but yoga and Pilates, which have been loved consistently for many years, cannot be overlooked. So, what’s the difference between yoga and Pilates? If you’re considering whether to do yoga or Pilates, let’s check the difference between the two exercises and choose the right one.

What is Yoga?

Before we look at the differences between the two exercises, let’s understand the definitions of yoga and Pilates. First, yoga is a spiritual practice rooted in India. Because it has elements of mindfulness, yoga is sometimes called meditative movement. It is an exercise based on diaphragmatic breathing and focuses on breathing and balance. The muscles contract, but the length remains unchanged as an isometric exercise.

What is Pilates?

Then what is Pilates? Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates of Germany during World War I to treat patients. It can be performed on a mat without special equipment, and you can exercise using a machine. Pilates focuses on strengthening the body’s core by thoracic breathing. Because it emphasizes core strengthening, it primarily performs isotonic contraction.

What are the commonalities between Yoga and Pilates?

What are the commonalities between yoga and Pilates? Both are low-impact exercises that can effectively correct posture in a small space and allow for strength training. They help create a healthy and beautiful body shape and stimulate the intestines to solve abdominal obesity, so yoga and Pilates are loved by many women.

What are the benefits of Yoga?

What can we gain from yoga? Yoga relieves back and neck pain, improves balance, and enhances sleep quality. It also cultivates flexibility and relieves stress-related illnesses such as tension headaches. In addition, it helps with weight loss and can alleviate menopause symptoms. However, if you have problems such as osteoporosis, risk of blood clots, eye problems, balance problems, and high blood pressure, it is better to exercise after consulting with a specialist.

What are the benefits of Pilates?

Pilates builds core strength. It also improves posture and enhances flexibility. It has the effect of relieving back pain, and research results show that it reduces pain and disability in individuals with conditions including neck pain, scoliosis, and multiple sclerosis. It is also a safe exercise for children and older people. However, beginners need to receive guidance from a professional.

What are the differences between Yoga and Pilates?

 

Let’s look at the differences between yoga and Pilates. First, yoga is a mind-body training method that combines meditation, breathing, and stretching. Pilates is an exercise that focuses on muscular endurance and strength enhancement using tools. Therefore, in yoga, you generally take and maintain a posture or flow into another posture, but in Pilates, you take a posture and move your arms or legs using the core.

What is the proper exercise for me?

Yoga and Pilates have distinctly different exercise goals. Choose yoga if your exercise goal is to cultivate flexibility and loosen up stiff body parts. However, if you want your body to become firm and elastic or build muscle strength, it would be good to choose Pilates. Also, it is challenging to expect weight loss just with yoga and Pilates. Don’t forget that a certain amount of diet control and aerobic exercise are necessary.

Preparation and Precautions for Pilates

When doing Pilates, you should prepare clothes that show the line of your body well. Not only is it easier to observe fine muscles, but it also prevents clothes from getting caught in the equipment in the case of machine Pilates. In addition, wearing toe socks can help prevent injuries, slipping, and calluses on the soles of your feet or toes. Full-body Pilates exercise is a sweat-inducing workout, so it is recommended to consume a sufficient amount of water.

Preparation and Precautions for Yoga

Just like Pilates, it’s good to wear clothes that show the line of your body well for yoga, but yoga is more flexible than Pilates, so it’s okay to wear loose training pants or jogger pants. Generally, yoga involves many stretching movements that relax the muscles, so before starting, the muscles need to be able to stretch sufficiently. Therefore, it is necessary to use a foam roller or massage ball to loosen tight muscles and fascia.

Yoga and Pilates

How do you do it properly without getting injured?

Yoga and Pilates are exercises that should be conducted based on a sufficient understanding of each muscle’s structure and function, and if done incorrectly, they can harm the body. In severe cases, you may have fractures, abrasions, dislocations, etc., so you must carefully check whether the instructor has sufficient qualifications and skills. Also, you must check whether you have related diseases and have adequate consultation with your primary doctor or Pilates instructor.