Similar But Not the Same, Here are 5 Differences between Yoga and Pilates

Illustration - pilates exercises (photo: Pixabay/UptownFitness)

YOGYAKARTA - Many of us don't know the difference between yoga and pilates, both of which involve breathing techniques and body movements. Although at first glance they look the same, yoga and pilates have different concepts, goals and techniques.

Both yoga and pilates, these two types of exercises are very popular in various fitness classes. Understanding the differences between the two will help you choose the type of exercise that best suits your body needs and fitness goals.

For that, see the differences between yoga and pilates in the review below, as summarized by VOI from various sources.

The Difference Between Yoga and Pilates Origins

The first difference between yoga and pilates can be known from their origins. Yoga is an ancient practice originating from India and has been developed for thousands of years. Yoga not only focuses on physical fitness, but also on mental balance and spirituality. Yoga exercises combine body poses (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation.

Meanwhile, pilates was created by a German anatomist in 1926 as a method to condition the body and provide rehabilitation for World War I veterans. This practice quickly developed as a way to build core strength and increase endurance, especially for those involved in ballet and dance who needed recovery from injuries, quoted from the Cleveland Clinic website.

Training technique

In yoga, you usually take one pose and hold it for a few seconds to minutes, or move fluidly into the next pose. The main focus of yoga is balance, flexibility, relaxation, and breath awareness.

On the other hand, pilates requires you to stabilize your core muscles first, then move your hands or feet to train strength and control. Pilates movements are more structured and repetitive to gradually build muscle strength.

Use of tools

Yoga is generally done only with a mat, without additional tools. Meanwhile, pilates can be done on a mat or using special tools such as reformers that are commonly available in pilates studios.

Benefits for health

According to the WebMD page, in terms of health, yoga can provide many benefits, such as:

Helps relieve back and neck pain Improves balance and flexibility Helps you sleep better Reduces stress and tension headaches Helps control weight Reduces menopausal symptoms

In pilates, the benefits felt by individuals after trying this type of exercise are:

Increase core muscle strength Improve posture, increase flexibility Reduce lower back pain Help with injury rehabilitation

Several studies conducted by experts show that pilates can help reduce pain in the back, neck, scoliosis, to multiple sclerosis. Although not an aerobic exercise, pilates is effective in reducing stress which has a positive impact on heart health.

Purpose

Yoga exercises are aimed at improving overall physical and mental health, including increasing flexibility, muscle strength, and body balance.

In pilates, the main goal is to increase the core strength of the body, flexibility, and improve posture through controlled movements that combine breathing and mental focus.

This type of exercise focuses on muscle balance, spinal stability, and strengthening the abdominal, back, and pelvic muscles to improve daily mobility.

That's the information about the difference between yoga and pilates. Get other interesting news updates by visiting the VOI.id page.