What's better - Yoga or Pilates? - Yoga Breaks in Spain

As Yoga teachers we’re often asked “What’s better .. Yoga or Pilates?”

But the truth is you don’t have to choose whether to do Yoga OR Pilates because together they are an incredible combination!

Both practices support & complement each other extremely well. Together they build muscle strength & tone, improve flexibility & mobility, calm the mind & nervous system which lowers blood pressures & reduces feelings of anxiety and stress.

What are the benefits of doing both Yoga & Pilates?

Pilates Is largely about strengthening the core muscles & remembering to keep these muscles engaged in every controlled Pilates movement.

A strong core will help a yoga practice enormously. For instance, yoga balances performed with an engaged core – such as half moon, tree or crow – will not only bring more stability to the pose but a stable centre allows you to expand outwards a little more from the centre. Try it now! Get into half moon, engage your core & notice how more stable you feel when spreading & widening your chest & upper back from the centre. A strong core can also helps hold yoga poses for longer and improve alignment.

A strong core helps propel a yoga practice to new levels.

How are Yoga & Pilates similar … but different?

It is said that Joseph Pilates studied many different body disciplines – including yoga – when creating & designing the Pilates system. This could be why there are many similarities in both the yoga & Pilates poses.

Side plank in yoga is much like side lift in Pilates. Roll over in Pilates bears resemblance to plow pose in yoga and swimming in Pilates is much like locust pose in yoga.
Pilates tends to focus on individual body parts and requires you to hold a pose whilst repeatedly pulsing or squeezing – think of the the Hundred exercise. In yoga sometimes you’ll flow from one pose to the next to help build heat and inner focus or you’ll be asked to hold a pose to build strength & stamina – such as Warrior II – or, hold a pose to allow your tissues to relax & lengthen to allow you to go a little deeper into the pose – ie. seated twist.

There are many similar poses in Yoga & Pilates but the breathing is completely different.

How to Breathe in Yoga & Pilates

Joseph Pilates was asthmatic as a child and lived through the great flu epidemic of World War 1 hence he become deeply conscious of using the breath when practicing Pilates.

Breath work is an integral part of both Yoga & Pilates. Not only do they improve your lung strength & capacity but conscious breathing allows us to become more aware of our habitual breathing patterns.

Pilates students are taught to breathe in through the nose & out through the mouth – unlike in yoga where you’re encouraged to breathe in & out through the nose.

In Pilates you’re taught to scoop the abdominal wall towards the back on the exhale which is similar to two of the yoga bandhas – mula bandha (root lock) & uddiyana bandha (upward abdominal lock).

If you’re new to practicing both yoga & Pilates at the same time and you find it difficult to switch from yoga breathing to Pilates breathing, just begin by inhaling at the start of the pose & exhaling as you move into the pose – exhaling out your mouth or nose whatever is comfortable for you.

We hope this short resume of these fantastic disciplines helps explain that Yoga & Pilates can be practiced together for strength, stability, alignment, flexibility, mobility and inner calm.