Team Yoga or Team Pilates?

A question I’m frequently asked is: ‘Which is better, yoga or Pilates?’ It’s not easy to answer, as both have many benefits and also share many similarities. Regularly practising Pilates or yoga can have a significant impact on your overall fitness, with both forms of exercise improving mindful breathing, strength and balance.

Choosing between the two will often come down to your fitness goals and how you like to exercise.

Yoga is a spiritual mind and body practice that focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing. A typical yoga class will consist of a series of poses, each designed for a different purpose, such as: improving balance, stretching specific muscles, or building strength. The poses are often connected by flowing sequences, with a strong emphasis on the breath and finish with relaxation.

Pilates is a system of low-impact exercises that aim to strengthen the muscles to help improve posture, mobility, flexibility and strength. Each exercise has a breath pattern which connects to your core. Strengthening your core helps improve stability throughout your body. The focus of Pilates exercises is to use precise movements to target specific areas of your body like the glutes, hips, and lower back.

Both yoga and Pilates are low impact and focus on the breath. The poses and exercises can easily be modified to suit any age and level of fitness. Both yoga and Pilates can be done at home, as no specialist equipment is needed. One benefit of both is the deepening of the mind and body connection, which helps improve both physical and mental well-being.

Many of my students say they benefit from doing a mixture of classes. So if you can’t decide between yoga and Pilates, why not give them both a go?

Sending you lots of positive thoughts

Jo xxx