Pilates... that's like yoga, right?

Pilates and yoga are typically put in the same box when it comes to exercise, but what are the differences exactly? Although both forms of physical activity focus on connecting your mind & body and moving with your breath, the two have a very different goal.

Pilates uses 5 principles: Centering, Control, Concentration, Precision, Breathing, and Flow to strengthen the deepest layers of muscle that support your structure, hydrate connective tissue making you more limber, and create an overall healthier mind, body & spirit.

In Pilates, every exercise is a core exercise. All movement is to initiate in your Powerhouse, or the torso region of your body, and you’ll typically repeat 6 - 8 repetitions of the same exercise before transitioning to the next. Yoga will put you in a meditative state flowing from pose to pose but not necessarily repeat the same movement several times. Both Pilates and Yoga, however, are low impact forms of exercise accessible to many different bodies regardless of injuries, age, flexibility level & will encourage a leaner, more toned physique.

The origin of both movement forms is different, but I won’t bore you with the nitty gritty. The way you breathe, the way you transition, the way you concentrate in Pilates vs. Yoga are very different.

Overall, Yoga is used to release tension and calm the mind/body whereas Pilates uses intention on alignment, mechanics, diaphragmatic breath, and a system of exercises to put your mind more in tune with your body and create proper patterns to live fit and healthful day to day.