As a Pilates instructor I always get asked the question, “what is that difference between yoga and Pilates?”. Most people have the ill-conceived notion that they are the same. And how wrong they are. I love to do both and for different reasons, which I will explain later. Because I am not a yoga instructor and have not gone through the intense certification training and years of study I will only be able to give you my opinion as a yoga enthusiast. However, as a certified Pilates instructor with many years of training, I am highly qualified on that subject.

Yoga was around much longer than Pilates. Pilates is approximately 50+ years old while yoga dates back 2000 years or more. Since all new exercise programs build from those before it, Pilates does have a few similarities to yoga. For one thing, the breathing is very important in both. Usually each movement will get its own breath, either an inhale or exhale. Yoga has postures or series of movements that you hold while Pilates tends to have more continuous movements. Both Yoga and Pilates exercises flow from one movement to the next.

There are many different types of Yoga. Some yoga methods focus on stretching and relaxing the mind and body, while other types are extremely challenging and heart-pounding.

Joseph Pilates, the godfather of Pilates, came up with a sequence of exercises to be followed in a particular order, (sometimes like yoga). There are some people who are trained in the strict interpretation of Joseph’s techniques while many other Pilates professionals have changed or added to many of the movements to form their own type of Pilates. Winsor Pilates (often misspelled as Windsor Pilates) is one such offshoot. More recently, many Pilates trainers have strayed away from traditional Pilates for the sole purpose of being able to brand it as their own. They claim it is better but really it is a marketing gimmick.

All Pilates exercises focus on using your core (abdominal, back and pelvic floor muscles) to perform all movements. Strengthening these muscles is very important and the key to an effective Pilates technique. Combined with proper breathing each movement should be preformed with control, focus and precision. Like Yoga, we are snobby when it comes to form. It must be perfect!

Both Yoga and Pilates work on correcting muscle imbalances, alignment and posture and both will improve your core strength, flexibility and mobility of joints. It will also improve your breathing, concentration and decrease stress levels – it is simply accomplished with different movements.

If you are a gym member I would suggest trying the mat classes, but please ask the instructor how long they’ve been certified and teaching. There’s nothing worse than having a unqualified teacher that got certified over a weekend.

If you want to try the Pilates machines find a Pilates studio in your area. I recommend getting one-on-instruction, even if it’s just for 6 sessions. That way you can get a chance to experience Pilates in a personalized setting. You might have to shell out a few dollars, but it’s worth it to get a full understanding of the benefits of the exercises. It’s a great way to work on your flexibility and strength.

Don’t get discouraged if your first private session is easy. The first couple times your instructor will help you find your neutral spine and pelvis and teach you how to draw in your deep abdominal muscles. Once you have that down you can move on to more advanced movements. Trust me, Pilates is VERY challenging, but you can’t just jump in. It can take some people months or years to fully understand or appreciate how Pilates works and what amazing things it does for your body.

Be patient. Some people pick things up quicker than others. If you have a good teacher who knows what they are doing and can communicate well, it can make all the difference. So what are you waiting for?

Tara Simon is a certified Pilates instructor in Orange County, CA. You can visit her website at: TaraFirmaPilates.com

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