Both Pilates and yoga offer stress-relief, flexibility, strength, control, and endurance. The biggest difference between the two is the stress on the spiritual component in classes. Outside of Yoga, most pilates classes do not offer an obvious spiritual experience. Pilates may be a great starting point or compliment for a yoga practice. The slower pace of a pilates class can be meditative and stress relieving. When we say yoga and pilates are two different forms of exercises there should be some differences which separates these two forms of exercises.
- In Pilates the breathing happens in through the nose, out through the mouth but where as in yoga, breathing in and out happens through the nose.
- In Pilates, exercises are mainly focused more on rib movements. Whereas in yoga these are focused on abdominal movements.
- In Pilates, abdomen remains contracted in for both inhalation and exhalation. In Yoga, stomach expansion and contraction happens.
- Engagement and control in pilates, sometimes need limitation in movements, but in yoga, there are no movements.
- There is core strength and lots of emphasis in every movement via the core. In Yoga, there is not much importance to the core except for few asanas.
