Hi there, Miriam here—founder of Kilkenny Pilates and a certified instructor in both yoga and Pilates. I'm often asked about the differences between these two practices. While they both focus on the mind-body connection, they have separate origins and goals.
Similarities
* Mind-Body Connection: Both emphasise linking your breath with your movements to improve focus and body awareness.
* Strengthening and Flexibility: Both are fabulous for building core strength and increasing flexibility,
* Low-Impact: Both are gentle on your joints and can be modified for all fitness levels.
Differences
* Origins: Yoga is an ancient Indian practice with a spiritual and philosophical foundation. Pilates, developed in the 20th century by Joseph Pilates, is a physical fitness system focused on rehabilitation and core strength.
* Primary Goal: Yoga often aims for inner peace and spiritual harmony through flowing poses. Pilates' main objective is to build a stable core and create balanced, functional strength.
* Equipment: Yoga typically only requires a mat. Pilates often uses specialised equipment like the reformer, Cadillac or Tower. This is one of the main reasons why reformer Pilates classes are usually priced higher than a yoga class because of this large upfront investment in studio equipment.