Pilates vs Yoga - What's the Difference and Where To Start?

I do pilates and like yoga but the spiritual part of yoga is not my cup of tea. Pilates was a nice discovery for me, it gives my mind time to really focus on my body during pilates movements in a down to earth way

Great explanation! I just started doing Pilates last month. Before I started it, all I knew was I wanted to do SOMETHING related to strength and flexibility that I could do by following Youtube videos. Yoga was the only thing I knew of, but as a Christian, I was wary of doing something associated with Hindu spirituality. I started researching that a little bit and someone recommended Pilates as an alternative, so I figured I'd give it a shot--and that's what brought me to your channel! I'm really glad for that because listening to this comparison it sounds like I'd like Pilates better anyway. If I had started with Yoga who knows if I would've stuck to it, or if I ever would've tried Pilates? Instead I found your channel and have been consistently working out 3-4 times a week, and I absolutely love it <3 I am already feeling improvement in my muscles, more energy, and I look forward to it on my lunch break every day! :)

This is the best description about the difference between Yoga and Pilates that I have read. And this is why I kept going back to Pilates instead of Yoga. I was not strong enough in my core to hold the poses in Yoga. Thank you, thank you

Thank you so much Jessica for explaining so well I'm suffering with chronic illness for 3 years and trying different yoga to improve my mobility but I end up having even more pain and discomfort different parts of my body including neck, shoulders and knee. Now I realise that I'm very week and I probably need to build my strength with Pilates then move on to yoga. I've had physiotherapy after some sessions I was discharged but never been told by any specialist to do Pilates.

Wow thank you so much for including your history and knowledge as a PT. I have back issues from weight lifting and some joint issues as well. You’ve helped me make my mind up! I love the spiritual aspect of yoga and wish I could partake in its rich history through practice but I agree that I’ll probably struggle a lot as I lack a lot of strength to do the type of yoga I’d like to do (probably Ashtanga)

Totally agree. Pilates builds up the muscles for some of the yoga poses... (head stand)...I had very little abs strength before Pilates...

Now I see why my surgeon said no yoga after I had a huge chunk of my meniscus removed. Thanks Jessica 😀

Fantastic clarification Jessica. I just want to add that one big difference you didn’t mention is the use of the breath. Pilates appears to be thoracic breathing, so you can engage the core , but with yoga it’s mostly deep abdominal breathing and directing the breath ( Prana) into tight areas to improve flexibility. I am a recently qualified yoga and Pilates teacher, and I did think that scapular and shoulder placement ( in its socket) was also part of Pilates, and not in yoga but I am noticing more and more Pilates teachers taking the focus away from this. Perhaps an evolution of Pilates and yoga fusion?

I've been a subscriber of yours for awhile now, and really love your teaching style. I, like you, enjoy both pilates and yoga. While I am not an advanced yoga student yet, I feel its a place for me to stretch and warm up and then pilates is where I get a good workout. Thank you for your videos.

This is such a helpful description, thank you!

I really like your uploads Jessica. Your smartness is really appreciative. In this dark times due to COVID 19 Pandemic it really pleasant to watch your uploads. I am a really big fan of you Jessica. Really admire your uploads.

I've always been wondering what's the difference between yoga and Pilates . Now I know and understand ! Indeed , you'd explained it so clearly ! Such a wonderful teacher you are ! 🌸

Thank you for this video I have Arthritis bone on bone in my knee and right big toe already having flat feet. I never thought it could all be attributed to having a week core.

Thank you for the clarification! Blessed 😊 day!

Thanks a lot. Today, I did my begginer class hopefully keep doing cause I like a lot the mobility and breathingcombinationsn. I think s, pilates is what I was looking for.

Thank you for this valuable information! I have 2 herniated cervical discs with radiculopathy and a bulging lumbar disc, all from a car accident 17 months ago. I'm trying to avoid surgery and was planning on starting yoga, but I'll check out Pilates instead. Also, I'm more of a science person and not into the metaphysical side of yoga. Good to know pilates would be better for me anyway.

Thank you. So if I'm trying to get back into building muscle. Pilates would be the best for a beginner. I haven't worked out in over 3 years. Since COVID. I feel like I have lost all muscle strength.

Very well articulated, I will definitely share this 👍 I am a yoga instructor and Pilates practitioner (I own a reformer and will train to teach someday!) and agree completely. Since having back issues related to hyper-mobility I had to stop doing yoga (and stretching) and switch to Pilates (and strengthening) and it effects the way I teach now... I love to fuse the two 😊 But my favorite style to teach is actually Restorative yoga, which is relaxation and meditation, complimenting Pilates very well. So one more main difference is that Yoga styles vary in intensity much more than Pilates. Thank you for being an inspiration! ❤️

I'm coming to pilates after practicing yoga for nearly 4 years and qigong for about 2 years. I have gotten very strong and flexible practicing yoga and have actually saved both my shoulders from like surgery. So I can't say enough about how yoga has benefited me. It has also helped my anxiety, but I'll have to say that qigong has actually been better for my mental health. I started doing pilates simply because I wanted to inject some novelty into my workouts :-) I'll have to admit though that core work has never been a favorite of mine, even in yoga, and have tended to skip over it whenever possible. So the emphasis on core work in Pilates is a bit gruesome for me hahahaha

Thank you Good i started pilates first then move onn to yoga in few months . I was wondering if i made right choise