The key differences between yoga and Pilates

One is a holistic discipline originating from ancient India, while the other is a specific physical system developed by a German anatomist in the early 20th century. Though there is considerable overlap between yoga and Pilates, the two are fundamentally quite different. 

As modern wellness practices, yoga and Pilates are both celebrated for their myriad health benefits, ranging from fostering a connection to the body and providing stress relief to enhancing flexibility, strength, control, and endurance. Numerous interpretations of both disciplines exist (what one person considers a balance class, another may see as cardio), but the key link between them is breath work.

To put it simply, “the biggest difference between the two,” explains Jill Simpson, the founder of the yoga, Pilates, ballet, and barre studio Ebb&Flow, “is the emphasis on the spiritual side in yoga.”

Zoe Bertali, a yoga teacher at The Refinery studio, elaborates: “Yoga is an integrated health-management system that uses breath, movement, and meditation to unite the mind, body, and spirit. It also incorporates elements of philosophy, science, and an ethical way of living. Classes can vary from gentle and nurturing to challenging and intense." Indeed, there is a yoga practice for everyone; from more traditional forms like Hatha and Ashtanga to creative interpretations such as anti-gravity yoga and laughter yoga.

Nahid de Belgeonne, a somatic movement and yoga coach, emphasizes that, while modern yoga in the West has become largely focused on movement, the practice has much deeper roots. “Yoga is a spiritual philosophy: the physical practice constitutes only one of the eight parts – or limbs – of the yoga path. The other limbs encompass ethical standards, self-discipline, breath, sensory transcendence, focus, meditation, and a blissful state where one transcends the self. The last four limbs are involved in meditation.”

Gemma Folkard, a Pilates instructor and founder of Shape Pilates, notes that "generally in yoga, the work comes from the inside-out – from the mind into movement." In contrast, with Pilates, she observes the challenge emanating from the outside-in – "from the physicality of the bones and muscles, precisely controlled by the brain in each movement."

One significant difference lies in the source of movement, she adds. "In yoga, there is more emphasis on opening up, with perhaps a freer movement of the ribcage. In Pilates, the source is the 'powerhouse,’ commonly known as the 'core,’ which can be misleading. The powerhouse in Pilates refers to the center of the body: the torso area and abdominals from the lower ribs to the back of the hips. All movements in Pilates originate from here, which creates substantial stability – and might be why Pilates is often regarded as the method of choice for back pain or injury," explains Folkard.