The Difference Between Yoga and Pilates

Yoga and pilates is everywhere. If you watch TV, you'll hear someone talking about them and recommending the best yoga or pilates exercise video. If you read newspapers or magazines there are articles about how fantastic yoga and pilates are. And if you walk into a health club like Pulse gym at the Athenaeum Spa in Malta, most of the exercise classes are either pilates or yoga. But do they really work as well as people say? And what is the difference between the two workouts? And lastly, which one is best for you?

The difference between yoga and pilates can be minimal, and can depend on the instructor teaching the class. As a general rule, pilates is more about gentle stretching and toning the body in a relaxed and non invasive manner, while yoga combines gentle stretching, breathing techniques and mediation. Both tend to be a kind to the body but still provide a good work out.

• The core principle with yoga is that it "brings together", or in other words it's purpose it to unite the body, mind and spirit. That by bringing these three elements together and creating balance between them you will feel more energized, healthy and more at peace.
• Pilates is a full-body workout. It's less about relaxation and spirituality and more about health and fitness. It uses breath and controlled, precise movement to target primarily the muscles in the abs, back and butt (often referred to as the core).

Yoga is a combination of stretching while concentrating on specific parts of the body. Learning to direct the breath is a part of a successful practice. The mind is also trained to relax and facilitate relaxation and meditation. Yoga is extremely useful for reducing stress and gaining balance and flexibility. Individuals enjoying the practice of yoga find that their routine can be fine tuned to meet their individual needs as opposed to being in competition with others.

Pilates can be performed with movements using only the body or machines can be combined with the process. There is a machine called a reformer that allows pulley movements to assist with stretching and exercise and a Cadillac machine which enables the movements to be performed in conjunction with a spotter to concentrate on finite muscle training.

Mat pilates is done on a yoga mat and concentrates on using the body as the primary focus of exercise. At times, weights or props can be used to facilitate a particular movement. Group classes for pilates at Pulse gym at the Athenaeum Spa in Malta are popular and are great for stress reduction.

W hich of these two fitness techniques is right for you? Do them both in conjunction! Join the breathing techniques of pilates and meditative aspect of yoga into your daily routine and see the stress of your everyday life, begin to dissipate. Both techniques are time-proven, established, and with the help of an experienced instructor from Pulse gym at the Athenaeum Spa in Malta, you will surely reach the goals you set up for yourself!