Where Mat Pilates and Yoga are Similar and Different

 Yoga and mat Pilates can help you relieve stress, increase your flexibility, and gain strength. But at the same time, they are not one-size-fits-all. If you want a calmer, more meditative exercise, you can opt for online yoga classes. If you prefer a full-body engagement to build your muscles, you can do mat Pilates online. The two have many similarities, but there are also some differences between them.

They are reliable forms of training

Because Pilates is a body conditioning technique, it derives a lot of stances from different sources and creates its own set of poses with the goal of strengthening the core and improving the breathing through repetition.

Meanwhile yoga is a practice that’s been around for over thousands of years, first considered as a channel to enlightenment through connecting the body with the spirit. While most of its aspects remain recreationally meditative, it is also used for stretching.

They focus on breathing and postures

For yoga, you stay in one position and hold it before moving on to a different pose. On the other hand, in Pilates, you do a pose and then make repetitive moments to challenge your muscles.

On one hand, with online yoga classes, you learn to coordinate your breathing with your poses. For mat Pilates, you need to breathe in wide and fully so you can fill your lungs with air while you do the exercises.

They are inclusive for people of all fitness levels

There is a greater focus on movements, breathing, and poses, so it would be hard to count on regular courses as part of a calorie burn workout. Hybrid programs may get you the results you need when it comes to weight loss, but generally, you will be working smarter, not harder in yoga and mat Pilates.

This is good news for a lot of reason. For one, because they are both low-impact exercises, you can easily mix the programs together seamlessly. For another, since it’s for people of any fitness level, you can invite your friends to come join you.

When it comes to distinguishing between the two, it all boils down to what you want from the workouts. If your fitness goals include strengthening your core, you can do either one—but they engage different muscles at the same time.

If you’re interested in joining mat Pilates or an online yoga class, you can experience this yourself. Even for beginners, the routines can be modified by instructors so you have no trouble starting out. Start now!