What is the difference between Pilates and Yoga?

Pilates and Yoga are often paired together under the one umbrella, and that’s not without good reason. They share many similarities but they also have their key points of difference.

What is important to note is that both Pilates and Yoga are mind-body conditioning methods with a holistic approach to achieving health and wellness.

Yoga

While there are many physical benefits to practicing yoga, and it is excellent for your overall health and wellbeing, yoga is merely a tool to help you influence and access your mind. Yoga harmonises or joins the mind, body, and spirit with the goal being to lead a person to a state of peace and stillness.

The physical component of yoga including the poses and movements you practice in a yoga class is called asana. Asana is one of the eight limbs of yoga. The physical benefits of asana can include improved strength, flexibility and mobility, just to name a few. The main reason we practice asana is to calm the mind so that we can sit still in meditation.

Sri T Krishnamacharya, the father of modern yoga

The meaning of yoga as given in Sutra 1.2 of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is to calm the fluctuations of the mind.

Chitta vritti nirodhah

~ Patanjali

Pilates

Pilates is often thought to be similar to yoga, which is not surprising since Joseph Pilates the founder of Pilates practiced yoga. It was during World War I that Jospeh Pilates created, practiced, and taught his physical fitness program, previously termed ‘contrology’, to aid in the rehabilitation of the disabled and sick. His guiding principle is that the ‘whole’ body must be exercised to achieve good health.

Joseph Pilates developed a series of exercise that can be performed either on the floor (mat Pilates) or on the various pieces of apparatus he invented. The Pilates equipment is designed to condition the entire body, and through core strengthening exercises improve strength, flexibility and ultimately correct posture, body alignment and balance.

Joseph Pilates on the Pilates Reformer

Similarly to yoga, Joseph Pilates regarded his method as a holistic approach and a path to total health, rather than just a physical fitness program.

Pilates is the complete coordination of mind, body, spirit

~ Joseph Pilates

So while you can improve your strength, flexibility and mobility from both methods, the main goals of the two practices differ. The full practice of yoga aims to calm the mind, and the Pilates method aims to improve physical strength. Both Pilates and yoga aim to improve the mind-body connection.

At our beautiful Sunshine Coast studios, CGM Pilates & Yoga, we offer both Pilates and yoga, and enjoy the benefits of practicing both methods. For enquiries visit us online here or pop into our Maroochydore studios and try a class.

Pilates Breathing

Breath is one of the key principles of Pilates and is fundamental to improving body awareness. Pilates breathing is developed over time and cultivates synergy between movement and breath. Correct technique can improve your Pilates and ultimately your quality of life. As Joseph Pilates said, “Breathing is the first act of life and the last, our very life depends on it”

So, what is Pilates Breathing? Each exercise has a specific breathing pattern which helps to improve the safety and effectiveness for that exercise. The breathing patterns assist with correct muscle activation, helps supply oxygen to the muscles, remove waste products, and prevents holding breath.

When performing Pilates Breathing we inhale through the nose directing the breath into the sides of the ribs expanding the ribs laterally. This helps to maintain abdominal activation and prevents shallow breathing which can cause the shoulders and neck to tense. 

The exhalation is through the mouth and we close the ribcage down and in. The inhale is normal and the exhale is slow and forceful. Exhaling through the mouth allows for a more forceful exhalation and aids in deep abdominal muscle activation. It is important to avoid taking a deep breath when we inhale as this can encourage the spine to arch, losing the abdominal muscle activation.

When we breath the position of our spine changes slightly. Correct breathing patterns support the structures of the spine and reduces the likelihood of injury.

When you are new to Pilates the breath can seem a little overwhelming at first. We suggest focussing on your set-up, posture and movement, and then add the breathing in as you feel comfortable and more confident.

If you’d like to talk about technique with a CGM Pilates Instructor, remember that we’re always available before and after class in our Maroochydore studio, located in the heart of the Sunshine Coast.

See you on the Mat or Reformer soon!

"Tis the Season to be Jolly"

It's the festive season which means eating, eating, drinking, and more eating. So if you'r'e looking for a quick no fuss work out you can do in between courses then we've got you covered.

Try our 10 minute Mat class below, feel free to shorten or extend the number of repetitions to suit your body.

As always move safely and only work within your own limits. Happy Holidays! 

You heard it right, we're doing Rooftop Pilates!

Looking for the perfect outdoor workout? Join us on the rooftop of the Kon-Tiki building in Maroochydore every Tuesday at 6am for a 45-minute mat Pilates class. There's nothing quite like this intense core workout held six stories above the CBD with stunning views across the entire Sunshine Coast. 

Don't just take our word for it though, Urban List were stoked to find out about our weekly rooftop sessions, check out what they wrote about this Pilates experience here. 

The details you need to know

WHEN: weekly on Tuesdays

TIMES: 6-6:45am

COST: $22 casual class or try our 5 for $55 intro offer

LOCATION: meet just before 6am at CGM Pilates

WHAT TO BRING:  A yoga mat, water and sunglasses.