Looking to refresh your fitness regime? Interested in taking up Pilates or Yoga but unsure what’s the difference between them and which would be better for your personal workout? There’s quite a common misconception that Yoga and Pilates are very similar and are often categorised as the same exercise, however the purpose of Yoga compared with the purpose of Pilates is quite different.

When it comes to a Pilates vs Yoga workout, yes there can be certain elements which are quite similar in terms of improving balance and building strength, however the movements and techniques can differ quite drastically which many people don’t realise. Yoga was developed to prepare the mind and body for meditation, whilst Pilates was developed to work the body through systematic movements to strengthen and improve its function.

This in-depth Pilates vs Yoga guide has been designed to straighten out any misconceptions between the two practices, answer any queries you might have and hopefully inspire you to start your new Yoga or Pilates journey today. Carefully curated with both beginner and advanced fitness levels in mind, this guide outlines some of the key differences – including the origins of each, Pilates postures versus Yoga for mindfulness, Pilates breathing techniques and Yoga for spiritual wellbeing, as well as talking you through which is better for back pain and burning more calories.

Included within the guide are also some videos which we put together to help give you more of a visual guide of the difference between Pilates and Yoga.