At Croydon Pilates, we prefer to focus on what we’re good at… Pilates. We don’t provide yoga classes, although we love yoga and some of our instructors do yoga too. However, for teaching, our expertise is Mat Pilates and Reformer Pilates.
Choosing between Pilates and Yoga depends on individual goals, preferences, and your own physical condition. Both disciplines are useful. However, we have seen a rising trend towards Reformer Pilates with more and more people becoming aware of the benefits of Reformer Pilates.
Let’s look at both Yoga and Pilates
Pilates
Focus
Core Strength: Pilates is highly focused on building core strength, which supports the spine and overall body stability.
Alignment and Posture: Pilates is great for posture. It really focuses on improving poor posture, or maintaining good posture. It helps with keeping upright spinal alignment and reduces the poor flexed posture from sitting all day.
Controlled Movements: Pilates involves controlled movements, sometimes using a Reformer machine. Controlled movements make it safe
Physical Benefits
Strengthening: Targets specific muscle groups, especially the core, making it excellent for muscle toning.
Injury Rehabilitation: Quite a lot of our physiotherapists are Pilates instructors. It’s very popular to prevent injury due to its low-impact nature and focus on controlled movements, making it suitable for injury prevention and recovery.
Flexibility: Pilates does improve flexibility although not as much as yoga. But it depends on what you want to work on, and if flexibility is one of your primary needs, discuss this with our instructor so we can tailor the session more to improving flexibility.
Mental Benefits
Mind-Body Connection: Pilates definitely helps mentally, and exercising is social and fun. But yoga focusses more on breathing and meditation. However, Pilates also focusses on breathing and both are useful.
Who It’s Best For?
- People looking to strengthen their core and improve posture.
- People in pain who want to reduce pain and get stronger and more mobile.
- Everyone! From children to adults, to seniors. Pilates is amazing!
Yoga
Focus
Flexibility and Strength: Yoga focuses on stretching and balancing postures, helping the body get stronger.
Breath and Meditation: Integrates breath control (pranayama) and meditation, offering a holistic approach to physical and mental well-being.
Variety of Styles: There are various styles of yoga (e.g., Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga), each with different focuses, from relaxation to intense physical activity.
Physical Benefits
Flexibility: Yoga is excellent for increasing flexibility through various asanas (postures).
Strength and Balance: Yoga is possibly less focussed on strengthening, and is more a lifestyle.
Mental Benefits
Stress Reduction: Yoga definitely helps reduce stress and calm the mind.
Mindfulness: There is a strong focus on connecting mind, body, and spirit, making it a more holistic practice and great for meditative work.
Who It’s Best For
- Those interested in a holistic practice that combines physical activity with mental and spiritual well-being. Ideal for those who feel stressed.
- People who enjoy variety and want to choose from different yoga styles based on their needs.
Which is Better?
They’re both great. It just comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer Pilates, some prefer yoga, and some do both for different reasons. The best thing is to come and join us at one of our Croydon Pilates Reformer or mat sessions and see if you get the bug like thousands of other people.
