Pilates Pet Peeve #2 - "It's Like Yoga, right?"

"Pilates is just like Yoga, right?" "Pilates is for stretching, like Yoga."

If it was JUST LIKE Yoga, wouldn't it be another form of Yoga?

Yoga is a form of meditation, to quiet the mind.

Pilates is a method of exercise -- it's a workout. Clients flow from one exercise to another rarely doing more than 10 repetitions of any exercise, positions are not held for extended periods. Joseph Pilates believed movement heals, so clients get moving and keep moving during the workout. While Stretch is a component of Pilates, along with Strength, Stamina and Stabilization (centering and balancing the body), Pilates is all about the powerhouse. Most people think of their core as the rectus abdominus. Joseph Pilates defined the powerhouse as everything between the ribs and knees (abdominals, back, glutes, hips, and thighs) and all the way around, so don't forget the back, obliques, hamstrings, abductors, hip flexors, etc. Instead of quieting the mind, like Yoga, the Pilates mind-body connection is about gaining control of the body through a strong and stable powerhouse. Joseph Pilates' ideal was for clients to do his exercises on a Mat, unaided. He found equipment helpful in familiarizing clients with unusual positions and strengthening the body for Mat exercises. As a result, he designed a number of unique pieces of equipment.

Joseph Pilates developed a vigorous, complete body workout. He didn't play new age music, light incense, turn off the lights, or tell people to relax in his studio, so don't expect to find that in a classical studio. Clients will work, it is hard, it is possible to sweat (although not like Bikram Yoga), and clients will be a little sore, but without the pain of a gym workout.

Pilates and Yoga can be complimentary, but they are NOT the same.