Pilates, Yoga, or both? You decide and DO.

Admit it. While we know that exercise is a keystone habit that benefits our lives, we hardly make time for it. Of course, there are excuses--some are valid and some are not. Nevertheless, we should at least give certain exercises a try to know if it’ll work for us and if it’s enjoyable enough to incorporate into our “busy” lives.

Here are two exercises that are often interchanged. Both use mats. Both are breathing oriented. Both require balance and flexibility (and eventually improve these). Both provide an overall body workout and are guaranteed to improve one’s sense of personal satisfaction and wellness. However, it is important to note that these two exercises also have nuances. Here’s what we know about pilates and yoga.

Pilates

Pilates originates from the west through the work of Joseph Pilates. As a cardio and resistance exercise, Pilates builds our core muscles, conditions our whole body, tones and stabilizes our muscles. Pilates also requires inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. More advanced studios also use machines to lengthen the spine and control movements.

Yoga

Yoga has been around way before Pilates. Yoga originates from the east as a critical practice in India. it is considered a lifestyle rather than an exercise because it is a unifying activity for the body, mind, and spirit. It prioritizes flexibility as it entails one to hold static poses. While Pilates allows the use of both nose and mouth for breathing, yoga only permits nasal inhaling and exhaling. Yoga comes in different forms. Among the most popular are Ashtanga, Bikram, and Kundalini.

Can’t choose? There’s Pi-Yo

As the name implies, Pi-Yo is a combination of Pilates and Yoga. Developed by Chalene Johnson, PI-Yo provides the benefits of these exercises; it is a low impact but a high energy aerobic activity. Unlike Pilates and Yoga, Pi-Yo is an upbeat exercise that requires one to make poses, resistance, and dance movements in sequences.

Whether it’s Pilates, Yoga, or Pi-Yo, any of these exercises can reduce stress and improve one’s stamina and posture. Given these, choosing is the easiest task, the bigger challenge is DOING these exercises. Pick immediately, seek help when needed, and just start.