Pilates vs. Yoga: What's the Difference & Which Workout Has More Benefits?

Quiz time: Do you consider yourself team Pilates or yoga? OK, you don't really need to choose sides, but it often seems like fitness fans fall into one category or the other. Yogis may gush over the mind, body, and soul trifecta experience of the practice, whereas Pilates aficionados swear by their intensely focused workout mode.

But the reality is, yoga and Pilates share many qualities and benefits. In fact, many people see these as complementary practices—and choose to do both yoga and Pilates for optimal mental and physical fitness.

While yoga's roots stretch back thousands of years, Pilates is relatively new. Joseph Pilates created this system in the 1920s as a way to rehabilitate bedridden soldiers during World War I. It has come a long way since then. 

Today, there are two main forms of Pilates, reformer and mat. Both are low-impact and focus on building the core while strengthening the whole body. A reformer class uses a machine with spring resistance while most mat classes, as the name suggests, only require a mat to incorporate body-weight resistance.

Yoga is an ancient practice from India, which has transformed and grown in the West over the past several decades. There are many types of yoga, from fast-paced vinyasa to slow and restorative practices like yin yoga. But all types of yoga practice share certain characteristics.

Although yoga and Pilates share many benefits, the practices vary. "Pilates strengthens the body with the main focus being the core," Mauck says.

Yoga, however, doesn't center the practice around any one area of the body; its consistent focus is the breath. Pilates also incorporates breathing but in a different way. "The breathwork in yoga is used for relaxation, while the breathwork in Pilates is used to energize the muscles," yoga teacher Nathalia Basso says. 

Yoga sequences often include holding poses for multiple breath cycles, while Pilates keeps students moving (except during cool-down stretching). 

Yoga and Pilates are both great forms of fitness for the body and mind. One isn't better than the other, but one might be better for you personally, depending on your goals and fitness disposition. 

Mauck explains that Pilates can be "less intimidating than yoga" to some individuals. "For many people with different types of ailments, they don't love the flow and transition portion of yoga because it's too challenging for them," she says. She points out, however, that there are modifications and props available to make yoga accessible to people of varying fitness levels.  

Physical differences aside, many people choose yoga or Pilates based on the emotional and spiritual result that they want. Personally, when I leave a Pilates class, I always feel great—accomplished, fit, and standing taller. But post-yoga, I feel all of those things and a sense of "yoga," in its literal meaning of union. My body, spirit, and mind are united by the practice. 

Weight loss is another area where there's no clear winner between yoga and Pilates. Both can support weight-management goals. "Yoga and Pilates can be very intense forms of exercise," Mauck says.

When comparing Pilates and yoga, there's no clear victor—both are excellent for staying mentally and physically fit. Luckily, you don't have to pick one. Even Joseph Pilates considered them great complementary practices. Grinter points out, "There's much evidence that Joseph Pilates did yoga."  

If you're ready to get started with Pilates and yoga, there are great resources online to launch you on your journey. mindbodygreen's guide to a 10-minute Pilates session is a perfect place to begin—and only requires a mat. To get in a yoga groove, start with a beginner's guide to cover your bases—or check out this guide for a consistent yoga practice.

Don't spend too much time deciding where to start or debating Pilates versus yoga. Your body will thank you for getting on the mat either way!