What Is the Difference Between Pilates and Yoga?

Victoria Frances Jackson
Oct 12
3 min read

VFJ Pilates | Questions Answered

Pilates and yoga often get grouped together, but they are not the same, and the differences matter.

It is easy to see why the two are often confused. They share some familiar-looking poses, are usually placed together under the “mind, body, and soul” category, and often use slower music or calm cues. But as someone who has practised both and teaches Pilates full-time, I can tell you they are very different in purpose, intention, and execution.

Different Beginnings

Yoga is rooted in ancient philosophy, with its origins dating back thousands of years. It was created as a spiritual and physical discipline to unite mind, body, and breath. Pilates, by contrast, was developed in the 20th century by Joseph Pilates as a rehabilitation and conditioning method. He believed that the body could not heal without the mind and that mindful movement was essential for physical well-being.

Different Intentions

Both systems aim to create a connection between the mind and body, but they do so in different ways. Yoga often explores spiritual awareness and meditative stillness. Pilates uses the principles of concentration, control, and precision to create mental focus, not for stillness, but to ensure that every movement is done with intention and alignment.

Joseph Pilates believed that the body could not heal without the mind, and that movement should never be mindless. The six principles of Pilates, centring, concentration, control, precision, breath, and flow, are all designed to bring greater awareness to how we move and why. In yoga, breath and alignment are also important, but the intention is often more meditative or spiritual.

Different Movements

Yoga typically involves holding poses for several breaths, encouraging release, stillness, or strength within that shape. It often invites softness and openness, particularly through the chest and hips.

Pilates, on the other hand, is a continuous practice. Movements rarely pause. We flow from one to the next, using breath and alignment to control both the effort and the return.

Poses Can Look Similar, But They Are Not

There are plenty of crossover moves like downward dog or bridge, but they are used very differently. In Pilates, we are planks of wood, not snakes. That means no flowing spines, no soft arches. For example, shoulder bridge in yoga might be a spine roll with an arch, often used to help open the chest, but in Pilates we aim for a straight line from shoulders to knees, held strong with core engagement and no arch through the spine.

The same shape does not mean the same purpose, and definitely not the same cueing.

It Is Not Just Stretching

One of the biggest myths I hear is that Pilates is just stretching. It is not. While we include mobility work, the focus is on strength, control, and improving movement patterns. Think of it more like an old-school bums-and-tums class, but set to chilled-out music, with better alignment and much more attention to technique.

Yoga often gets the same misunderstanding, but stretching is just one part of the picture. While many yoga styles do include deep stretches, they also focus on strength, balance, and flexibility through held postures. Props like blocks, straps, and bolsters are commonly used in yoga to support the body, especially when flexibility makes a pose difficult.

In both practices, alignment and control are key, not how far you can stretch.

Which One Should You Choose?

There is no need to pick one over the other, both can be brilliant. It just depends on what you want. If you are looking for a strength-based approach that helps support your back, improve posture, and build full-body awareness, Pilates might be the better fit.

If you are looking to explore breath, find stillness, or connect to movement in a more meditative or spiritual way, then yoga might be the better option for you. It can also be especially helpful for improving flexibility and encouraging mindfulness through held postures and breathing practices.

Yoga and Pilates are not interchangeable, and understanding the difference helps you choose what your body actually needs.

Wishing you ease on your Pilates journey,

Victoria xx

P.S. If you have ever felt unsure about the difference or avoided Pilates because you thought it was just yoga in disguise, I promise it is not, and I am always happy to answer your questions.