People often think yoga and Pilates are the same thing, but they each have their own focus and benefits. Pilates gives you strength and control, while yoga brings flexibility and calmness. Put them together for a routine that supports your body and mind.
Here’s how you can get the benefit from doing both yoga and Pilates:
Building strength with Pilates
Pilates was initially developed to help people recover from injuries. This low-impact practice focuses on deep stabiliser muscles, and it’s all about precise, controlled movements. It can be done on a mat or with designated equipment, like the reformer.
Most Pilates exercises centre on the core — the muscles that support your spine and pelvis. While a stronger core can make you appear more toned, it also makes everyday movements safer and easier. Correct body alignment leads to improved posture.
Build a solid foundation by adding Pilates to your weekly routine. Its benefits also extend to practising yoga. Suddenly, holding a plank or flowing into Warrior III doesn’t feel quite as shaky, because your stabilising muscles are already firing.
Finding flexibility and calm through yoga
Yoga emphasises flexibility, breath and presence. It helps release tight muscles, especially after a tough Pilates session where you’ve been engaging your body in small, controlled movements. Stretching into poses like downward dog or pigeon allows your muscles to recover and lengthen.
Yoga also invites you to slow down, focus on your breath and reconnect with yourself. It’s a great way to relieve stress, clearing mental clutter and encouraging your mind to focus on the present. This mental shift is a perfect counterbalance to the concentration required in Pilates. One makes you stronger, while the other helps you soften.Â
Balance is another perk of practising yoga. It’s full of one-legged poses and flowing transitions that challenge your coordination. Paired with the stability you build in Pilates, your balance can improve dramatically when you do both practices.
Symbolism that grounds your practice
One of the beautiful things about yoga is the way it connects movement with deeper meaning. For example, the tree pose symbolises patience, calmness and wisdom, as it requires balance and a still, focused effort to stay grounded.
Yoga teaches you to embody these qualities by moving steadily, living mindfully and carrying peace no matter what’s happening outside. This mindset can be incredibly powerful when paired with Pilates, which gives you the foundation of core strength and muscle tone in your body.
The benefits of doing both yoga and Pilates
When you step back and look at the bigger picture, combining Pilates and yoga offers plenty of benefits and creates a workout that checks every box:
- Strength: Pilates builds deep, functional strength, especially in the core.
- Flexibility: Yoga helps stretch and lengthen tight muscles.
- Posture: Pilates improves alignment, while yoga supports spinal health.
- Stress relief: Yoga reduces tension and teaches mindfulness.
- Balance: Both practices improve stability and coordination in different ways.
- Injury prevention: Stronger muscles and better mobility lower your risk of strains or aches.
- Energy boost: Pilates can energise you, while yoga restores and refreshes you.
How to combine yoga and Pilates
There’s no right or wrong way to combine Pilates and yoga. Some people prefer to begin with Pilates for strength training and then transition into yoga for stretching and relaxation. This flow works exceptionally well if you want a complete workout in one session.
Others prefer starting with yoga to gently open the body and mind before diving into Pilates. If you’re someone who feels stiff or tight at the beginning of a workout, this might be the way to go. By the time you hit your Pilates routine, your muscles are warm and ready to engage.
You can also alternate days. This approach spreads out the benefits and keeps your body from feeling overloaded. Some people even take hybrid classes, where the two practices are blended into a single workout. It’s all about experimenting and finding what feels best for you.
Bringing it all together
Pilates and yoga can work together to make you stronger, more stable, calmer and more connected to yourself. Combining these two practices is good for your body and mind.
