Yoga and Pilates enthusiasts tout their workouts with a religious zeal, boasting about the life-changing physical and mental benefits they confer. In the past several years, scientists have been studying what these activities really can and can't—do for the body.
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Yoga originated in India some 5000 years ago and slowly evolved into a western phenomenon, while Pilates was devised by a German anatomist in the early 20th century and in a short time gained a lot of popularity across the globe.
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Both the forms of workout focus on using bodyweight resistance and offer several health benefits. They help to manage your stress levels, increase flexibility, strength and increase overall fitness, leading to a better quality of life.
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Pilates: The basic principle of pilates involves concentration, control, center, flow, precision, and breathing. It is good for those looking to build core strength, improve their posture, balance, and flexibility. There are different forms of pilates and mat pilates in the most common one.
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Yoga: It helps to improve flexibility and connect our mind with your body. It is an integration of emotion, action, and intelligence. Yoga is a perfect combination of exercise, breathing, and meditation. There are different kinds of yoga like Vinyasa yoga, Hatha yoga, Iyengar yoga, Kundalini yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Bikram yoga and others.
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Pilates: Expect a 50-minute beginner workout to burn about 175 calories; an advanced, between 255 and 375 calories. You would probably need to do a 45- to 60-minute advanced routine at least four days a week to maintain or lose weight. Pilates is more about toning your core muscles that lie deep in the abdomen, while yoga promotes overall flexibility and calms your mind.
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Yoga: A 50-minute hatha class will burn about 145 calories; a power yoga class, about 250. If your goal is dropping pounds, experts recommend you do a high-intensity activity, like jogging, as well (a 50-minute jog burns about 550 calories). One study found, however, that people who practiced yoga regularly gained less weight during their midlife years than their nonpracticing peers.
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Both forms of workout are excellent in their own way. Which one is better for you entirely depends on your fitness goal and health condition.
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