You can probably still remember the craze of yoga in the late 1990's and although yoga training is still very popular it has driven the popularity of pilates more recently. However, despite the reports of the benefits that can be experienced by yoga and pilates, many have questioned how they can experience the physical benefits of either of the methods due to a lack of understanding.

Both pilates methods and yoga methods have unique approaches to fitness and can provide significant benefits. This is done by conditioning and strengthening the body through isometric movements.

Pilates

This exercise program was created in Germany by Joseph Pilates. As a consequence of his poor childhood health Pilates created his own system that he used to overcome the illnesses he experienced. His method was also taught to internees during his time in an internment camp during World War 1. During this time many people died from a flu epidemic to hit, but amazingly none of those that were students of Pilates did. Pilates eventually settled in New York City where he opened a studio to teach his fitness moves and methods. During his life Pilates taught thousands of people his exercises and the techniques are still practiced today.

Yoga

Yoga is a much more recognizable fitness technique as the benefits of yoga are often reported in the media. It has also been around for many more years than pilates. Yoga was created in Northern India over five thousand years ago, and in its early period was practiced by Vedic priests.

What is known as classical yoga can be attributed to Patanjali. Patanjali expanded yoga in many broader techniques and meanings, which developed into tantric yoga which aimed to cleanse the body and mind. The yoga positions and techniques as we know them today were formed much more recently at around the beginning of the twentieth century. The increase in popularity of yoga coincides with the traveling of Indian yogi to western countries to share the variety of methods (ashtanga yoga, bikram yoga, Iyengar yoga, to name a few). Many yoga positions and methods have strong spiritual beliefs, but the modern method of hatha yoga relies more heavily on yoga positions to maintain flexibility and strength.

Comparing Pilates to Yoga

Purely on a historic level you can see that their is a big difference in how and when yoga and pilates were established. However both methods concentrate on strengthening and building up the muscles of the body using its own resistance. For someone who isn't familiar with either technique it can seem as though there isn't really any difference between the movements of them. Yoga and pilates follow separate routes though.

Pilates isn't the most difficult method of exercise to get the hang of. There aren't many positions and movements that are difficult as they are pretty straightforward techniques. A good way to get into pilates is to join a class that is being held so you can sample a few pilates exercises. In order to experience maximum results however the methods should be practiced each day. You can begin pilates using minimal equipment and machines, although as you become more advanced in the method you may want to invest in some pilates gym equipment to create a good pilates home gym to practice. One of the best ways to find appropriate equipment, and to find some detailed free pilates exercises is online.

There are a wide variety of methods to yoga, such as tantric, lyengar, and kundalini. The most common method though (in the United States at least) is hatha yoga. This method is geared more towards those that those that appreciate the time to slow down, be quiet, and meditate, although can be a bit too slow for first timers to yoga. Like pilates, yoga also does not require much equipment (other than possibly buying a mat), and even if you chose to purchase a bit of extra equipment there are plenty of discount yoga apparel items on sale online.

Both yoga and pilates are great for aerobic fitness and are fun exercises to become involved in. I highly suggest taking a look around at the various moves to demonstrate what they're all about. The video demonstration above shows a good example of some of the moves involved with yoga.