What are the similarities between yoga and Pilates?
There are quite a few similarities between the two styles. 

• Both forms require a mind-body connection. This connection facilitates deep concentration, which leads to being fully present in the moment.
• Both forms improve alignment and posture, and create a sense of balance in the body.
• Both forms are excellent for injury prevention, as well as healing and recovery from injury.
• Both forms are concerned with creating a sense of energetic flow through the body, facilitating grace, poise, and coordination.
• Both forms are old--they aren’t just some new fitness fad. Yoga has been around for several thousand years, while Pilates was formed when Joseph Pilates rigged up hospital beds in World War I.

What are some of the main differences between yoga and Pilates?
The most obvious difference is that yoga adds a spiritual element to the mind/body mix. 

• The Indian sage Patanjali wrote the yoga sutras thousands of years ago, describing the spiritual and philosophical path of yoga. The Yamas & Niyamas are yoga's ten ethical guidelines and comprise the first two limbs of Yoga's eight-fold path. A full yoga practice begins with Yama and Niyama, and extends into asana and the other limbs of yoga.
• The Yamas (Social Discipline) include: Ahimsa (Nonviolence), Satya (Truthfulness), Asteya (Nonstealing), Brahmacharya (Sexual Responsibility), and Aparigraha (Nonpossessiveness, abstaining from greed).
• The Niyamas (Invididual Discipline) include: Saucha (Purity/cleanliness), Santosha (Contentment), Tapas (Self-discipline), Svadhyaya (Self Study of Spiritual Path), and Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender).

Other differences between yoga and pilates include:

• The old way of thinking indicates that yoga takes a holistic approach to the body, while Pilates primarily focuses on a specific area called the “powerhouse” or “core.” However, I think Pilates has progressed to being a full, holistic system for the whole body. 
• Pilates builds strength and stability through working in a limited range of motion, while yoga improves flexibility by increasing the range of motion in the body.
• Yoga offers tools to aid in relaxation, relieving stress, and meditation.
• Although both Pilates and yoga work on strength and flexibility at the same time, they way they do it is different. In general, I’d say Pilates is little more geared towards strength, and yoga towards flexibility.
• Breathing is a major focus of both forms, but the technique is very different. In yoga we breathe into and out of the nose only. The belly rises and falls with the breath, which is natural ‘everyday’ breathing. In Pilates we inhale through the nose (sniff) and exhale through the mouth (blow). The reason for this is to keep the deep abdominals engaged throughout an exercise, rather than having the belly puff up with breath, thereby losing abdominal support. Pilates breathing is specific to doing Pilates, and is NOT your everyday type of breath.
• Another difference is a more “muscles and bone” deviation. In backbends--let’s look at  cobra (yoga) vs. swan dive (Pilates)--the legs are kept parallel in the yoga version, and kept in turnout in the Pilates version. As I understand it, in yoga, the idea is to keep the low back and sacrum area very wide and broad, so the legs are parallel. In Pilates, the idea is to easily roll the hips over the femurs (top of the thigh bone), so the legs are turned out and a bit wider. Both forms are trying to minimize compression to the low back and create more extension (or backbend) in the upper back. I find that one way usually feels better to someone than the other way.

Why is the combination of Yoga, Pilates, Somatic Exercise and Fascial Focused Movement so beneficial?
There are many elements that compliment one another:

• The stronger core body developed in Pilates gives the student confidence to go deeper into their yoga practice--safely. This strength and stability also assists the yoga student of doing the asana with more “ease” (less effort), which is a goal listed in the yoga sutras.
• Yoga and Somatics create more flexibility which in turn makes the Pilates more accessible.
• The concentration required in a somatics session or Pilates workout really helps build your focus for doing the yoga asanas (poses), pranayama (breathing techniques), and meditation. 
• The brain integration inherent in the somatics work makes the yoga and Pilates practices hold better and become more permanent.
• The detailed awareness of anatomy in Myofascial Release and Pilates, combined with the ability to isolate muscle groups assists the yoga student, helping them make good choices and work correctly. 
• The myofascial release work are so specific that you become more aware of what is going on with your body. It reveals different things than movements or exercises.
  
• The fascial hydration movements are more rhythmic, and work the tissue differently than traditional movements like yoga or pilates. It contributes to your body's soft tissues ability to adapt to stresses (injuries, extreme movements), and then RETURN to a soft, elastic state.
  
• Doing all of these techniques develops a deeper “tool kit,” providing more information and more resources to draw from.

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Photo credits: Michael Fruehmann (header)