If you're looking for a practice that will help you to build full body strength, improve movement control and mobility, Pilates is the right choice for you.

Let's get specific:

Pilates is a practice that is focused on building strength in the global and foundational muscles of the body, including the abdominals, back and pelvis. Pilates exercises are designed to activate and engage these muscles to strengthen, increase motor control and improve proprioception (body balance). If you're looking to improve your full-body strength and stability, Pilates will be a great help.

Unlike yoga, which often includes flowing movements with little resistance, Pilates exercises are controlled, precise and use repetition. This focus on controlled through range and pulsing movements allows you to build strength and endurance in a safe and effective way. By working with control, you'll also develop body awareness and coordination.

While yoga can be practiced with just a mat, Pilates often involves the use of props such as the small Pilates ball, fitness circles, dumbbells and fitballs. Larger specialised Pilates equipment includes the Reformer, the Cadillac, Wunda Chair and Barrel. This equipment can add resistance and either support or challenge to Pilates exercises, changing the way your workout feels. The only limit to Pilates exercise is imagination!

From a physiotherapeutic point of view, Pilates is a brilliant rehab tool as the exercises are low-impact and focused on controlled movements. These exercises can also be tailored to treat the person's physical deficits very well. Additionally, consistently building strength and control with Pilates exercises will assist with injury prevention, as strong muscles with fine-tuned proprioceptive abilities help to protect your body from harm.

Like yoga, Pilates emphasises the mind-body connection, but in a different way. While yoga places a greater emphasis on meditation and relaxation, Pilates focuses on precision and control. This assists with building motor control in large dynamic patterns to create and strengthen new neural pathways in the brain. This is brilliant for deepening your understanding of how the body moves.

Both Pilates and yoga will provide brilliant physical and mental health benefits when practiced consistently.

Remember: they can be practiced together! You don't always have to choose one over the other, but it ultimately depends on what you want out of the exercise!