According to a recent HFE opinion poll, 70% of fitness enthusiasts in the UK, which included regular gym-goers and trainee fitness professionals, would rather participate in Pilates than yoga. While there are significant advantages associated with both modes of exercise, it’s clear that Pilates holds more appeal among those we questioned.

What is it about Pilates that people prefer?

As well as confirming which of the approaches is most popular, our poll also encouraged people to explain why they favoured one approach over the other.

The most common response was that Pilates “is more dynamic” and “it is better suited to those who are hoping to lose weight and tone up”. Several of those polled stated that Pilates “feels like a proper workout”, while others suggested that it was a more “fun” way to increase their heart rate.

Another response highlighted by fewer participants suggested that “Pilates is more beneficial to people who are struggling with an injury, particularly those who regularly suffer from back pain, neck problems, tightness in the shoulders and hip-related injuries.”

Another person added “Postural improvements occur at a remarkable rate [when doing Pilates]. Lower back pain, hip pain, and tightness in the shoulder areas are improved rapidly following a series of workouts.”

This information provides an interesting snapshot of what people think of Pilates and yoga, and what they are looking to achieve from their workouts.

Pilates and yoga are not new approaches to exercise – far from it. However, the popularity of these two approaches has risen significantly in recent years and has been helped by numerous celebrity endorsements and inspirational stories of people who have used both approaches to good effect.

Why do qualified instructors matter?

One of the respondents who opted for yoga over Pilates made the point that they had found a great yoga instructor who manages to get the best out of them.

“I love and honour my instructor’s knowledge and skill. I also prefer the balance and breathing cadence of yoga,” they wrote. Adding to this point, one of the respondents who chose Pilates said they believe the standard of teaching is getting far better from instructor to instructor.

As yoga and Pilates continue to grow in popularity, it’s vital that gyms and health clubs hire enough qualified instructors to meet the demand. As things stand, this is something they are struggling to do, but we’re confident things will soon change.

With more people studying towards a Level 3 Diploma in Mat Pilates, online Pilates teacher training and undertaking Level 3 Yoga Teacher Training courses, the number of qualified instructors is increasing year on year, which means you’ll find it even easier to locate a teacher who you can trust.

In fact, it has never been easier to achieve a Pilates or yoga teacher training course online, with advances in online learning technology alongside the different methods of study available.

There are also more and more dedicated Pilates studios opening throughout the UK offering specialised forms of the method, like reformer Pilates for example.

Check out our infographic below which compares yoga and Pilates in more detail, including the facts and figures around both forms of exercise.

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<img src=”https://www.hfe.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/hfe-info-graphic2-2.jpg” alt=”Yoga vs Pilates Infographic”></br><a href=”https://www.hfe.co.uk/blog/why-70-percent-of-people-would-rather-do-pilates-than-yoga/”>HFE</a>

HFE Disclaimer: The information and opinions explained in this article are not those of Health and Fitness Education. They are merely the responses we received from our recent opinion poll. 

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