Pilates or Yoga?

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I'm looking for tone, rather than strength or any kind of bulk. (I actually have good muscular strength.) I don't need to burn calories (any more than I already am), but I would like to gain flexibility and tone.

Do you have any opinions about whether Pilates or Yoga would be a better choice for me? Have you tried one or the other? Have you tried both? Are there certain areas that either program excels in? I'm not necessarily interested in a sales pitch (why I'm not talking to studios at this point), just some honest feedback about each type of training. Thanks for your help.

tone (ie visible muscular definition) is about level of body fat and level of body fluid.
The best thing to do for that is cardio.

Bodybuilders etc (and many fat loss supplements you see) dehydrate themselves so there is no water, to increase their definition. This is unhealthy long term and I wouldnt reccomend it. The supplements are nothing more than glorified diuretics.

Pilates and yoga are as much about increasing any core strength as they are about flexibility.

If you want a pure increased flexibility, then I would advise spending your time stretching in a warm environment (sauna etc) and post exercise.

Things to try for better stretching benefit:
PNF stretching (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) this is basically stretching where you actively resist the stretch (engage muscles) then relax and during that moment when you relax, increasing the stretch applied.

Dynamic stretching - eg to increase hamstring flexibility, swing leg back and forward like kicking a ball. Try and swing higher and higher (letting leg relax toward top of swing and momentum stretches leg).

Remember: stretching SHOULD be uncomfortable (you need to push the boundaries). But it should not be painful.

If you insist on choosing just pilates or yoga then I would definitely say yoga. Preferably bikram yoga as it is done in a hot room and that helps increase flexibility.

Yoga has an implied "spiritual" aspect (which you dont have to believe in).
Due to its background it has some very weird positions to "enhance your energy centres". It is this unusual background that means more flexibility is needed in each pose compared to Pilates.
Yoga also deals with other aspects, like breathing exercises to strengthen lungs and more efficiently use air.


Pilates is more clinical. It is a more effective use of your time if you want to stress your smaller balancing muscles and your core muscles. Moves are designed to have maximum load on these small muscles. There are a few positions which require some flexibility and (depending on who is running it) a few stretching focused moves.

I used to do yoga but dont so much any more and do mainly pilates.

my best videos are

rodney yee yoga

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7SMqs570Dw[/youtube]

suzanne bowen pilates
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dMQAdXX7uU[/youtube]

tracy anderson mat work
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwUsO4gXWCY[/youtube]

Thanks @lotusblossom!