UK fitness enthusiasts prefer Pilates to yoga, survey shows

Nearly 70% of the poll preferred Pilates to yoga
Most respondents believe Pilates is “more dynamic”
As more Premier League clubs use Pilates, public awareness will increase

New research from HFE – a leading provider of health and fitness instructor qualifications – reveals that most fitness bloggers, personal trainers and everyday gym-goers would prefer to take part in a Pilates classes, rather than yoga.

The data, which was obtained via an online poll that accompanied an infographic designed and published by the company, showed that nearly 70% of the respondents favoured Pilates, while just over 30% opted for yoga. Participants in the survey were encouraged to explain the reasoning behind their decision, and the majority of those who chose Pilates classes said they were generally “more dynamic”. Meanwhile, more than half of Pilates advocates said this form of exercise enabled them to “tone up and de-stress” more.

More and more people are enrolling on Pilates and yoga qualifications, with an increasing number of gyms and health clubs across the UK employing qualified personal trainers in order to cater for this demand. HFE Managing Director, Lee Cain, confirmed that the amount of people looking to become Pilates and yoga instructors has risen sharply in the past two years, and he believes this can be attributed to the increase in conditions associated with stressful and sedentary jobs. Stress, lower back, neck, shoulder pain being some of the more common of these.

“Pilates and yoga are not new concepts – in fact they are far from it. Yoga has been around for thousands of years, while Pilates can be traced back to the early 20th Century,” he commented.

“However, there has been a real sea change in the way we exercise in the past five to ten years, and more people are looking to take part in regular Pilates and yoga classes, which has heaped more pressure on gyms to provide these services to their members. They are also services that health clubs struggle most to find quality instructors for.”

“Aside from the usual cardio and weights that we use in the gym, we’re increasingly keen to enhance our core strength and tone up our bodies. We’re also far more aware of our mental wellbeing than we perhaps were in previous generations, which explains why Pilates and yoga are so popular in 2014.”

One common theme to emerge from the poll was the huge benefits that Pilates can bring to people who are suffering from injuries or long-term pain. As well as enabling postural improvements, Pilates is ideal for easing lower back pain, stiffness in the hips and tightness in the shoulders.

Mr Cain added that many professional sports stars and athletes have now incorporated Pilates into their training regimes, as it is proven to boost core strength and aid flexibility.

“From the data obtained through our recent poll, we learned that fitness enthusiasts generally prefer the extra physicality that you get from doing Pilates instead of yoga. Indeed, many of the respondents said that they ‘felt like they’d done a proper workout’ following a Pilates session,” he continued.

“Top football managers, including the likes of Harry Redknapp, have sung the praises of Pilates in the past few years, claiming that regular sessions have helped to keep pro athletes supple. As more high-profile people promote this type of exercise, it’s inevitable that the public will continue to buy into it in the future, which is why Britain needs more experienced Pilates instructors who hold relevant qualifications.”

About HFE:

Health & Fitness Education is a leading provider of personal trainer and fitness instructor courses in the UK. The company offers numerous qualifications in Pilates, yoga, nutrition and weight management, outdoor training and many other forms of exercise.