Torn between using your ClassPass credits on your favorite upbeat barre class or that shake-worthy Pilates sesh? While the modalities have a lot in common (they both draw influence from yoga and dance and even share some of their movements, for example), depending on your goals, you might actually want to do one over the other.
Keep in mind that it’s most important to do what you like the most. Since these exercises are similar, they share a lot of benefits like increased flexibility and mobility and better posture. The best exercise is the kind that you’ll do consistently because you enjoy it. And also: There’s room for both barre and Pilates in your workout repertoire. “I wouldn’t pick one over the other,” says Kathy Bambace Salvo, director of Evolve Yoga, Pilates & Barre Programming at Chelsea Piers Fitness. “If you can do both, I would.”
But, if you are chasing a specific goal—full-body toning, a stronger core, maximum burn—here’s how the two stack up against each other.
