Low-impact exercise has taken over our Instagram feeds and workout routines. Perhaps you’re one of the many who has swapped HIIT for stretching or heavy weights for slower, bodyweight-focused training.

These calming practices promise to benefit our nervous systems and mental health, but finding the right low-impact workout style is just as important as deciding between hypertrophy, strength and cardio in the gym. Two of the most popular, barre and pilates, can look pretty similar from the outside: both involve isometric work and flows, primarily use body weight over additional resistance and are famed for burning those smaller muscles. So what’s the difference, and which is right for you? 

We know that barre and pilates are both focused on strengthening and stretching the muscles. Many of the exercises you do in class are similar too, from leg pulses to ab roll-ups. The key difference is that barre is more high energy than pilates, says Chiara Lewis, personal trainer and founder of pilates, barre and yoga space Total Body Studio.

“Pilates is about holistic movement. In class, you’ll be focusing on your breathing and connecting with your body as much as moving it. In a barre class, you’ll be focusing on choreography and moving at a faster pace,” she explains. “Take the ab curl as an example – in pilates, you’ll be lifting really slowly as you take a breath and slowly rolling down while you exhale. In barre, you might lift up, pulse in time to music, then lower back down.” 

This difference comes down to the foundations of each workout. While pilates was designed by Joseph Pilates as a form of rehabilitation, barre is based on the principles of ballet and gets its name from the bar placed in front of the mirror that’s used for stability and stretching. 

“Both workouts improve posture, increase your range of flexibility and strengthen your muscles while being totally low impact, and the two are very intertwined and influenced by similar ideas,” explains barre and pilates instructor Rachel Lopez. 

“To me, the main difference is that in barre we isolate muscle groups through high repetition which is incredibly demanding regardless of your experience and is there to really test your stamina. Pilates is the total opposite. The pace in a pilates class is less rapid and we never work to the beat; we work with our breath. The exercises are also more compound – they aim to fire up your core and entire body all at once.” 

Which workout you choose comes down to your preferences and your goals. If you love training with music and moving relatively fast, barre might be the best option for you, while people who prefer yoga or slow movements will probably prefer pilates. But we can’t only choose the exercise we enjoy the most – sometimes, it’s better to do a workout that’ll offer specific benefits.

“Due to the nature of the pace of the class, a pilates class would be more appropriate than barre for someone who has just started exercising or is returning from injury,” says Lopez. That’s because pilates teaches basic form and technique that is useful in every type of workout down the line: how to engage your core, tuck your pelvis, squeeze your glutes and maintain a long spine. “Barre uses these same principles but it’s harder to instruct and correct every single muscle group in class when you’re moving at a faster pace,” adds Lewis. 

Pilates isn’t only for beginners though. If you already have a solid workout routine but are looking for some low-impact classes to work alongside it, then you’re probably best off with pilates. “I always recommend pilates to those who love their strength programming. That’s because pilates isn’t as exhausting on the muscles that are likely already well-worked in the gym, and can help you find the mobility and flexibility that will improve your lifting form,” says Lopez.

“I often find that pilates is a struggle for those who find it difficult to slow down and focus, but it’s really good for your mental health to drop into that slow state. For others who don’t do much cardio or feel the endorphin rush after a fast-paced class, barre could be a great option for your mindset.”

Which would you prefer? 

Images: Getty