Pilates or Yoga or Strength Training?
Why Strength Training Makes Everything Better
I see so many Pilates instructors that I follow also doing strength training.
I see soooo many spin class instructors also doing strength training.
I see yoga instructors getting under barbells and pulling heavy weights all. the. time.
Why? Because while all of those modalities are beneficial, none of them should be our only form of exercise.
Pilates is amazing for core strength and control. Spin will test your endurance and light your lungs on fire. Yoga builds mobility, balance, and body awareness. But strength training fills in the gaps — and, honestly, makes every one of those practices better.
The Foundation of Strength
Here’s the thing: your body adapts specifically to the demands you place on it. If you only ride a bike, you’ll build cardiovascular endurance, but your bones won’t get much stronger. If you only stretch, you’ll improve mobility but not necessarily stability.
Strength training creates the foundation that allows all of those other modalities to shine. Stronger muscles support better posture in Pilates. A stronger lower body means more power in your spin class. A stronger core and back protect your joints in yoga poses.
It’s the base that makes the roof possible.
Why It Matters Beyond the Gym
As a married dad of three, I don’t just want to perform well in the gym — I want to keep up with my kids, carry them when they’re tired, and not feel wrecked after a weekend project in the yard. Strength training builds the durability for that.
It also does things the other modalities simply don’t:
- Bone density: Lifting heavy weights stimulates bone growth. This is crucial as we age and want to avoid osteoporosis.
- Metabolism: Muscle is metabolically active tissue. More muscle means you burn more calories at rest, which helps long-term weight management.
- Joint protection: Strong muscles act like armor for your joints, reducing wear and tear.
How It Supports Your Other Training
- Pilates + Strength Training: Pilates improves control and stability, but adding strength work helps you express that control under load. Think of being able to hold a perfect plank and then carry that stability into a heavy farmer’s carry.
- Spin + Strength Training: Spinning lights up your quads, but strength training balances things out by building glutes and hamstrings. This makes you faster on the bike and less prone to overuse injuries.
- Yoga + Strength Training: Yoga teaches you flexibility and balance. Strength training adds stability to that range of motion, so you’re not just bendy but also strong and controlled through that movement.
How Much Do You Need?
You don’t need to live in the gym. Two to three strength training sessions per week is enough to make a huge difference. Think big, compound lifts: squats, deadlifts, presses, pulls. Add accessory work if you have time.
The goal isn’t to replace your Pilates, spin, or yoga — it’s to give them a stronger, more resilient foundation.
The Bottom Line
Do your Pilates. Ride your spin bike. Train for your endurance event. Flow through your yoga practice.
But also, strength train. Lift heavy weights 2–3 days a week.
It’ll make everything else you do — and your life outside the gym — better.
👉 Ready to start lifting with a purpose? Book a free no sweat intro here.
