Can I replace strength training with yoga and pilates?

I really do not enjoy lifting weights, but I love yoga and pilates. Can I just do total body yoga and pilates instead of lifting weights and stuff?

I don't see why not; plenty of people use their own body weight as resistance training.

It completely depends on what your expectations are, of course.  Great for building lean muscle and a certain degree of strength -- that is, strength to move your own body around, but not so much for moving other objects around, great for balance & posture.

I want lean muscle and tone. I don't really mind if i'm not the strongest person ever.

:)  Sounds like yoga & pilates are a good match for you, then.

I'm pretty sure that yoga can build your ability to lift objects. Arm balancing postures are not easy to do; a person essentially places their entire weight upon their biceps and triceps.

I do Yoga every Tuesday (I also do weight training one day a week) as well as the Elliptical five days a week.  I can tell that I am getting the same amount of workout on tuesdays with Yoga as on Thursday with weights.  Although instructors can really make a difference.  My usual one really pushes you to  work your muscles hard as well as balance and stretching to limits I wasn't aware that people could.  But for the last two weeks I had a sub that was more into the spiritual side of it and tranquility.  I didn't feel as though I worked hard enough in those two weeks.

There are a lot of different kinds of yoga. Ashtanga yoga, for example, is really cardio and will make you sweat and build muscle. Hatha yoga, the other really popular kind, varies much more. Some instructors are very meditative and easy on the body, others will help you push yourself, to varying degrees, in which case you will develop more muscle and flexibility.

I recommend you check out the yoga places in your area and try different classes to see what really works for you. But if you want to do yoga, I'm sure you can find something that works with your goals.

Well, the exercise you actually do is way better than the theoretically perfect one that you don't.

 And as Sarah said, it's completely dependent on your goals - and note that you can do ginormously well with just bodyweight and altering your leverage as gymnasts demonstrate.

  Now, lifting weights is more effective, mind you. But fun keeps you doing things, and I don't see efficiency having that effect.

 I think that in the long run you're better off doing something you'll stick with even if it's theoretically less than perfect. Though I do hope you'll keep on lifting things once or twice a week even when you change focus - it helps you build stronger bones :)

i personally had trouble with arm balancing postures.  i built up enough muscle with sun salutations and the triangle series to hold my up dogs and chaturanga dandasana, but i could never do a tricep pushup or hold my full-body weight on my hands with just the strength of my arms and abs.

i've been working with a trainer, lifting more weights and have noticed considerable improvement with my yoga practice. i can throw in a tricep pushup  between the plank and chaturanga transition during the sun salutations!  it's so much more fun being stronger because it allows you to do the  more complex poses...i mean, flexibility also allows for this, but strength holds it.  i dunno, i'm rambling now, i'll stop!  haha.

you'll get to a point in your practice when flexibility is not enough.  but perhaps you can push yourself harder in your classes than i could!

Hmmm well, I think I'll do some strength training about once a week and then do yoga one day and pilates the other day. Thanks for all your input!

Just to be clear, Pilates IS strength training. The reformer, the cadillac, the wunda chair, they're all resistance training. A good mat class is certainly a lot of core work, but should also include upper body work and isolated leg work. 

So yes, you can absolutely replace traditional weight lifting with Pilates. While I was going through my Pilates certification course and for months afterwards all I did was Pilates, no lifting at all, and I didn't lose muscle tone. In fact, my butt got higher!  Have you ever seen a picture of Joseph Pilates? Or Rael Isacowitz? Take a look and try to tell me Pilates isn't strength training!

That said, I also enjoy traditional weight training, and try to fit in 2 sessions a week, one upper body and one lower (and thanks to Pilates my form is much, much, better). 

Most importantly wanna, do what you enjoy. And switch it up. I know I'm enjoying my weight training more now because I took a break from it for almost a year.

Good luck!