As a Pilates instructor I have taught a wide variety of clients as young as 14 and as old as 70 but still women tend to dominate my classes. I do get the occasional man but usually because they have been told by a health professional i.e a Chiropractor, to attend due to a back injury. Most men think of Pilates as an “easy” mode of exercise or a “gentle” workout that’s more for old ladies than it is for fit young men. How wrong could they be!
Pilates was developed by a man, on a man’s body. It’s been a training vehicle for elite athletes, both men and women, for over 50 years. Core strength, flexibility, balance, uniform development, and efficient movement patterns – all are hallmarks of Pilates training and highly relevant to men’s fitness. The integrative component of Pilates can be especially beneficial for men, whose workouts often emphasize a part-by-part approach to muscular development, such as what one finds in weightlifting.
Pilates, by contrast, emphasizes moving from the center of the body, the powerhouse, and developing core strength in the deep muscles of the center to stabilise the trunk and protect the back. This kind of core training makes Pilates an excellent technique for whole-body fitness, as well as a foundation for cross training with other kinds of sports and exercise.
Don’t just take my word for it, read a testimonial from one of my clients below.
“I went on about how much good the classes were doing me SO often that my husband finally relented and started coming along. From the first day he’s also been hooked and now sees it as an important core strength-building technique that has improved his running, swimming and general strength”
Read my pages on the benefits of Pilates and come and see for yourself that Pilates is not just for Women and start reaping the benefits!