Men And Pilates

My first Pilates instructor was male. My training instructors were both men, and some of the most known and respected Pilates masters are men. Let’s also not forget that Joseph Pilates was, well, male. So why aren’t more men doing Pilates? The first thing that most men say when you tell them they should try Pilates is ‘I thought that was for women?’ Or, my favorite: ‘It’s too easy’. There is a common misconception that Pilates is an exercise method solely for women or dancers. Quite the contrary; in fact, when Joseph Pilates created the method of Contrology, or what we now call Pilates, it was formulated for men. A lot of the archival photos of Pilates show him teaching mostly men.

It has widely been accepted that having a strong core is the key to achieving a more stable spine. All of your power originates from your core and therefore a stronger core, gives you more power. The power to stand taller, cycle farther, run more efficiently, swim longer and so on. Having a strong core-not just ‘six pack abs’, but all of the muscles that make up the ‘core’, helps prevent injury that traditional workouts do not. The emphasis on building a strong cage is one of the fundamentals of the Pilates method and in this way it is unique. The specific exercises promote length in the muscles, proper alignment and optimal functioning of the muscles in conjunction with the organs.

Gone are the days of biceps the size of tires and upper traps that look like logs. There is the idea that ‘the more weight I can lift, the stronger I am’. That isn’t really true. While you may be able to use brut force to lift that 50lb weight, what are you doing to your joints, your neck, your wrists your spine? I can promise you, it’s not good things. All of my male clients have not only told me they see the difference in their physical appearance (they feel longer, leaner and taller), but that they feel inner strength, have more energy and feel less ‘compressed’.

Here is just a short list of why Smart Men should do Pilates:

-You will lean out and gain more definition in your muscles because the exercises create balance. You aren’t just working the large muscle groups that traditional weightlifting focus on. You are working all of the tiny little muscles, which help to create that lean long and balanced physique.

-Your posture will improve. Who wouldn’t want to stand up straighter and appear taller? While not giving you actual inches; because of the lengthening nature of the exercises and the strengthening of the core, a Pilates trained body stands taller. Better posture can also alleviate back and neck pain.

-You won’t need to live by the motto of ‘No Pain, No Gain’ anymore. Pilates challenges your muscles without straining the joints so you can practice Pilates well into your Golden Years.

-You are protecting your body from injury. Why do you think so many male athletes do Pilates? They use it to rehab from injury and they also use it to prevent it. LeBron James famously tweeted a photo of himself training on a Reformer during the 2012 Summer Olympics. If a 7ft plus man can feel comfortable doing Pilates, you can too!

-It’s never boring. Traditional gym routines can get monotonous. Legs on Tuesday; arms on Wednesday… Same exercises, same reps, the only thing that may change is the weight. With Pilates, there is an infinite amount of variations of exercises that can be done on each apparatus AND you work the whole body each time you work out.

-You will gain the flexibility and balance that you never thought existed. Most men have very tight muscles; especially the hamstrings. Wouldn’t it be great to touch your toes? OR, how about wouldn’t it be great to not pull said hamstring when bending over to tie your shoe?

-Pilates is wonderful for cross training because it helps build endurance and stamina. And the increased flexibility and improved range of motion will only increase your performance in other forms of fitness.

-You will move through your every day activities with more ease and less pain because of the emphasis on building a strong core.

-You may gain the ability to focus more. Because there is a strong emphasis on focus and doing the exercises correctly, you gain a certain kind of insight to your mind and body that traditional working out does not offer.

As Pilates instructors, we understand that it is really hard for men to break out of the gym mentality. Even if you aren’t a regular gym person, you have an image of what men and exercise should be like or look like. Pilates takes that image and turns it on its head. Pilates can be an amazing eye opener not only into the body but the mind. So men, forget all the preconceived notions that Pilates is just for women and get on that Reformer (or mat or barrel or Cadillac…)!!

Men and Pilates..There Are More Benifits Than You Know!

MEN AND PILATES

Credit The Pilates Blog for content

People sometimes ask me for predictions about Pilates because I do have a unique perspective, being as tuned into Pilates online as I am. And I pay attention enough to have a sense of the Pilates related topics that are peaking on the web at any given time, though I don't always see myself as an authority on industry trends. Now that I've given you a context for my prediction, I will tell you why I think this will be a good year for men in Pilates.
It's not because the term "Pilates for men" is rocking the net, it's not. What I see is a broader trend that has to do with the convergence of men being more comfortable with Pilates, and the Pilates industry, teachers in particular, being more serious about making Pilates classes appealing to men. I'm not alone in my prediction by the way. IBISWorld reported in 2012 that men and boomers were projected to lead a steady upward trend in Pilates and yoga.
I have written many times that Pilates is for men, as well as women. It was founded by a man.  The exercises, the underlying principles, and the equipment are all very appropriate to fitness for men. And, of course, men have been doing and teaching Pilates since the beginning.  However, along the way, Pilates did become associated with women's fitness. That made some men uncomfortable, and kept a lot of men from even hearing about or trying Pilates. Simultaneously, more women were taking classes and becoming teachers so Pilates got a little bit feminized, making the idea that Pilates was for women a top Pilates myth.
A few years ago, most women I spoke to had heard of Pilates and had at least some idea what it was. Not so with men. Usually, when I told men I was into Pilates, teaching and writing about it, I was met with a blank stare or an inquisitive, what is Pilates? That almost never happens anymore.
Most men I talk with know about Pilates and are more than a little interested in its benefits. In the past year, as many men as women have written to me inquiring about getting started in Pilates. In the news we've seen reports of professional hockey teams, basketball teams and elite male athletes doing Pilates as well as men liking it for general fitness, rehab, and cross training purposes. I've even noticed a trend of men moving into teaching Pilates as a second career. .
While men are coming toward Pilates, I am happy to say Pilates is moving toward men. Not that it wasn't before, lots of good work has been done, but there is a definite uptick in the conversation among instructors about how to work with mens bodies and training needs in mixed classes. I've also noticed more classes specifically for men (granted, in large urban areas) as well as Pilates DVDs for men. I should note however, that there is not a different Pilates for men than for women. Pilates is human body fitness and the same exercises and basics apply to all.
Another place we are seeing more Pilates men is online. Men who do and teach Pilates are participating in promoting Pilates info on social media like facebook and Twitter, as well as making excellent Pilates videos for YouTube and subscription classes such as Pilates Anytime and Pilatesology.
I think the expansion of Pilates into mainstream fitness venues like rec centers and gyms has been helpful in getting more men into Pilates. I also think a lot of men are tracking core fitness back to its source. Whatever the different influences are, it's up to us to continue them. Men need to continue to brave their way into Pilates classes, and instructors, men and women, need to continue reach out and expand the ways we reveal the potential (and history) of Pilates for men's fitness. It would be great to look back at 2013 and say, Yes, that was a tipping point.

The Benefits of Pilates

 The Benefits of Pilates

Pilates has become one of the most popular fitness methods in the United States, although the concept is not particularly new. The routine was devised during the early part of the 20^th century by a German, Joseph Pilate, who was obsessed with restoring his asthmatic body back to health. 

Pilates incorporates movements and exercises from such disciplines as dance, yoga and gymnastics as well as breathing techniques, although the Pilates routine does include some original movements as well. Whereas for some people Pilates is a lifelong commitment, most people will see benefits after just a few sessions.

Most of the 500 movements that comprise the Pilates routine can be practiced on a regular exercise mat with no need for expensive or specialized equipment. Pilates can also be practiced by people of all ages, body types and fitness levels – many people in their 70s practice Pilates.

Players of many sports such as skiing, running, cycling and gymnastics can also benefit from the Pilates program. Pilates is well known as an aid to helping people recover from sports related injuries or strains and dancers can benefit from the movements.

On the other hand, some of the gentler exercises are suitable for pregnant women as they help improve concentration and flexibility while giving birth and assist in recovering the body shape after pregnancy. The gentler exercises also mean that Pilates can be safely and effectively used in physical therapy to help treat injuries.

Virtually all Pilates exercises work on the concept of “centering” which is basically a way of improving posture by strengthening the muscles close to the spine and the abdominal muscles. By concentrating on this group of muscles, grouped together in the center of the body, Pilates is also particularly effective in decreasing the symptoms of lower back pain. And such things as

Many people who practice Pilates find that it leads to improvements in their life such as sitting up straight at a desk, walking straighter and a better sense of balance. Pilates has even helped people who ride horses maintain their balance more effectively, and in some cases has increased a person’s height slightly.

Pilates is what is commonly known as a “no impact” method of exercise – it can be practiced effectively in conjunction with other exercise methods. It is also gentle on the joints of the body and has been proven to counter the effects of over-worked muscles, which otherwise may lead to aches and pains.

One key feature of Pilates is that the series of exercises are designed to improve the mind as well as the body. While doing the exercises you are encouraged to focus and concentrate, which leads to a more relaxed state and better awareness of your body. Practitioners point out that this aspect of the exercises also helps to reduce stress.

Pilates has many other benefits that wouldn’t perhaps normally be associated with an exercise regimen. Practicing Pilates on a regular basis can help alleviate such conditions as urinary incontinence, osteoporosis, sleeplessness and relief from the symptoms of menopause.

Joseph Pilate dies in 1967, leaving as a legacy the many advantages and benefits of his innovative fitness system. Today, Pilates is practiced regularly by around 5 million people - including such famous names as Sharon Stone, Oprah Winfrey and Julia Roberts.

Credit:Princeton University.