Hi there guys, Channy Oddy here again from Authentic Pilates. Today we are going to be touching on a rather interesting topic that comes up often in a lot of the community groups on Facebook. “Can men do Pilates?”
I think the answer here is rather obvious. Joseph Pilates invented his method for men. In fact, he deemed some exercises too difficult for women, and invented other apparatus, for example, the arm chair so that women could perform the exercises as well. As a boxer and a trapeze artist, he wanted to be strong and supple.
Let’s take a deeper look into exactly why Pilates is for men.
Why Is Pilates Perfectly Suited For The Male Physique?
Pilates is a form of exercise that requires significant core strength, flexibility, and muscular endurance. Sound like anything you might be interested in?
The average man naturally has more upper body strength than the average woman does. This can sometimes make other forms of exercise, such as yoga, feel a little too easy or even boring for some men.
Pilates can provide just the right level of challenge for those who are looking for something a little more than your average yoga class.
Not only does Pilates require core strength, but it also demands muscular endurance. This is an important factor to consider because most men are used to working out with weights where they can take a break in between sets.
Pilates, on the other hand, is a continuous flow of movement that will test your muscular endurance and make you work!
And lastly, flexibility. This is probably the most important factor of all when it comes to why Pilates is perfectly suited for the male physique. Most men tend to have very tight hips and hamstrings, which can lead to all sorts of problems down the road.
Pilates is an excellent way to increase flexibility and range of motion in the hips and hamstrings and can help prevent injuries in the future.
Famous Men In Pilates
Now that we’ve taken a look at why Pilates is perfectly suited for the male physique, let’s take a look at some famous men who have been doing Pilates for years!
1. John Basedow
2. Hugh Jackman
3. Daniel Craig
The Founder Of Pilates
As we mentioned before, Pilates was invented by a man! His name was Joseph Pilates and he created this form of exercise in the early 20th century.
Pilates was originally developed as a method of rehabilitation for injured soldiers during World War I. Joseph Pilates believed that his method of “Contrology” (as he called it) could help to heal and strengthen the human body.
Pilates later immigrated to the United States where he opened up his first studio in New York City. He continued to teach and develop his method throughout his life, and Pilates quickly gained popularity in the dance community with both male and female dancers who would use Pilates for injury prevention and to help rehab after an injury. An authentically trained Pilates instructor will give you an original version of Pilates the way Joseph Pilates intended it and it’s definitely not only for women.
Pilates eventually made its way into the mainstream fitness world, and today it is enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.
Remember there are different types of Pilates, look for Authentic or Classical Pilates if you want to experience the method as it was intended.
How Can We Help Break The Stigma?
The stigma that Pilates is a “woman’s exercise” is something that needs to be broken. Men all over the world are starting to realize the benefits of Pilates and are beginning to incorporate it into their workout routines. But what can we do to help break the stigma? The answer is simple, we need to start seeing more men in Pilates classes!
In Conclusion…
If you are a man who is interested in trying Pilates, I urge you to go for it! Find a classical/authentic studio. There are so many benefits to be gained from this type of exercise, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Still not convinced?
Come try one of our classes at Authentic Pilates and see for yourself! We offer a variety of classes that are perfect for men of all fitness levels.
You won’t regret it!