Pilates for men; what are the benefits and challenges?

Is there such a thing as Pilates for men? Of course there is, why wouldn’t there be? Pilates is a type of training that has been used by professional athletes for years and was even started by a man, Joseph Pilates.  However, Pilates is the fastest growing fitness trend in last few years. As a result the demographic has been primarily focused on women’s fitness.  This is what leads to the general misconception that there is no such thing as Pilates for men. The truth is, men can achieve and maintain many fitness and core strength benefits while participating in a regular Pilates regime. 

Pilates is quite different from the muscle-by-muscle approach of most free weights routines which men are used to.  Pilates works from the center of the body, developing deep muscle, core strength and placing an important emphasis on building strength in the torso and protecting the spine.  It is this approach that makes Pilates an excellent choice for men who are searching for a whole-body workout. Pilates for men is a great way to prepare for either additional intensive fitness training or as preparation for competitive sports.

There are however, a few challenges that men may come across when first beginning their Pilates training.  The first is that class participants and instructors are most commonly women.  Some men may find this to be awkward, but it is important to remember that Pilates was developed for the human body and isn’t focused specifically on the female form.

Another issue which men may come across while performing Pilates is the limited flexibility of certain muscle, such as the hips and hamstrings.  If this is the case it is best to modify the exercises and to allow these areas to stretch out gradually.

Some men may also find it difficult to adjust to the mental attitude that is needed to perform Pilates properly.  This mind/body attitude which focuses on the awareness of one’s movements may be too much for the regular gym-loving guy.