Because it is exercise! There is no such thing as male exercise and female exercise. Granted, the majority of our client base is female. However, this is only due to the power of marketing and some ill-informed alpha males. The fact is, Pilates is perfect for men as either a primary source or a supplementary source of exercise. I am suited to make this statement due to the following facts;
1. I am a male,
2. I have used Pilates as both a primary and supplementary source of exercise over the past 9 years and
3. Because of the reasons below!
Pilates is perfect for injuries and injury prevention
Pilates can be incredibly beneficial for chronic injuries. Lower back pain is probably the most well publicised injury that Pilates is good for, however, this form of exercise is great for numerous injuries. This is due to the Pilates emphasis on strengthening the “Powerhouse” as it is traditionally known, or the core, as it is now more commonly called. When you learn how to engage your core correctly, your stabilising abdominal and back muscles will safely take the load of daily activities, rather than your lower back, knees, hips, shoulders, etc.
I have found that Pilates strengthens other essential muscles that other forms of exercise are not able to. These harder to activate muscles include the glutes, the hamstrings, the smaller, medial quadricep muscle, the rotator cuff, the middle and lower trapezius, which are essential for optimal posture. When you have good posture, you are less prone to injury as your muscles work exactly as they were designed to!
Pilates was created by a man
That’s right; the founder and creator of Pilates was Joseph Pilates! Pilates created this form of exercise as he believed that the ‘modern life-style, bad posture, and inefficient breathing lay at the roots of poor health’.
If you have ever watched any of the clips of how Mr Pilates’s originally instructed this exercise regime, you will see that it is a tough form of exercise! Our male clients at PPF are always pleasantly surprised by how great a workout Pilates is! Joseph Pilates thought that Pilates was the perfect exercise for men and women. One of his most famous quotes confirms this:
“The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They’d be happier.”
Pilates will improve your performance
This is a big one gents! Pilates can also help with your stamina in the bedroom! By strengthening the “Powerhouse” and being more body aware, you gain more control over your mind and muscles involved with the sweet art of getting down! However, if that isn’t your main concern, increased coordination, improved flexibility, more mindfulness, prevention or recovery from injuries, and better posture surely make it into the list of reasons why Pilates is the perfect exercise for men.
Beneficial for heart health!
Cardiovascular disease(CVD) is the cause of one in four deaths in Australia each year. Further more, of the 118 deaths per day from CVD, approximately 84 of these deaths are men (40% more males than females) (1). So, can Pilates help with heart health? In a recent study, performed on middle-aged adults who suffer from hypertension, researchers found a single 60-minute session of Pilates was associated with lowering blood pressure (2). If one 60-minute session can lower your blood pressure, imagine what two to three sessions a week could do for the old ticker. Pilates is perfect exercise for men who wish to increase their everyday health.
For the days where everything else seems like a bit too much
I’m sure you have all had one of those days where you’re all ready to go to the gym or for a run or a ride and your brain ticks over into “fuck-it” mode. Pilates is perfect for these exact moments. It is low impact, creates a sense of mindfulness, and can help increase your energy levels. Personally, when “fuck-it” mode gets activated for me, Pilates is perfect for this man!
If you want to learn more about the benefits of Pilates, have a look at more of our blogs:
Can Pilates improve your posture?
Is Pilates a good form of exercise?
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