PILATES FOR MEN
"A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic
too busy to take care of his tools" - Spanish Proverb
"A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic
too busy to take care of his tools" - Spanish Proverb
Men can benefit from Pilates just as much as women. Joseph Pilates created his system primarily for men. Early archival footage of Joseph Pilates shows him teaching classes in which the large majority of students were men. Pilates offers huge benefits for men interested in fitness which emphasizes functional strength, flexibility, core strength, range of motion and coordination. Above all, Pilates helps develop the mind/body connection which can open the door to huge benefits for harnessing the power of the mind.
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 weightlifting. Pilates, by contrast, emphasizes moving from the center of the body, the powerhouse, and developing core strength to stabilize the trunk and protect the back. This kind of core training makes Pilates an superior choice for whole-body fitness, as well as a foundation for cross training with other kinds of sports and exercise.
TIPS FOR MEN WHO ARE NEW TO PILATES
When you begin your Pilates training you'll find that women outnumber men by quite a bit. The demographic is slowly changing but for now you'll be the minority gender, so be forewarned.
There is nothing specifically different about Pilates training for men, especially in the beginning. The Pilates method is the same for all. Developed on a man's body, and taught with input from both men and women, Pilates is founded on healthy movement principles for the human body. Men might find that their muscles are tighter than women's, especially in the hips and hamstrings but exercises can be easily modified to allow those areas to stretch out gradually. Modification of exercises is common in Pilates, allowing it to meet a variety of needs in practitioners.
Pilates is a body/mind practice where part of the exercise is to bring one's full care and attention to every movement. Emphasis is placed on body alignment and core training that go beyond the superficial muscles and require more subtle attention and micro-adjustments. There is none of the "just power through" kind of attitude that men may have bought into. This often becomes most apparent when working with the Pilates equipment, which, though it is resistance equipment, is not intended to be overpowered. In fact, sometimes the lightest setting on a piece of equipment, such as the reformer, is the most challenging for the core muscles. In Pilates, controlled, well-aligned movement is the ticket to a deeper level of 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 weightlifting. Pilates, by contrast, emphasizes moving from the center of the body, the powerhouse, and developing core strength to stabilize the trunk and protect the back. This kind of core training makes Pilates an superior choice for whole-body fitness, as well as a foundation for cross training with other kinds of sports and exercise.
TIPS FOR MEN WHO ARE NEW TO PILATES
When you begin your Pilates training you'll find that women outnumber men by quite a bit. The demographic is slowly changing but for now you'll be the minority gender, so be forewarned.
There is nothing specifically different about Pilates training for men, especially in the beginning. The Pilates method is the same for all. Developed on a man's body, and taught with input from both men and women, Pilates is founded on healthy movement principles for the human body. Men might find that their muscles are tighter than women's, especially in the hips and hamstrings but exercises can be easily modified to allow those areas to stretch out gradually. Modification of exercises is common in Pilates, allowing it to meet a variety of needs in practitioners.
Pilates is a body/mind practice where part of the exercise is to bring one's full care and attention to every movement. Emphasis is placed on body alignment and core training that go beyond the superficial muscles and require more subtle attention and micro-adjustments. There is none of the "just power through" kind of attitude that men may have bought into. This often becomes most apparent when working with the Pilates equipment, which, though it is resistance equipment, is not intended to be overpowered. In fact, sometimes the lightest setting on a piece of equipment, such as the reformer, is the most challenging for the core muscles. In Pilates, controlled, well-aligned movement is the ticket to a deeper level of fitness.