Why More Men Should Try Pilates...
If you’re a male who thinks Pilates isn’t for you or is too easy, read this post and get your glutes to a class! If you sit at a desk all day, have any back issues or lift heavy weights in the gym, adding Pilates to your workout regime will help to balance the body in a way that will compliment your more intense workouts and will solve those aches and pains.
Back To The Beginning…
Founded by Joseph Pilates, his method of training was originally called Contrology.
“Contrology develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong posture, restores spiritual vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit” - Joseph Pilates. Both men and women have very similar muscular anatomy and daily stresses and injuries, therefore there is no reason Pilates can’t benefit both sexes.
What We Think It Is…
Thanks to a few “pie and lattes” memes and the ever-growing popularity of going to Pilates in your best yoga pants, it is now more commonly known as a workout for women hoping to “tone” and “tighten”. Sure, Pilates can give you a perky bum but only because you have learnt to activate your glute muscles through movement - men need this too!
What It Really Is…
Through a series of movements and exercises, Pilates will teach you to activate the smaller muscles, connect your breath with your body and alleviate tension in your shoulders, hips and back – perfect for any desk-workers. You’ll lunge, crunch, pike, curve and bend yourself into greater body awareness and overall strength. While it may not build bulky muscle like weight lifting, the muscle you will have will be more functional and will better your movement through everyday life.
Why Men Need Pilates…
Do you currently split your workouts into certain muscle training days, such as chest, leg and arm day? In contrast to this style of weight training, Pilates emphasises moving from the centre of the body and developing core strength in the deep muscles which will help to stabilise your trunk and protect your back. Inevitably, this will make you stronger and will be extremely helpful for that 100kg deadlift!
How many men have you seen swinging around heavy dumbbells in the gym with terrible posture and form? Over time, weight training, especially when done incorrectly, can cause body imbalance, postural issues, back and hip pain and overall tightness. Pilates works to alleviate these imbalances and can also improve your athletic performance by aligning your body properly to sustain the demands placed on it.
One More Thing…
As you focus intensely on the movement of the body, what the breath is doing, and the coordination of the two, you’ll improve your focus and bring more awareness to the mind.
So gents, if you think you need some core strength, flexibility and mindfulness in your life, I challenge you to a reformer Pilates class. After all, the Pilates method was developed on a man’s body!
This blogpost is from Katie Morgan, an Aussie blogger who writes about all things health, nutrition, fitness, love and travel on her website: Kale and the Kettlebell. She’s dedicated to living a healthier, happier and more active lifestyle. Her hottest tip? Stop trying to eat and exercise for how you look - focus on how you feel and you will be surprised with the results.