Are men fit enough to do Pilates? – The answer is a big yes! Some believe they have to be flexible to join a Pilates class and some believe Yoga is better for them to get that flexibility! For those that are not aware, Pilates is developed by a man named Joseph Hubertus Pilates, a physical trainer and a boxer back in the early 1900s for the purpose of rehabilitation. He tried his system with some of the soldiers returning from war. Those who practised Pilates were able to survive the 1918 Influenza epidemic that killed a lot of people.
So, what is Pilates? Pilates is an exercise system that focuses on stretching and strengthening the whole body to improve balance, muscle-strength, flexibility and posture. Sounds familiar isn’t ? It’s because these factors are highly relevant to men’s fitness.
3 reasons for doing Men’s Reformer Pilates
1) Build up your stability
You don’t need to use heavy weights to challenge your stability muscles or strengthen your core. If you over challenge them, your global (larger) muscles will try to take over, so you’ll do the movement incorrectly. As a result, it is likely you will neglect some muscle groups and over develop others. With Pilates, you can achieve an overall balanced body conditioning.
2) Build core strength
Every Pilates exercise focuses on moving your limbs powered through your Powerhouse (Core Muscles). By strengthening your transverse abdominals, the base ab muscle under your six-pack, you will gain a stronger back!
3) Align & strengthen your feet
The foot is a complex structure of 26 bones, 33 joints, and is layered with an intertwining web of more than 120 muscles, ligaments and nerves. Pilates himself seemed to emphasize the feet in workouts. Men’s feet become more stiff and rigid due to stiff soled shoes and less movement in the foot over time.
So it would be wise if you can incorporate Pilates into your workouts in order to improve your overall well-being, increase your strength for weightlifting, gain flexibility and balance for functional training and lastly, not only reduce injuries but also eliminates pre-existing pain.
