Pilates for Men

by Gillian Markson | More from this Blogger

Even though men are aware of the benefits and difficulties of ballet, celebrities praise the virtues of Yoga to their toned bodies. We see more amazing female athletes with long legs and a lengthy neck as there bodies are portrayed as a ballerina. There is still a separation between what exercises we consider typically masculine and what exercises are considered feminine. Unfortunately Pilates falls under this gender prejudice. Developed by Joseph H. Pilates and further used by his wife Clara to treat her patients, the benefits of Pilates for men is just as important as it is for women...possibly even more so. It is an approach to getting fit and maintaining health where a man can use well into his later life, without all the usual posturing associated with macho exercise. Pilates was designed to stretch, strengthen, and balance the body. Coupling these exercises with focused breathing patterns, a person's body weight is used as the only real resistance; and like Yoga, a Pilates routine can be done virtually anywhere. Although there are some machines used in conjunction with Pilates, mat work is at the core of Pilates. Focus is on strengthening a person's core; the abdomen and back muscles are always working in Pilates exercises. And as most American males, especially over forty, complain about their out-of-shape, under-worked guts, any exercise that focuses this much on abdominal work should be welcomed by any guy wanting to get into shape. The goal with Pilates is to give the practitioner increased lung capacity and circulation, strength and flexibility. Coordination is the key component with a routine, unlike a lot of heavy exercises men engage in. Men workout with weights to increase muscle mass but they often forget the basics of good body structure. Agility and balance are often sacrificed for increased muscle mass and static strength and injury is not very far away.

If all men have are big muscles, we can't move around well, or if our hearts are over-burdened by too much weight bulging out of our frame. After time, the aggressive pose of all that grunting and sweating becomes tiresome (especially as a man gets older). A quieter and safer approach to health is what is needed as a man reaches middle age. Pilates exercises do not abuse the body and are nearly almost always meditative. It really is a question of relearning what we have been taught. Men no longer have to feel the burn or grunt through a highly charged competition to get into good shape. Most heavy exercises are great for the young, with energy to spare and resilient muscles, but unless a man has been training like an athlete all his life, sooner or later he will fall prey to injury if he keeps to an aggressive workout schedule. Or worse yet, he will grow frustrated with what he can no longer do and give up working out altogether! Pilates quiets the mind and increases strength and agility, regardless of age, keeping us healthy.

And optimum health is what both men and women should want most from their exercise routine.

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