For years, New York entrepreneur Nat Turner battled back pain, ultimately leading him to the operating room. Seeking solutions, his physical therapist recommended pilates to strengthen his core and alleviate pressure on his back. Turner, who had previously favored weightlifting and other “manly” exercises, was initially hesitant. “There is no glory in how heavy you can lift,” Turner told Robb Report. “In fact,I frist injured my back during a deadlift set in the gym.”
Reflecting on his experience, the 38-year-old added, “I shoudl have been doing pilates much earlier.”
Turner decided to give pilates a try, booking a one-on-one session. The day after,he felt soreness in muscles he’d never targeted before,including his abs,glutes,and arms.”Having done squats, etc., around the gym, I honestly thought I had strong glutes,” he said. “But, as it turns out, I did not.”
Today, Turner incorporates pilates into his routine twice a week, supplementing it with swimming and bodyweight exercises. This marks a significant shift from his previous regimen of three to four weightlifting sessions per week. Despite largely abandoning heavy weights, Turner feels stronger than ever.He attributes the gains in his core and hips to improvements in his golf game,allowing him to swing pain-free and even increase his swing speed and driving distance.
Turner’s experience is not unique. Equinox reports a threefold increase in men attending pilates classes as the pandemic, with a 40 percent year-over-year surge. “There would be sprinkles of men here and there, but in the last, I’ll say, five years, it’s become more of the norm to have them in class,” says Taylor Phillips, who oversees pilates programming for the luxury wellness club. Phillips attributes this shift to high-profile endorsements from athletes and celebrities like Tom Brady, Andy Roddick, Harry Styles, and Cristiano Ronaldo. “All those images help encourage men to be more pleasant coming into the studio,” she explains.
Today, a new generation of men is discovering pilates, often through social media, and embracing it in various ways: as a standalone fitness regimen, a corrective technique, or a complementary practice for other activities.Phillips works with celebrity chef Bobby Flay,who uses pilates to counteract the physical demands of his 35-year culinary career.
Pilates, once primarily associated with women, is experiencing a surge in popularity among men. This shift is driven by a growing recognition of the workout’s benefits for strength, flexibility, and injury prevention, especially among athletes.
The perception of Pilates as a predominantly female exercise stems from it’s history. Developed by Joseph pilates, a German immigrant to the United States, the practice initially focused on improving posture and promoting holistic movement. Dancers embraced Pilates early on, contributing to its association with femininity. This image was further reinforced in the 1990s and early 2000s when women’s magazines touted Pilates as an ideal way to tone the body.
However, the tide is turning. ”All these images of male celebrities are so helpful to getting guys into the studio,” says Amanda Forman, owner and founder of Strengthen Lengthen Tone (SLT), a chain of fitness studios. Videos of male athletes performing Pilates exercises with intensity have become viral sensations, showcasing the workout’s effectiveness.
Forman has witnessed a significant increase in male attendance at her studios, more than double since she opened 13 years ago. She attributes this surge to a growing awareness of core strength’s importance in fitness and injury prevention. “Men used to think you need to do high-impact workouts like running [or] realy heavy, fast lifting,” she explains. “We’re a low-impact, high-intensity workout, and if you want to stay active and pain-free this type of workout supports that.”
The Pilates reformer, with its straps and springs, may have initially intimidated some men. However,as the benefits of core strength become more widely understood,men are increasingly recognizing Pilates as a valuable tool for enhancing athletic performance and overall well-being.
“He talks about how pilates has changed his life,” says a source close to a celebrity chef who credits Pilates with improving his posture and golf game.
The trend of male athletes embracing Pilates is gaining momentum. Articles highlighting the benefits of Pilates for professional athletes, such as NFL players, are becoming increasingly common. This shift in perception is breaking down gender stereotypes and paving the way for a more inclusive fitness landscape.
As more men discover the transformative power of Pilates, the practice is poised to continue its rise in popularity, solidifying its place as a valuable workout for individuals of all genders.
Pilates, once primarily associated with graceful, aesthetic movements, is experiencing a surge in popularity among men. This shift is driven by a growing recognition of its functional benefits and its ability to deliver tangible results.
“It’s really results oriented,” says [Name of Pilates Instructor], noting that many men are surprised by the challenge, despite the absence of heavy weights. “Yes, you can get cut, and you can see and feel the differences. It also works these smaller, accessory muscles that a lot of the other workouts ignore.”
The fitness landscape has evolved substantially in recent years. “The 2010s where really about the HIIT class wave,” says personal trainer Joe Holder, who incorporates pilates into his own routine and those of his clients. “No one was thinking about recovery, longevity, or ‘pre-hab,’ which is taking care of your body before it gets hurt. But as millennials start to age, they’re realizing they need to take care of themselves.” Holder observes that men often follow women’s lead in fitness trends,and women have been reaping the benefits of Pilates—both aesthetically and functionally—leading men to embrace it as well. “It’s an interesting middle ground between rehabilitation but is still challenging,” he says. “Plus it’s mentally challenging.”
For men hesitant to try Pilates, [Name of Pilates Instructor] suggests starting with a one-on-one session. “I don’t think there’s an easy way in, I think you just have to do it,” she said with a laugh. A personalized session allows for individualized attention and guidance navigating the equipment and movements before transitioning to group classes.
“At the end of the day it gives you resistance training, core strengthening, balance, flexibility, mobility,” she adds. “It’s helpful for everything we, as humans, do.”
## World Today News: Men Discover Pilates: A New Era of Strength and Versatility
**Introduction:**
For years, Pilates was frequently enough viewed as a workout primarily for women. However, a new generation of men is rediscovering this powerful practice, recognizing its benefits for strength, flexibility, injury prevention, and athletic performance. This article explores the growing trend of male participation in Pilates, examining the factors driving this shift in perception and its impact on the fitness landscape.
**From Skeptic too Convert: Nat Turner’s Story:**
Entrepreneur Nat Turner, like many males, initially dismissed Pilates as “not manly.” After years of back pain, exacerbated by weightlifting, Turner finally tried Pilates on the suggestion of his physical therapist. He was surprised by the intensity and the results, realizing he had neglected crucial muscle groups.
Now, Turner incorporates Pilates twice a week, supplementing it wiht swimming and bodyweight exercises. He feels stronger than ever, attributing improvements in his golf game directly to increased core and hip strength. Turner’s experience highlights the overlooked benefits Pilates can offer men – increased power, flexibility, and pain-free physical activity.
**Breaking Barriers: The Changing Face of Pilates:**
This shift in male participation is reflected in statistics from equinox, reporting a threefold increase in male Pilates attendance since the pandemic. This surge is driven by high-profile endorsements from male athletes and celebrities like Tom Brady, Andy Roddick, Harry Styles, and Cristiano Ronaldo, challenging traditional gender stereotypes surrounding the practice.
**from Posture to Performance: The Benefits for Men:**
Fitness experts like Taylor Phillips, overseeing Pilates programming for Equinox, and Amanda forman, owner of Strengthen Lengthen Tone, note that men are increasingly recognizing the importance of core strength.
Pilates offers a low-impact, high-intensity alternative to traditional weight training, focusing on building deep postural muscles and improving flexibility – crucial for injury prevention and athletic performance.
**The Evolution of Pilates:**
Developed originally by Joseph Pilates, the practice initially attracted dancers, adding to its reputation as feminine. However, the rise of male athletes adopting Pilates, coupled with the viral success of videos highlighting men performing intense Pilates exercises, is shifting this perception.
**A More Inclusive Future:**
The future of Pilates appears bright, with increasing acceptance and participation from men across various backgrounds and fitness levels. As men continue to discover the benefits of Pilates, the fitness landscape evolves towards a more inclusive and diverse habitat.
