- I am 50 years old. I tried mat pilates For the first time I added variety to my workout routine.
- During my first class, I was the only male in attendance, so I thought the exercises would be difficult.
In recent years, more and more exercise enthusiasts have turned to slow, low-intensity workouts like Pilates. This exercise works for most people, regardless of ability or age, but I was hesitant to try it myself because I didn’t know any men who did Pilates.
I’ve been a member at a local gym for several years, usually focusing on weight training, cardio, and boxing. But after some convincing from his wife, he decided to give Pilates a try.
In total, I paid about $15 a week to attend gym classes. I thought it would be easy considering I was already pretty healthy. This is what my year-long Pilates journey looks like.
I thought Pilates would be calm and relaxing, but the first hour session was a struggle
When I entered my first class, I quickly noticed that I was the only male. At first I thought Pilates would be easy, but I found myself gaining confidence in the unfamiliar exercises.
Many core exercises required me to hold my legs in the air, which was too difficult for me. I had to take regular breaks during class because my muscles ached from constantly slamming my feet on the floor.
My flexibility and reach were poor and I couldn’t keep up with others. By the end of the class, I felt like I had gotten a worthwhile workout and had no energy left to do any cardio.
I decided to take another class to see if Pilates was worth continuing and started enjoying it
I improved a lot in my second class. Since I had purchased a mat, I felt like I joined the ranks of women who brought their own equipment. After taking a few more classes, I fell in love with training.
Each class was unique and fun as the instructors combined exercises and used different equipment. I quickly became familiar with the different weights, sliders, and booty bands (resistance bands made for glute and leg training).
This equipment became a great gauge of my progress as I graduated from easy to heavy bands.
I also enjoyed using weights to add shoulder, biceps, and triceps training for a full-body workout. For example, combine lunges with biceps curls or squats with triceps kickbacks.
After 3 months, I noticed a change in my physique and strength.
When I started Pilates, I was faced with a curse that befalls many middle-aged men: the “daddy body.” However, as a result of continuing core training with Pilates, I started to see the outline of a six-pack. I wouldn’t call it a washboard belly, but it was the most toned stomach I’d had since my early 20s.
As my abdominal muscles strengthened, it became easier to lift my legs and hold them in the air. My flexibility has improved and I feel less tired after exercise.
The low-intensity training also helped reduce the back pain I was feeling when I started these classes. I was very happy that my efforts were rewarded and I was able to notice the effects of the sessions.
Now, I have learned more about the benefits of Pilates and several other men are also attending weekly classes.
Like me, many people think that Pilates is an exercise for women. I think men tend to focus on their chest and biceps at the gym, so Pilates may not be as appealing as exercises like weightlifting.
That said, I’ve found that you get far more benefits from working your core and related muscles than relying on chest or arm exercises. My classes now have several men in each session, and they seem to love Pilates as much as I do.
Because Pilates is a low-impact workout, it’s also great if you’re dealing with pain or building lean muscle. This explains why professional athletes incorporate Pilates into their fitness routines.
Regular Pilates classeh It’s worth it and I love the impact they have had on my body and mind
The Pilates class was worth the investment. Because the sessions trained my body and mind and kept me motivated.
The physical progress and strength gains I made in class also helped my mental mindset. This was a benefit I didn’t expect when I started the class. By focusing on each Pilates exercise, I was able to distract myself from thoughts about work and my to-do list.
I highly recommend more people, especially men, to incorporate this workout into their fitness plans. It took me 50 years to try Pilates, but I wish I had taken classes sooner.
