Over the last twenty years there has been a growing interest in the core building work called Pilates. That interest has been primarily the focus of today’s working women, homemakers, and single mothers. The point: it has been promoted for women.
However, the core group using the core construction is turning the corner. There was a time when men scoffed at the idea of signing up for a Pilates class, only for the girls, Correct? Wrong, more and more men are discovering the benefits of Pilates.
the history of pilates
Many professional sports teams are incorporating Pilates into training camp regiments. Whether in football, the NBA, baseball, hockey, or the NFL, Pilates has been used to train all of these athletes. It’s hard for men to poop Pilates when the likes of Tom Brady, Marshawn Lynch, and Russell Wilson have trained with Pilates.
After all, Pilates was developed by a MAN! It was the procedure used by Joseph H. Pilates in the early 20th century. Joseph Pilates, born in Germany in 1883, became obsessed with fitness. Why not? He was born into a fitness home. Joseph’s mother was a naturopath, one who advocated the treatment of disease through the use of diet, herbs, and of course… EXERCISE! And to further spark Pilates’ interest, his father was a gymnast. Joseph’s story is reminiscent of Teddy Roosevelt. They were both sickly children and chose the path of strenuous exercise to become strong men. In the case of Pilates, he used gymnastic training techniques and exercises to develop his system. In the 1980s, Pilates became fashionable. And in recent years there has been a growing interest in Pilates for men.
What is Pilates?
Joseph Pilates developed a system that focused on balance, strength, and flexibility. Instead of just building your arms and legs like most weight training programs, Pilates focuses on your abs, lats, glutes, or core.
The benefits?
Don’t discount improving posture and body appearance. If your body looks good, people respond positively to you and you feel better when you see a good physical specimen in the mirror. Also, balance, strength and flexibility are greatly improved by the Pilates system.
Other benefits include the elimination of back pain and balanced muscle groups. When you are toned with this workout, there is a lower percentage chance of injury. And finally, bones build as more pressure is put on them; the result, fewer bone and joint injuries.
In this technological age there is a vast group of people with sedentary vocations. Consequently, we see an increase in type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. Pilates is undoubtedly one of the most effective cures. So even if you’re a man, there’s no reason to avoid the benefits of Pilates.
