The fitness art of Pilates is growing in leaps and bounds.  Many Americans are feeling the urge to take advantage of the isometric, body-oriented range of pilates activities to get trim and fit, while strengthening bones and muscles for the body’s future.  However, a lot of gyms and health clubs report a “gender imbalance” on pilates rosters.  While women flock to pilates workouts, it seems men are generally a lot more hesitant.

So why is pilates seen as a “women’s thing”?

Part of the idea of pilates that turns men off is its promotion as something “graceful”, a fitness routine more geared toward dancers or gymnasts than the common, generic trainer.  The same things about pilates that provide allure to women who may want to develop these qualities may product the opposite reaction in men.  Another issue is that men and women are built differently, and some of the pilates work that has been tailored to women may need to be modified a bit to reach out to male participants.

By contrast, men tend to like “power workout” activities that focus on muscle bulk in the limbs and torso, rather than paying attention to more subtle workout activities that tone the body and develop the core.  But some of these less aggressive routines, like pilates, yoga and other forms of holistic training, provide that core development that most men admit is necessary to profit from going to the gym regularly.  Having bulked-up arms and shoulders hanging on a weak core is hardly the best route to go, and so it does make sense to pursue activities like pilates as a “side dish” to a power workout menu.

Also, there are ways to adapt pilates to be more “male-friendly”.   One is to market it that way!  In other words, guys looking for guys pilate would react favorably to “male-branded” pilates options like “Side work for your core” than to delicately titled options like “Butterfly Dance Pilates”.

Another route to men on pilates mats is to include a range of fitness aids, such as pilates rings, mini balls and balance boards.  These kinds of small tools help both men and women to do pilates or isometric body exercise with a little more “kick” – for example, squeezing the mini ball with the arms and legs, which provides a good “fusion” of natural core strengthening that seems a little more ambitious than some of the free-wheeling body movements associated with the “airy” side of pilates.

With a few modifications in place, a pilates course for men can become a viable option at a local gym.  And, with the diverse needs of today’s legions of card-carrying customers, it’s in a gym’s best interests to diversify its course menu.  So look for more in male-friendly classes for core activities like pilates, at locations near you, and remember, a wide range of activity is key to bulking up and becoming toned and agile at the same time, so go for a full fitness “menu” for maximum lifetime benefits!