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Having recently stepped into the world of Pilates, I found myself as the only male participant in many of the classes.
This reinforced my initial thought that there is an unwarranted stigma surrounding men and Pilates. However, it was a man who created this workout and patented the reformer machines we see today. Joseph Pilates, During World War I, developed the prototype for the Pilates Reformer machine while he was detained as a prisoner-of-war. Working with the tools he had around him, springs and metal bed frames, he created a machine with stretching and pulling mechanisms much like the machines we see in studios today, though not as ‘makeshift’.
Helping improve his own and others physical strength and mental control. Pilates focuses on core strength, stretching and full-body conditioning, yet many men still overlook its profound benefits. World-famous male athletes are proudly using this technique today and highly recommend it for performance and recovery. Pilates trains core stability, joint control, and movement quality, fundamentals for any high-performing body. The conversation is slowly but surely shifting from just building muscle to moving well and staying injury-free. Pilates isn’t a replacement for the gym, but an add-on that ultimately will enhance training, build stability, mobility and overall movement.
Speaking to Alberto, founder of Ré wellness centre, he states that a lot of men perceive Pilates to be female-focused, but mentioned this is purely because of focused marketing, and not mechanics. Is it the aesthetics of the studios, or the ‘Matcha & Pilates’ trend that is putting so many man off giving it a try?
Challenging the stigma that Pilates is a female focused workout, I spoke to Marrwan Elhussein, a
Dubai-based Creative who wanted to explore the world of Pilates, whilst on vacation along with a group of male friends.
During their class all stereotypes and stigmas left the room, as the room was full of his mates, he had the safety blanket of friendship and guys all wanting to try a new work out. As it was the first class for everyone in the room there was no judgement which helped relieve any notions of intimidation. Even though the guys were pre-warned at how difficult the class will be and how far from their usual workouts Pilates is, they enjoyed the challenge and most of them in attendance still frequent classes. Marrwan states “after experiencing it, it’s just as difficult and effective as any other exercise.”
There is also the fear of being exposed and the fear of being watched, the technic is slow, controlled and precise, you can’t hide behind heavy weights. Although whilst you are in a class, the concentration is real and the focus is purely on the movements at hand. You will shake, you will feel the burn and you will discover muscles you probably never felt before. It’s about focus, precision and slow accurate movement.
Pilates along with weights and classes such as HIIT or running is a perfect mix of training, weights are about load. You’re building strength and muscle through external resistance. HIIT is about intensity. You’re pushing heart rate, conditioning, and metabolic capacity. Pilates is about precision. It builds stability, mobility, and real control in how you move. It strengthens the smaller muscles that support the bigger lifts and exposes the weak links you don’t see in the mirror.
Alberto says, “I’ve had clients come in unsure, especially men who thought it wouldn’t be challenging. Then five minutes into a controlled sequence, they’re shaking. That shaking isn’t weakness. It’s muscles working in ways they’re not used to. After a few sessions, they notice less tightness, stronger lifts, and smoother movement in sport. That’s usually when the mindset shifts.”
For years, running, spinning and weights have been my weekly fitness staples, supporting not only my physical health but also my mental well-being. Integrating Pilates into my routine has shown only positive enhancements to both mind and body.
Enhancing my core stability and overall performance, Pilates is not to be taken lightly. Stepping inside Dubai’s newest wellness club ‘Rē Wellness’ any stigmas were quickly banished, Rē was born to be a place for healing and recovery alongside performance. Rē prides itself on being a one-stop wellness ecosystem. Offering holistic physical therapy with its blend of advanced treatments, including trigger point release, tension and soft tissue work, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and cupping. This approach works across three interconnected systems: the muscular, nervous, and digestive systems. Everyone’s journey is carefully designed after a comprehensive assessment to allow the Rē professionals to not only understand your body but to help you understand what your body needs.
As awareness spreads around the gains of Pilates, we are seeing more men inspired by the proven benefits and advantages of Pilates, the outdated stigma is finally and rightly disappearing. Pilates has earned its place as a serious method for training and recovery for the modern man.
