Is Pilates for Men? (Yes, and they secretly love it)
Not sure where to begin your Pilates journey?
your goals and experience level.
Yes, Men do Pilates
(And they secretly love it)
Let’s clear this up straight away:
Yes. Men. Do. Pilates.
In fact, around 5% of our clients are men, and while that might not sound like a lot, the ones who come? They stick around.
Why do most Men start?
We’ll be honest… Most of them start because their wife, girlfriend, or mum makes them.
They’re told:
- “It’ll help your back.”
- “It’ll help your sport.”
- “You need to stretch.”
- “Just come once.”
So they come (slightly reluctantly)… and then something happens.
They feel muscles they didn’t know existed.
They realise it’s harder than it looks.
They sleep better.
Their back pain eases.
And suddenly, they’re booking again.
We even have Teenage Boys
Some of our most consistent male clients are teenage boys.
Why? Because Pilates:
- Improves mobility
- Builds deep core strength
- Supports posture
- Helps prevent injury
- Enhances performance in other sports
Whether it’s footy, basketball, swimming, or gym training – Pilates fills the gaps most strength programs miss.
Strong on the outside is great. Stable on the inside is powerful.
Why is Pilates mostly Women?
Historically, Pilates became popular through dance communities and boutique fitness spaces, which were female-dominated. Over time, branding leaned heavily towards women.
But here’s the irony: Pilates was created by a man, Joseph Pilates who originally trained athletes.
It’s not “for women.” It’s for bodies.
Why it can feel intimidating
We get it.
You walk into a studio and:
- It’s mostly women.
- The movements look small.
- You’re not sure what a reformer even does.
- You’re worried you’ll look uncoordinated.
Totally normal. Every single male client we have, felt that way before their first session.
Within 10 minutes.. They’re focused on surviving the glute series!
How Pilates benefits Men
- Reduces back pain
- Improves mobility (without just “stretching”)
- Strengthens deep core muscles
- Supports lifting technique
- Improves posture
- Builds balanced strength
- Enhances sports performance
- Prevents injuries
- Increases body awareness
- Improves mood & mental clarity
It’s not about being flexible. It’s about being mobile and strong in the right places.
Want something more personal?
Most of our male clients start in semi-private sessions (4 clients, 1 instructor). Here they will be introduced to reformer pilates (and all the other various equipment) by the experts.
Why?
- More specific guidance
- Personalised programming
- Space to learn the foundations
- Still motivating, but less overwhelming
If you want tailored support, this is usually the best place to begin.
Or just jump in
If you’d rather get straight into it, try a group class. (Our Flow & Form Reformer pilates class is a great place to start, as is our Flow & Form Mat Pilates. Think foundational pilates focused on form and establishing understanding.)
You won’t be the only guy.
And if you are? Even better. You’ll distinguish yourself in the best way.
“Pilates isn’t hard.”
We hear this a lot. So here’s our friendly pilates challenge: Come try it.
If it’s not challenging, we’ll be surprised. And if it is? We’ll look after you and make sure you feel stronger walking out than when you walked in.
A fun tip
Let’s be real, someone in your life is probably going to try to drag you to Pilates at some point. Instead of resisting… why not just try it?
Come once. Give us your honest feedback. Tell us if it changed your mind. We have a feeling it might. And if you hate it? At least you’ll finally win that argument at home.
(But we don’t think you will)
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