Pilates for Men, Part 2

Men’s Health week is being celebrated this week, 13- 19 June.

Pilates is often still portrayed by the media as a predominantly female activity; for, and instructed by, women. For Men’s Health Week we wanted to highlight the real life experiences of male instructors and their clients. So, we asked a few of our fellow members to share their unique experience by answering a series of questions.

This week PAA Professional Instructor members Darren Vizer and Warwick Maloney share their views on the benefits of Pilates for men and describe some of the challenges faced in teaching them.

If you missed our first instalment of Men in Pilates, featuring Benjamin Rashleigh and Rob Carruthers, you can read it here!

How has Pilates helped you?

Pilates has helped my mental health greatly, especially during times of depression and not feeling great, going through tough times. When life is good and smooth, Pilates really helps my mental stability it creates longevity in my mind and body, if my body is aligned and centered then so is my mind.

What has Pilates brought to your health and life?

I am better equipped to deal with the crap life can throw at you, it really keeps me on an even keel. I love physically what the method does for me, the strength it gives me physically translates into the strength it gives my mind. The flexibility it gives my body also translates into my mind and decisions. If I am feeling crap, I take a Pilates class, and its guaranteed to put me in a healthier state of mind.

What are the key health challenges you see for men in your studio?

Sometimes men feel scared that they are not as flexible as my female clients, and they judge themselves. I tell them to chill out and look at all the full body shoulder movement you’re great at.  Some don’t know what or where their pelvic floor is, so it can be a challenge; once they find it, its all guns blazing

What results or improvements are they looking for? 

Improvements in the ‘core’ is of course a big goal, flexibility is another. Picking up chicks is another -just joking, well not really. Usually just better fitness, alignment, and over all wanting to try something different other than the gym.

What goals matter most to them?

Like I said, flexibility, improved posture, better core.

What do you see as the additional or broader benefits and outcomes of Pilates for men (in areas such as social, health, mental, personal growth, relationships)

The broader benefits are: more confidence in who they are, a more stable state of mind, clearer thinking and decision making, and more confident in their thoughts, how they move and hold themselves in their bodies.

What percentage of your clients are male?

I usually have more male clients than women, men really like being worked out by me so my male client base is large. I really know what to do with a male body, what it needs, and how to work it.

What have you found to be the biggest driver to men starting Pilates?

Its usually once again the ‘CORE’ & ‘Flexibility.

What classes, schedule or studio features are attracting men to your Pilates studio? 

I do many private classes, working heavy loaded springs, and my studio equipment is all cream upholstery so it looks like an inside of a “Bentley”.

What are your key pointers to open the broader conversation of health with men?

Usually keep the conversation simple with men, straight to the point, so I am very straight forward with what I want them to do: I use strong verbal and firm tactile hand cueing. “Simple stupid”, men really can’t multitask, most anyway, trust me I am male so I know.

Any further advice? (for teachers or clients)

If a big tall burly man comes into your studio who is kind of a lumber jack, stay in your power, use strong vocal tones and make sure they can hear you. Don’t be afraid to boss them around, as they love it usually. A lot of men and women come to class to be told what to do.

Photo Credit: Darren Gill

About Darren:

Darren Vizer M.A. (University of Melbourne) Choreography is a former professional dancer, gymnast, national champion trampolinist and horse rider, who has been teaching movement for over 35 years. A professional choreographer and director with his own Arts Practice and company Devize Co, he has performed and choreographed nationally, internationally, with Sydney Dance Company, Legs on the Wall, Australian Dance Theatre, Australian Folkloric Company, Transitions Dance Company, The Laban Centre for Movement and Dance, La Mama Theatre, and Opera Australia.

As a Pilates practitioner he was drawn to teaching the Pilates Method as a means of keeping his own body conditioned for his performance career, leading him to study Pilates. He attained the Advance Diploma in Pilates Practice and the status of Principal Trainer and a full member of PAA which inspired him to establish Mr Pilates in 2006.

Darren enjoys teaching the full body Pilates challenge, the all over body workout, sharing his knowledge and giving the whole, rich experience of Pilates.

Darren is currently teaching online and taking some time out up in sunny Queensland, Brisbane getting some sun spending time with his friends and family after a long two years of Victorian lockdowns.  He is also currently doing some work for Lisa Jackson at Core Pilates in Brisbane, you can find him there.

How has Pilates helped you?

Flexibility has never been one of my greatest physical assets, yet with a consistent Pilates practice I have achieved and maintain a level of mobility I never thought possible.

What has Pilates brought to your health and life?

Health-wise Pilates matwork has given me a practice that helps to quieten my mind. After a big day at work I’ll roll out a mat on the lounge-room floor and work through the intermediate mat.

In my professional life, Pilates is another way to help people with their health and wellness. I also work as an Exercise Physiologist and Remedial Massage Therapist; having a mix of disciplines to help people engage positively with their health is something I find interesting and rewarding.

What are the key health challenges you see for men in your studio?

Like a lot of people who find their way to a Pilates studio the key health challenge I see with men in the Pilates studio is that they’re experiencing pain and are looking to explore active approaches to help manage it.

What results or improvements are they looking for? what goals matter most to them?

A lot of the men I have worked with in a Pilates studio usually have quite specific goals that relate to their life, things like being able to surf regularly or perform at work to a certain physical level. I guess they’re looking for ways to improve their life through movement.

What do you see as the additional or broader benefits and outcomes of Pilates for men (in areas such as social, health, mental, personal growth, relationships)

I feel like the sense of community that Pilates can build is sometimes underestimated. I have taught a few exclusively men’s Pilates classes over the years and often the group will experience what I call the ‘Men’s shed effect’. My understanding of Men’s sheds is that it’s small groups of men doing things, while talking about things and often I see this phenomenon play out in men’s Pilates groups. These classes aren’t just about Pilates exercises they are also an opportunity for the men to be social and build networks. When I realised this was going on I found I had to adjust my class programming to allow for some space so that these experiences could play out for the participants.

What percentage of your clients are male?

Between 20%-30%

What have you found to be the biggest driver to men starting Pilates?

The biggest driver I have seen when men start Pilates is often a desire to improve (or manage) an element of their health that has become problematic and is stopping them from participating in meaningful activities. For example, Graham may start Pilates to improve the strength and mobility of his sore right shoulder so that he can improve his surfing, I guess clients like Graham see Pilates as a ‘stepping stone’.

What classes, schedule or studio features are attracting men to your Pilates studio?

Most of the men I have worked with have been middle-aged or older and I think the main feature that has attracted men to doing Pilates with me is the fact that I am also a middle-aged man. I’m only guessing but I think there might be a level of accessibility that goes with looking a bit like the potential client.

What are your key pointers to open the broader conversation of health with men?

Some of the more interesting health related chats I have had with men have taken place after working together for a while and from a foundation of good rapport. In my experience rapport comes via lots of small talk and often the broader health conversations start once the weather, traffic, sports scores, and podcast recommendations have first been taken care of.

 

 

About Warwick:

Pilates Teacher since 2011, former studio owner, then travelling locum who had his ‘wings clipped’ by the COVID pandemic.

These days Warwick practices as an Exercise Physiologist at Kinetic Medicine on the NSW Mid-Coast. He likes to break up the endless WorkCover and NDIS report writing by teaching the occasional Pilates class and managing the Movement Health education website.