In the early 2000s, I worked as a personal trainer at a big box gym in Portland, Oregon. I remember those early days as grueling yet essential for character building. I worked long shifts, constantly lifting weights between clients, and my primary goal was visible results, particularly muscular growth. I joined various group fitness classes but often felt frustrated. Whenever I went on a yoga or spinning kick, I would become discouraged and ultimately return to the weight room to maintain my muscle mass. As a young adult, I always aspired to be big and strong. Every time I saw a fit, muscular guy in the gym, I thought, “I want to look like him.” I believed that most men who lift weights and stay motivated require two things: increased strength and visible muscular growth.
One warm summer afternoon, after finishing my training sessions, I completed a two-hour lifting routine. Exhausted and unable to lift my arms, I asked my coworker, Lori, if she wanted to grab lunch. Lori mentioned she needed to drop something off to her mom first. She explained that her mom exercised at a small Pilates studio to help with her chronic back pain and described it as “yoga on machines,” noting its popularity among dancers.
The Pilates studio was the strangest setup I had ever seen. The entire right side of the facility was filled with middle-aged women making noises reminiscent of Lamaze. There were four or five instructors and roughly 10 to 15 students. The left side of the studio was more familiar, featuring dumbbells, cable machines, and benches. However, the other half resembled something medieval.
Seven machines lined up against the wall had students lying on their sides with straps on their feet, making circles with their legs. Two benches in the center of the room looked like hospital beds, where the women twisted and rolled around, breathing loudly enough to be heard outside. In a back room, a group of women jumped and danced while holding small balls. Was it Jazzercise, I wondered? The absence of men led me to believe this was a “ladies only” space, reminiscent of Curves.
I must have looked out of place because one of the instructors approached me. She introduced herself as the owner and seemed to see right through me. If you’ve read my blog, you know I suffered a skiing accident years earlier. This woman, whom I had never met before, accurately identified every injury I had endured and described all the pain symptoms I lived with. I was truly awestruck. After revealing that I was a personal trainer, I expressed how useful it would be to read my clients the same way. How did she possess such precise insight into my body? She replied, “I am a Pilates teacher.” That day changed my life.
I became very curious about Pilates but wondered where all the men were. Were there any male instructors? I began studying with the owner, and out of seven students, I was the only guy. Years later, during a comprehensive training course, I found myself in a similar situation; again, I was the only man among 20 students. Today, the percentage of men who practice and teach Pilates remains significantly lower than I would expect for a form of exercise created nearly 100 years ago by a man named Joseph Pilates.
When I started my business in 2007, I primarily worked with middle-aged women. Occasionally, a man would walk in, but he would usually last only two or three classes before deciding it wasn’t for him. There is a widespread misconception that Pilates is solely for women. Thankfully, men are slowly starting to come around. However, Pilates is often portrayed in magazines and on social media as being a women’s activity. What many men need to realize about Pilates is that, at its core, it is more mental than physical.
Recently, I asked Pilates instructors from around the globe why men tend to shy away from Pilates. The consensus was that most men feel intimidated to start, which is understandable. Many men I’ve worked with struggle through their first class, feeling frustrated, intimidated, and utterly confused. Everyone new to Pilates engages muscles they haven’t used in a long time, and the struggle can be an ego crusher. Additionally, certain personalities—not just men—tend to power through their workouts. However, Pilates demands precision and the development of quality movements. Men often seek instant results, as I once did, while women seem more satisfied with the feeling of gradual change.
It may also be easier for women to be introduced to Pilates, not because of the actual movements but due to societal perceptions around gender and exercise. Men are typically drawn to muscle-building, and gyms provide that platform. In contrast, women often gravitate toward exercises that tone their bodies without the need for heavy lifting. Furthermore, men tend to prefer individual workouts, while women are often more comfortable in small groups.
If you enter a studio that teaches classical Pilates, you will see a focus on breathing techniques, spine alignment, and core control, often omitting muscle building. This could be another reason men shy away from Pilates. Neither gender is inherently more body-aware or predisposed to excel at Pilates. Perhaps men, regardless of their exercise goals, do not see the value in Pilates or fail to understand how it can positively impact weightlifting and other sports and leisure activities. Pilates is challenging for both men and women. In a gym, an individual can pick up weights without any education and complete a workout. In contrast, Pilates requires learning foundational movements before progressing to more advanced exercises.
People can spend years at the gym, lifting heavy loads and expecting their bodies to improve with age. I have learned firsthand the value of Pilates and hope to reach more men with this message. I always tell my clients—both male and female—that if the load you are lifting exceeds your ability to control your core muscles properly, it’s not worth it. It’s pointless to have huge biceps if you compromise your spine. The few men I’ve worked with long-term have expressed a desire to have discovered Pilates years earlier.
As always, thank you for reading my latest blog. I appreciate everyone who contributed. I aim to inspire the Pilates community to reevaluate their practice and explore new ways to attract both male instructors and students. Additionally, the Pilates community could grow exponentially—and perhaps become the leading form of exercise—if we could successfully introduce a more athletic approach to the classical method.