Pilates for Men

When Joseph Pilates created Contrology – what would eventually become Pilates – during World War I, he was not thinking of women specifically, or ballet dancers at all.

He first began developing his program training male wrestlers and boxers. He rigged springs to hospital beds, enabling bedridden patients to exercise against resistance. It was this innovation that led to his later equipment designs, and eventually to Pilates as we know it today.

Later, when his first studio shared an address with the New York City Ballet, the practice evolved to support injury recovery and prevention for many of the dancers. From this early development, Pilates grew as a stereotypically feminine exercise.

But come to an RTR studio today and we’ll show you – there’s nothing easy or “feminine” about our Pilates classes. Pilates is a whole-body workout that improves strength, mobility, and core control: all things that lead to a healthier you, regardless of age or gender.

The Benefits of Pilates for Men

Most men find Pilates because of an injury that prevents them from doing the exercises or sports that the love. And many of Pilates’ original ballet dancers loved the exercise for the same reason so many men find it beneficial to their health today: Pilates focuses on holistic stretching and strengthening, which can eliminate aches and pains associated with aging or injury.

But don’t mistake Pilates for an easy class: it’s freaking hard.

Athletes love Pilates because it integrates a challenging, whole-body workout with exercises that support long-term health.

Pilates classes spend significant time on exercises that alleviate issues related the hamstrings and lower back. Our instructors integrate hamstring flexibility exercises and hip mobility movements throughout class.

But many people don’t realize that the glute muscles are also critical to supporting the knees and hamstrings. The body is an interconnected unit, and the exercises we do in class to strengthen the glute are more than just for show. A strong glute takes pressure from the knees and hamstrings, creating a balanced lower body that redistributes stress away from common pain points.

Similarly, Pilates’ emphasis on plank exercises builds abs alongside a stronger back, creating balance in the body that can prevent lower back pain. And all that torque and rotation on the reformer? It builds elbow and shoulder strength, too.

By addressing specific muscle groups, our exercises result in an overall stronger you.

An inclusive, challenging environment

RTR Pilates is the premiere DMV community for wellness-minded adults who want to combat pain, manage stress, strengthen and restore their bodies, and empower themselves in all aspects of life.

We focus on creating an inclusive studio environment and fantastic workout for clients of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. But we also focus on the science of exercise. Here at RTR, our proprietary, science-based method combined with the Allegro II Reformer delivers an effective whole-body workout, every time.

So, whether you want to add some variety in your workouts, alleviate aches and pains, or become a healthier version of yourself, we’re here to help.

You don’t have to age in pain, or live with body aches, or only do painful exercise programs. Through our engineered Pilates classes, we’ll lead you through movements that create strength and balance. And at RTR, we help our clients build an awareness of their bodies throughout life, not just in class.

‘I LOVE Pilates! who knew? I’m a 65-year-old man who, prior to my shoulder surgery 1 1/2 years ago, thought Pilates ‘was for girls’ (ha ha). My PT promised I could stop PT (after 9 months) if I did Pilates for a month. Instead, I got hooked. I play pickleball, race sailboats, and rough house with grandchildren. Pilates has really improved my senses of balance, stability and mindful use of different parts of my body. Too bad more men don’t appreciate it but hey, if they did, the classes would probably take on a weird competitive or macho quality, totally at odds with the underlying ethos of it.’ -Jon a happy, healthy RTR Pilates Client

The end result is a stronger, happier, healthier you.