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Can Men Do Pilates?


Short answer...yes. In fact, you don't need a gender at all in order to do Pilates. It's a fast growing fitness trend that has served all people no matter their gender identity or expression.


For those curious, there are plenty of people who identify as men that do Pilates. Some notable examples are: Connor McDavid, LeBron James, Tiger Woods, Tyler Seguin, Antonio Brown, and Calvin "Megatron" Johnson. These are all professional athletes who have used Pilates to increase stability, muscular awareness, mobility, and to rehabilitate injuries.


"I do private [pilates] classes. It's 45 minutes to an hour straight of just work. It's not as much stretching, but a lot of strengthening. We keep the room hot. I tell them to turn the air conditioning off, and we just go in there and work. We're focused and I have good teachers. It's fun. It's something completely different from what I do every day". - Kyle Lowry, NBA Champion

Connor McDavid, a three-time NHL all-star and two-time Hart Trophy winner, is an excellent example of someone who has used Pilates to regain strength after injury. In his documentary "Whatever It Takes", McDavid makes a remarkable recovery from his horrendous knee injury and later wins his second Hart Trophy (NHL MVP). In combination with physical therapy and other modalities, McDavid uses STOTT PILATES equipment, and works with a certified instructor to strengthen his joints and core in his post-rehabilitation process. See more on the documentary HERE. Multiple NHL teams (including the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and San Jose Sharks) have now implemented Pilates practice into their teams overall workouts as it yields proven results.


Pilates method was originally created by a man named Joseph Pilates, for the purpose of helping men recover from war wounds in the early 20th century. As the Pilates method has evolved, contemporary approaches have been created to focus more on the individual anatomy of the client. These contemporary approaches make it more accessible to all body types, gender identities, ages, and athletic abilities.


“Even more remarkable than his dynamic play this season is the fact that [Antonio] Brown doesn’t lift weights in the off-season. Instead, he incorporates Pilates workouts into his training. They have enhanced his core strength, developed explosive power in his hips and glutes and created muscle balance through strengthening and alignment.” - Zac Clark on Antonio Brown, NFL




To learn more about Pilates visit: What is Pilates?


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