How Pilates Is Becoming an Exercise Favorite for Men – Evanston Roundtable

For years, dancers and mothers alike have been drawn to Pilates, giving the myth that this exercise is only for women. The push and pull of a special piece of equipment called a reformer makes Pilates look tiring. But today, more men are turning to exercise because it is. an exercise Pilates makes you sweat.

Currently, 20% to 25% of the studio’s clients are men, said Dawn Friedman, 60, co-owner of Pilates Connection at 1609 Oak Ave.

Pilates gives people more balance, better breathing and more flexibility. This can be crucial for any type of athlete, professional or non-professional.

Helping him with his golf game

For Gaurav Isar, 57, a technology consultant originally from Kenya, Pilates was the solution to improving his golf game. His back problems made it difficult for him to play sports, so his friend, who suffered from the same problem, recommended him to try Pilates.

“When I tell my friends I do Pilates, they are often surprised and assume it’s not exercise. It is more difficult for me to convince them to come,” Isar said.

Scott Brady, 70, a retired information systems consultant, has been doing Pilates for six years. He wants to dispel the myth that if you don’t know what you’re doing you shouldn’t come, because in Pilates you learn as you go.

“I don’t consider this a women’s workout because of how much it benefits me outside of the Pilates studio,” Brady said.

Man and method

Discovered by Pilates Joseph Pilates. He immigrated to the United States in the 1920s and opened a studio in New York City, naming the practice Controlology. Being a German, he began developing drills and equipment while held in a British prison camp during World War I. After his death in 1967, his system became known as Pilates.