Should your man take up Pilates?

David Beckham does it, Madonna does it, Ian McKellen does it and half of the Middlesbrough football squad do it, but could you persuade your other half to take up pilates?

It’s been a favourite of elite athletes and A-listers for years and now a growing number of men are discovering it’s the road to a six pack and a cast iron core.

The benefits of pilates are well documented - it can help improve muscle tone, flexibility, balance, posture, stress and even reduce sleeping problems. While it has traditionally been women who have taken it up, classes in the North-East are now having to cater for an increasing number of men, who are realising it is more than a few leg lifts and can actually be quite a challenging workout.

Pilates instructor Vicky Rees, who runs Studio 21 and has worked with athletes including Olympic swimmer Amy Willmott, says it has become a lot more mainstream. “Pilates became trendy a few years ago and I think people realise it’s not a fad now. It’s here to stay and men are jumping on it and becoming more interested, especially those who, a few years ago, would never have considered it.”

According to Vicky, it’s not just cycling, running and rowing enthusiasts who are taking it up, but men from all kinds of backgrounds including teachers, carpet fitters and office workers - who have seen the benefits after spending too long slumped at their desks all day.

Not everyone is in search of a body like Ross Poldark. The classes also appeal to older people who can feel their muscles stiffening up and want to do something that is a little less impact and doesn’t involve breaking into a sweat.

“I had a couple of carpet fitters on two separate occasions who had bad backs and came to classes specifically for that,” says Vicky. “Someone else in his mid 60s said he’d had a pain in his neck since he fell off a wall when he was 15. After a month of coming to one-to-one sessions, the pain disappeared. He actually went on to buy one of the pieces of equipment to use at home.”

Although the basic moves can be done on a mat, part of the appeal for men is the various machines and strange looking contraptions - the Reformer, Cadillac, Spine Corrector, Wunda Chair and Ladder Barrel to name a few. “The pilates equipment classes are really popular with men - in some classes, they outnumber the women,” says Vicky. “I think it’s because the equipment classes are a little bit more challenging.”

She points out that pilates can also be very functional, providing tips about posture that people can think about when they’re at work, sitting at a desk or driving. Just one hour of pilates twice a week is enough to notice the benefits (although it may take a bit more to acquire a six-pack).

Founded by Joseph Hubertus Pilates who was born in Germany in 1883, pilates first became popular in New York in the 1920s, and 60 per cent of the clientele were men. In the past few decades, its popularity has soared with footballers such as Ryan Giggs and David Beckham attributing it to their long careers.

Vicky has also been working with Middlesbrough FC for the last three years. Both the first team and Under 18s are encouraged to do pilates as part of their training regime, in the belief that it can help improve their skills on the pitch as well as after an injury.

“I have a core group of players who come to the classes week in, week out, and then some who dip in and out,” says Vicky. “George Friend has been there since the first session and is always encouraging players to join and telling them about the benefits. He says it has helped him massively and he wishes he’d started doing it when he was a lot younger.”

“Players who have come from premier league clubs or played at a higher level have all done some form of it before, whether it is pilates or yoga. The Under 18s have a weekly class and it’s great that they are getting exposed to the benefits at such a young age. It encourages them to look after their bodies which can lead to an extended playing career and reduced injuries.”

Back in Yarm, Health Hub and Studio 21 have launched ‘Moga’ specifically for men. Although there is some crossover with pilates, it is described as ‘yoga with no frills’, ‘less chanting’ and more focus on the body. “It is specifically tailored for the anatomy of a man, such as tight shoulders and tight hamstrings,” says Vicky. “The fact that men have got great upper body strength also means they can do slightly more challenging positions.”

There’s no age limit and you don’t need to be bendy, but if you are a bloke and thinking of joining a mixed class for the first time, keep your eyes on the instructor, not the other women, avoid grunting and don’t turn up in a leotard, laughs Vicky. “Most men wear long baggy shorts and if they’re really baggy, they tend to wear cycling shorts underneath,” says Vicky. “They’d probably get a bit too hot in leggings.”

One unexpected recruit has been Vicky’s dad, who has taken up yoga at the age of 63. “He had never done yoga before in his life until two months ago and he’s really enjoying it,” she says

“About eight years ago he fell off a roof and fractured his pelvis and they said he may need a hip replacement a few years down the line. He did all his rehab and his hips and pelvis are great now and yoga and pilates definitely help with that. He says he feels a lot more flexible and stronger. He absolutely loves it.”

Health Hub and Studio 21 offer pilates and yoga classes at all different levels including a Pilateen’s class for children aged 12-16 and younger children aged 9-11. The Moga class (for men) is held at Studio 21 every Tuesday from 6.45pm-7.40pm. There are also sessions available in Tai Chi, Meditation and Mindfulness.

Visit Studio21yarm.co.uk or Healthhubclinics.co.uk or call 01642-788755 for further details.