Pilates for Men

Pilates for Men is a short DVD with a 26 minute exercise program aimed especially at men.  There's a 5-minute introduction by Alisa Wyatt with a quick mention of the concept of the powerhouse that's essential to Pilates, as well as some tips for performing the exercises safely and to maximize their benefit.  Then Wyatt proceeds to go through the program.  She is in a large room with a wooden floor, brick walls, and a few decorations, a tables and a couch around the sides of the room.  It looks like the room with lit with natural light from the windows.  She leads two men, Jon and Adam, through the program.  They all have light blue mats, although it seems that Wyatt has another mat underneath hers.  There is no discussion of what kind of mat is best, and whether it's worth getting a thicker mat, doubling up, or just using a regular yoga mat.  I found that a regular yoga mat worked fine. 

Wyatt talks viewers through the exercises wearing a wireless microphone.  She speaks clearly, and it is easy to understand her instructions. She has an appealing manner and a confident soothing voice.  The production quality is satisfactory if basic.  The camera moves around from person to person, occasionally cutting to a different perspective.  The DVD user can select from 4 different versions of the program: 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, or the whole thing.  There is rather generic electronic music playing in the background.  There are no other options or extras. 

The program is demanding and viewers who are not already strong in their stomach muscles or arms may have difficulty with several of the exercises.  Wyatt does suggest some modifications, and one of the men, Adam, demonstrates them.  The exercises also modify themselves for those who are not so strong, since if you don't have the strength, you will simply not be able to do as many repetitions of the exercises as Wyatt demonstrates.  As you get stronger with practice, the exercises get easier.  Wyatt recommends doing the program 30 times to get its full benefit.

Where I live in the New York area, Pilates is a form of exercise that seems even more dominated by women than yoga is.  Yet it is clearly a well designed approach to exercise and fitness, so it is great that this DVD provides men a way to explore Pilates.  Since the only equipment this DVD requires is a mat, it is far more approachable than other Pilates DVDs that require special mats, balls, or other equipment.  I found Pilates for Men well made and enjoyable. 

Pilates Exercises on this DVD:

Introduction

Hundreds

Roll Up

Leg Circles

Rolling Like a Ball

Stomach series

Single Leg Stretch

Double Leg Stretch

Single Straight Leg Stretch

Double Straight Leg Stretch

Criss Cross

Spine Stretch Forward

Open Leg Rocker

Corkscrew

Saw

Neck Roll

Single Leg Kicks

Double Leg Kicks

Neck Pull

Side Series

Front/Back

Up/Down

Side Lifts

One Leg Teaser

Modified Teaser

Teaser

Pushup series

Pushup

Side Dips

Single Leg Pushup

The Seal

Link: Pilates for Men

 © 2007 Christian Perring. All rights reserved.

Christian Perring, Ph.D., is Academic Chair of the Arts & Humanities Division and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Dowling College, Long Island. He is also editor of Metapsychology Online Reviews.  His main research is on philosophical issues in medicine, psychiatry and psychology.