Another Pilates for Men Blog Post…
Is Pilates for Men?
This exists on so many Pilates websites and the question always makes me cringe a bit. I don’t think I need to answer that question. The benefits are clearly present for doing Pilates. I think the biggest door that practicing Pilates opens for men consciously or not is pelvic health. I am going to make a gross assumption that men, in general, are not very in tune with their pelvic region. One of my favorite things about teaching in California is I see far more male clients on a regular basis. In my male clients I’ve been alarmed by the amount of pelvic issues I’ve seen contributing to hernias, low back issues, and diastasis recti. Those are just the issues I’m coming across through movement. There’s also the other list of issues dealing with the pelvis, hemorrhoids, pelvic floor pain, symptoms associated with enlarged prostate, and probably the most famous one of them all erectile dysfunction.
Why does Pilates help?
I believe the Pilates equipment and even the Pilates mat help provide the brain information to perform focused movement. Many of the issues I’ve listed above can be improved by creating better mobility and stability in the lumbo-pelvic region.
At Z Moves Pilates applications from The Neuro Studio’s four quadrant stability model brings another level of personalized brain based learning to the equation. Pilates is the perfect arena to evaluate, learn, and challenge our movement. The method is clinically proven and being studied by multiple major universities. It’s a brain based approach which individually modifies the work to facilitate and challenge reflexive stability resulting in neurotically stronger and more functional abilities. This also often translates to less or no pain.
Now why is this important for the male pelvis?
Learning to find mobility and stability is not holding something still, and making the other thing move. Stability is actually always moving and adjusting, which is why it needs to be reflexive and not something we consciously do around the clock by squeezing, holding, and flexing muscles to control movement. Our body stabilizes naturally. Your brain has that covered. When we can find reflexive stability the brain is in a safe place where the information our brain is receiving translates to optimal movement function. It’s a constant flow of information in, adjustment, and then proper output. Most of us don’t have to think to walk. Even though gait is a very complex movement pattern we just do it. Our brain adjusts every step for the surface we are walking on, whatever load we might be carrying, or because of a structural imbalance. Our brain is making those adjustments, typically unconsciously through our reflexes, to keep us moving forward.
Finding reflexive stability in the hips is essential not only for hip health but all around pelvic health. Appropriate tension and slack is restored in the lumbo-pelvic region allowing not only just better blood flow and healthier lymphatics but overall better neurological strength in that muscle. Clients often feel an immediate shift out of or into less pain, better range of motion, and into the state where a new neuro pathway can be established. Neurologically weak pelvic floor muscles are linked directly to sexual dysfunction in men and exercises like the infamous kegels exercise I’m afraid are known to create greater neurological weakness in the pelvic floor rather than restoring function through finding reflexive stability in the hips.
Any muscles that deal with breathe, urination/defecation, and other regulated functions need to work in a reflexive or more automatic way. Reflexive stability through The Neuro Studio’s four quadrant stability model opens the door to explore optimal movement potential through each client’s unique brain response.
At the end of the day. Men need to find neurologically stronger hips and practicing Pilates applying The Neuro Studio’s 4 quadrant stability model is how Z Moves Pilates can guarantee that the work will make a positive change or help prevent the pain and repercussions of a lot of the male pelvic issues. These issues are oh so common and brain based movement can help.
