The first time I asked my husband to do Pilates with me, I was met with some resistance. I was a few weeks into my training course, so he had heard me talking a lot about Pilates, and had seen me workout numerous times on a mat in the living room. I was breathing hard, making my way through a Level 1 class, and he was on the couch watching the game — or at least, what he could see of the game with various parts of my body blocking the screen. I looked over and asked him if he wanted to workout with me. “Oh, that’s okay. I’m gonna go for a run later,” he said.

We had this exact same conversation a couple more times before I figured out that my loving, supportive husband didn’t think Pilates was challenging enough for him — in spite of the fact that he had never tried it. Finally, the truth was out: Pilates was “too girly” for my manly man.

Eventually, I wore him down, and when I finally got him on the mat he quickly realized that Pilates was a little more challenging than he had anticipated. He got through the Hundreds easily enough, but as I watched him struggle to do a Roll Up for the first time I realized that my husband had very little core strength. It was kind of a shocking revelation. He’s a fairly active guy; he runs at least three times a week, goes on 12 – 15 mile bike rides, and he is constantly taking me on long, steep hikes that leave me huffing and puffing as I do my best to keep up. And yet, when it came to core strength and flexibility, I was leaving him miles behind.

Me and the hubby on one of our hikes

Our sessions together were a learning experience for both of us. I was getting used to teaching someone Pilates exercises that my body was already accustomed to. I had never tried to teach anyone else; I had always been the student.  As someone who had never done Pilates before, my husband was the perfect practice-teaching guinea pig. He was quick to point out when he thought I wasn’t being clear with my directions, or when my verbal cues didn’t make sense. As frustrating as that was in the moment, it was exactly what I needed to hear to improve my teaching. When there was an exercise he couldn’t perform perfectly, we would brainstorm together to come up with an appropriate modification. Working with someone of his size, stature, and skill level was beneficial because it forced me to think critically about body positioning and spring weight.

Meanwhile, my husband was learning how to engage his core and move with his body in proper alignment. After a few weeks of regular sessions, his core strength had improved and he experienced less lower-back pain. In fact, these are the results most people can expect after beginning a regular Pilates routine. I say regular because, like with any other exercise regimen, consistency is the key.

Although not as big of a Pilates enthusiast as I am, my husband still tries to fit in at least one session a week. He knows the benefits of doing Pilates because he has experienced them for himself. In fact, most husbands (or fathers, or brothers, or sons, etc.) can benefit from integrating Pilates into their workout routines. Here are a few reasons why:

Getting ready for the Hundreds

1) Increased Core Strength: It only took a few sessions for my husband to notice a difference in his core strength. He was able to perform exercises that had previously been difficult with a newfound ease. More importantly, he had learned exactly what it means to “engage the core.” This is huge because knowing how to use your core, both while working out and in your day-to-day life, will help you move properly and prevent injury down the road.

2) Decreased Back Pain: Pilates instructors will tell you that, typically, low-back pain is a sign of weak abdominals or a failure to use the core correctly in your movements. The pain you feel in the back corresponds to the weakness you have in the front. We want to build up that core strength and teach you how to use it properly so that you can protect your spine and reduce back pain. Before starting Pilates, my husband would frequently complain of lower back pain. Doing Pilates increased his core strength and awareness, which in turn decreased his pain.

3) Increased Flexibility: Generally speaking, men are not particularly flexible. Sitting in front of a computer all day, like my husband, can result in the head and neck drooping forward, rounded shoulders, tight hip flexors, and more. The longer you sit in this position, the tighter your muscles get. Luckily, Pilates combats this by stretching the muscles and creating more movement in the joints. My husband would finish a Pilates session feeling a lot more loose and limber than when he had started. I like to give clients a visual of this increased flexibility by doing a standing roll down at the beginning and end of each session, so they can literally see how far they have come in just one hour.

Short Spine Massage

4) Postural Awareness: As an instructor, I’m constantly cueing clients to lengthen their spine–“imagine the top of your head reaching away from the tailbone.” This focus on correct posture and alignment eventually became second nature to my husband, as it does for many of my clients. You’ll start correcting yourself when you’re sitting on the couch, or driving your car, or waiting in line at the grocery store. Why? Because after doing Pilates, you’ll know that having good posture makes you feel…good. We’ve all seen what happens when you don’t have good posture, right? No one wants to be the hunchback in the neighborhood when they’re old. Vanity aside, good posture can have a serious impact on your mental and physical health, reducing headaches, joint pain, muscle tension, etc. Posture matters, and Pilates can help with that.

Still having trouble convincing the man in your life to give Pilates a try? Show him this article about 7 NFL players who have made Pilates a part of their workout regimen, and then book a semi-private to get him started.

[Author’s Note: After publishing this post, I asked my husband why he continues to do Pilates. His response? “So I can keep up with my wife.” If your husband is as competitive as mine, that may be the only motivation he needs 😉 ]