The Rise of Men in Pilates: Strength, Mobility, and Whole Body Movement
Once perceived as a women-dominated domain, Pilates is undergoing a powerful shift. More men are jumping onto the Reformer, starting Clinical Pilates sessions, and trying Mat classes - experiencing firsthand the transformative benefits of this intelligent movement system. Whether they’re athletes chasing performance gains, office workers countering desk fatigue, recovering from injury, or wanting to improve their quality of life, men are increasingly turning to Pilates—and for good reason.
The Rise of Men in Pilates
Over the past decade, Pilates has steadily gained traction among men. High-profile athletes such as LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Andy Murray have publicly credited Pilates as a key element of their training and recovery routines. This growing visibility has challenged outdated perceptions and opened the door for more men to explore what Pilates can offer—not just in terms of rehabilitation, but as a foundational method for building strength, balance, and resilience.
At our Bay City Health, we’ve seen firsthand a rise in male clients seeking out Pilates, often after trying other modalities for persistent back pain, tight hips, or recurring injuries. But once they step into the studio, many are surprised at the physical challenge, mental focus, and results that Pilates delivers.
Benefits of Pilates
While the benefits of Pilates are universal, there are several that stand out for men based on anatomy, physiology and simple genetics:
• Mobility: It’s common knowledge that men will generally favour strength over stretching - leading to joint stiffness and muscle tightness over time. The idea of stretching is usually along the lines of sitting down for 30 minutes trying to touch your toes. Thankfully, that’s not the case with Pilates, as it integrates active mobility into most exercises, therefore improving joint and muscle range of motion.
• Mental Health: We’ve heard it all before: “exercise releases endorphins”. Pilates is no different! In a nutshell, Pilates is a form of exercise that will have you leaving the session feeling great - not just physically, but mentally. The combination of heart rate, strength, and mobility is like easing the release valve. For that magical period of time post session, the weight of the world is at bay.
• Postural Mechanics: Many men develop tight hip flexors, hamstrings, and lower backs from sports, gym workouts, or prolonged sitting to name a few. Pilates directly targets these areas, improving mobility and spinal mechanics.
• Core Activation: Unlike crunches or planks alone, Pilates enables men to consciously and sub-conciously engage deep stabilising muscles (like the transverse abdominis, multifidus and pelvic floor), which supports proprioception, balance, overall core strength, spinal health and athletic performance.
• Shoulder and Upper Body Control: Men often carry tension through the traps and neck, or develop over-dominance through the pecs and deltoids. Pilates emphasises thoracic spine mobility - particularly into extension - which in turn promotes shoulder mobility, scapular control and improved posture, therefore contributing to better upper body mechanics.
• Injury Prevention and Longevity: Whether you’re lifting heavy at the gym, cycling, running, or parenting young kids—Pilates reduces the risk of strain injuries and helps men stay active, mobile and engaged in their activities of daily living.
Famous Male Athletes Who Use Pilates
Some of the world’s top male athletes incorporate Pilates into their training routines—not just for flexibility, but to enhance performance, prevent injuries, and support career longevity:
• LeBron James (Basketball): The NBA superstar is known for his intense focus on body maintenance, and Pilates plays a big role in keeping him mobile, strong, and resilient in a high-impact sport.
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Football): One of the fittest footballers in history, Ronaldo integrates Pilates into his weekly routine to maintain core control and reduce injury risk.
• Andy Murray (Tennis): Following hip surgery, the tennis star turned to Pilates as part of his rehabilitation. It helped him regain dynamic movement control and return to the court with greater stability.
• Tiger Woods (Golf): Known for his strict training regimen, Woods has used Pilates to maintain core strength and spinal mobility, both crucial in the biomechanics of a golf swing.
• David Beckham (Football): Pilates became a regular part of Beckham’s routine in the latter years of his career, helping him stay injury-free and extend his playing longevity.
AFL Players:
Pilates has become a key training and recovery tool for many elite AFL footballers, helping them enhance core strength, improve mobility, prevent injuries, and extend their playing careers. Below is a list of AFL players who are well known for incorporating Pilates into their training and recovery routines:
Bailey Smith
Patrick Dangerfield
Marcus Bontempelli
Lachie Neale
Scott Pendlebury
Patrick Cripps
Isaac Heeney
*A couple of past players that were avid Pilates-goers and displayed traits of Pilates strength training included:
Gary Ablett Jnr
Chris Judd
Dusty Martin
What these athletes have discovered is what more men are starting to realise: Pilates is not a “soft” option—it’s a powerful tool for elite-level performance.
Pilates Was Created by a Man – And It Started with Strength
It often surprises people to learn that Pilates was actually created by a man—Joseph Pilates.
Born in Germany in 1883, Joseph suffered from a range of illnesses as a child, including asthma and rickets. Determined to overcome his frailty, he immersed himself in physical conditioning. He trained in boxing, gymnastics, martial arts, and bodyweight calisthenics, and studied anatomy and animal movement.
During World War I, while interned in a British camp, he began developing his unique movement system to rehabilitate injured soldiers—using whatever equipment was available, including springs from hospital beds (the foundation of today’s reformer machines). He later refined the method in New York, where his studio attracted dancers, athletes, boxers, and actors alike.
Joseph Pilates believed his method—originally called Contrology—was the key to developing a balanced body, strong mind, and efficient movement patterns. He was decades ahead of his time, promoting core control, breathwork, and posture long before these became mainstream ideas.
So whilst there was a time Pilates used to be viewed as “feminine” by most men, today Pilates is becoming increasingly popular for it’s versatility and results for both men and women.
Pilates for Every Age: From Teens to Older Adults
One of the most exciting trends we’ve seen is the wide age spread of men now engaging in Pilates. Older men are coming through our studio with a clear goal in mind—to age gracefully. For many, that means improving balance, maintaining mobility, and preserving the strength needed for everyday tasks like walking, gardening, lifting, or getting down to play with grandchildren. At the other end of the spectrum, we’re seeing more teenage boys referred for postural issues—from forward head carriage to excessive lumbar lordosis—often due to long hours at desks, devices, or early sports specialisation. Pilates meets each individual at their level, offering tailored support whether the goal is longevity, function, or early intervention.
Men in Pilates – What They Want vs What They Need
When men first walk into a Pilates studio, they often come seeking strength, sweat, and stretch. They want a challenge, a solid workout, and visible results. And Pilates can absolutely deliver that. From loaded leg springs to dynamic plank sequences, Pilates can be as tough and rewarding as any gym session.
But what they need is often something deeper. They need control over their movement patterns, improved joint mobility, a better relationship with breath, and postural endurance that supports their body in both static and dynamic tasks. They need a method that doesn’t just work the muscles—but educates the nervous system, restores balance, and builds a foundation that other forms of training can sit on top of.
The beauty of Pilates is that it meets men where they’re at—and then subtly expands their awareness, resilience, and capacity. Many discover they’re not just getting stronger; they’re moving better, sleeping better, and feeling more in tune with their bodies.
*Check out our Instagram account to see some humorous vidoes on the topic of “Men in Pilates - What they want VS What they need'“ and plenty of other great topics. Click the Social link below:
A Male Instructor’s Perspective – Meet Clint
One of our lead instructors, Clint, brings a unique perspective to the Pilates space. As a somewhat larger male, he doesn’t quite fit the traditional image of a Pilates instructor—and that’s exactly why his presence matters. With a background in competitive swimming and football, Clint was introduced to Pilates initially as a way to improve sports performance. Later, it became a crucial part of his rehabilitation journey after injury, and today, it forms the foundation of how he maintains his strength, mobility, and long-term health. This blog is close to Clint’s heart—not just because of what Pilates has done for him personally, but because of his drive to share that knowledge and passion with others. Whether it’s guiding clients through their own movement goals or mentoring the next generation of Pilates instructors and students, Clint is a strong advocate for men in Pilates and the transformative power of the method.
Final Thoughts
Pilates is no longer just a niche practice for dancers or rehab patients. It’s a structured, strategic approach to human movement—and one that’s uniquely positioned to support men across all life stages. From tradies with tight backs to middle-aged dads wanting to future-proof their bodies, Pilates offers an intelligent pathway to strength, mobility, and lasting health.
So if you’re a man curious about Pilates, the best way to understand it is to try it!