Why men struggle with this popular ‘low-impact’ workout

If one thing can be said for reformer Pilates, it’s that it certainly has a way of humbling even the fittest of fitness buffs.

We’ve all seen the videos of overconfident ‘gymbros’ reduced to a shaking mess on the machine, but aside from the sense of schadenfreude this footage brings, you can’t help but wonder why men appear so ill-equipped for the low-impact workout.

Though widely dismissed by the male population as a stereotypically “girly,” exercise, Pilates was originally invented by a man, Joseph Pilates, during the height of World War I.

And contrary to popular belief, the German inventer masterminded his namesake workout with boxers, soldiers and athletes front-of-mind – not women.

It wasn’t until the 1940s and ’50s that Pilates became popularised among the ballet community in New York City, thus linking the exercise to a demographic of female dancers henceforth and forevermore.

But as an increasing number of men try their hand at reformer, it’s become evident they’ve been vastly underestimating the workout all these years.

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Videos of men shaking, wincing, and collapsing on reformer machines have vindicated Pilates princesses far and wide – but why is it that men, who biologically posses more muscle mass than women, struggle to hack it on the first go?

Speaking to nine.com.au, director of Pilates at Flow Athletic Simon Ngo debunked the workout’s “soft” reputation, revealing men quickly change their tune after mounting the reformer machine.

“Common comments that we will hear in the Pilates world is men saying, ‘How do the girls make it look so easy? It’s almost as if they don’t feel pain’,” he said.

Ngo explained there was one key reason behind this.

“When it comes to men, because they’re stronger, they’re more well-built and that comes with [a] shorter range of motion and less flexibility,” he said.

Pilates workouts target neglected deep core stabilisers, and demands active flexibility over the raw bulk gym-goers typically possess.

“So to move at that end range is a little bit more challenging for them, and they might not have the endurance for it just yet.”

He cited movements involving hip flexors, such as lunges, as the “most difficult” for men to master.

According to him, Pilates essentially mimics “more organic” motion, helping participants understand how their body is supposed to feel during certain patterns of movement.

“So I think maybe for the first time, a lot of people are finally getting it, that feeling in their bodies.”

Ngo also noted a recent influx of men flouting stereotypes to try their hand at Pilates, which he admits he “loves” seeing.

“I think it’s good to open that conversation because I don’t think it’s just for women.”