get your guy to try pilates
By Regina Joseph
Men may need Pilates even more than women.
In general, men can be resistant to trying new fitness techniques, especially if they feel like they are being nagged or goaded. So let's say you've reached your limit in chatting, cajoling and coaxing and are now prepared to glue this article onto your favorite guy's forehead to help him relieve his backache or shore up his six-pack. There is a better way! Try these steps in getting him to experience Pilates for himself.
. Find a good, equipment-based studio in your area that is within walking distance of his business or home. Men tend to respond better to the dynamics of an equipment-based studio and its "gadgets."
. Look at the studio and its branding. Is the environment neutral, feminine or masculine? These factors have important psychological consequences in whether or not a man will continue a Pilates practice. Feminine studios with "girly" logos and all-female clientele can be a turn-off to a skeptical guy.
.Make sure the instructors have been thoroughly trained. Ask whether the teachers use different techniques for men as opposed to women. (Effective teachers should be fluent in technique and repertoire that matches a man's need for working up a sweat at a level of difficulty.)
. Ask about the ratio of male-to-female clients. It is hard to find studios with more than 40 percent male clientele, but they are out there! Ask what kind of exercise the teacher is engaged in, apart from Pilates. Teachers who practice team sports or activities that commonly attract men, like martial arts or boxing, often can communicate more effectively with reluctant male practitioners.
.Buy a 10-pack of private equipment sessions for your favorite man as a gift. Private sessions are easier on men, because they won't feel as if they are competing against anyone. Avoid scheduling your workouts with him, as this might prove awkward.
Contributing Editor Regina Joseph is a journalist, media consultant and Pilates instructor in New York.
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