Pilates Intel Online Newsletter for the Pilates Teaching Community

You can count on men of a certain age to have acquired many things: life lessons, wisdom, knowledge, and (of course) material things. Along with those things, they more than likely have also acquired poor movement mechanics and a few injuries. These men can stand to gain many positive physical benefits if they choose to refocus their attitude and attention on their quality of life and well being and include healthy functional fitness and movement, or what we all know as Pilates.

Men of a certain age are now coming into the Pilates method in greater numbers than we have seen before. For a large majority of these men, they are showing up with old injuries, poor biomechanics and movement patterns that are starting to affect their quality of life. These men have heard that Pilates could be the panacea that can keep them active and injury free into their “golden years.” For these mature male clients (that I usually refer to as “Prime Males”), paying close attention to form and function during their workouts and having a bit of an understanding of the male body and psyche as it ages are paramount in achieving a level of health and wellness that create Balance, Strength and Harmony in the body.

It is difficult to detail the many aspects of the male body and aging as well as provide information on how to successfully communicate and work with men in a short article. Therefore, let’s touch on four points of interest to consider when working with a “Prime Male” client:

Here’s a simple example of communication style differences between men and women.John is giving presentation to a group. Typically, men who are hearing John and in agreement with what he is saying will nod their heads. Women in the same group listening to John’s presentation will also nod their heads, but this only indicates that they are listening to the presentation. So, imagine John’s confusion if a woman in the group who was listening and nodding her head comes up to him and states that she does NOT agree with anything he stated. This statement then leaves him feeling confused and a bit bewildered as he thinks to himself, ”But you were nodding in agreement through my entire presentation?”

In general, women are usually much better communicators, especially when it comes to sharing feeling and emotions. Accordingly, a male client may not openly share and communicate everything that is going on with him or his body, particularly if those things involve emotions or pain. Men tend to like simpler, clearer directions and explanations regarding exercise. Once trust is established between the teacher/instructor and the Prime Male, he can become a most fiercely loyal client.

For example, as the male body ages, the levels of the hormone testosterone start to decrease. This drop can lead to loss of muscle mass, decreased energy, decrease in sexual desire and function, as well as attention deficit. These symptoms can be, and generally are, very concerning to men. However, as was mentioned earlier, men are not the best communicators and may not easily discuss these symptoms with anyone and instead internalize their concerns. As a well-rounded Pilates professional, increasing your knowledge of these hormonal changes can allow you to discuss or bring up these things in a way that is “safe” for your Prime Male client.

For example, when you are having a discussion with your client about his exercise program and how to achieve optimal training benefits and if you have developed the right level of trust, you could introduce the topic by making a statement such as “You know, all of our bodies change as we age and these changes (including hormone levels) can affect our mood, sexual function, and brain function. My husband/partner/brother/co-worker/friend noticed these changes and went to his healthcare provider to get his hormone levels tested to see if they were optimal and to get more information on managing the aging process.”

Often men have no outlets for expression or simple comradery with friends. It is most important for men to develop and nurture friendships as they age. These male-to-male bonding relationships should be encouraged and are instrumental in creating an overall sense of well-being in your Prime Male clients.

“Men who do not have male friends often rely too much on their women/partners and expect too much from them,” says psychiatrist Dr. John Jacobs, who specializes in couples therapy. “Meaning it is not good for the marriage, for starters, and may leave serious emptiness at some point.” Developing this type of relationships is key to the long-term mental and physical health for most men. Keep in mind that “men over 65” is a population group with one of the higher incidences for suicide — this statistic jumps significantly at the age of 85 to four times the rate of the general population.

When teaching Pilates exercises and movement to a new Prime Male client, keep it simple. Definitely find out from your client what type of sports, exercise or fitness experiences he has had during his life. Use this information as a tool to create a client-specific approach to the workout. Many men do not have much experience moving their bodies like we do when performing the Pilates method. Therefore, it is best to break down some of the more difficult choreography and teach it in pieces. Remember, men like to have a sense of accomplishment especially when they are learning something new. They also like information — they want to know “why” they are doing these exercises and what positive benefits they will receive. When approaching the Prime Male workout, be sure to include a thorough warm-up to address flexibility, range of motion, balance and injury prevention. If possible, try to keep not only the workout, but also the warm-up, fluid and moving.

So in closing, welcome this new demographic into the Pilates environment.  Understand, educate and encourage them that they have made the right choice in the Pilates method. They will in turn reap the method’s many benefits and you will gain new loyal clients.

Kevin A. Bowen

Disclaimer:  The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, nor is it a substitute for medical advice. You should encourage your clients to consult a physician regarding medical diagnosis or treatment.