My name is Katherine Weber and I am currently a 2nd year BA student majoring in English and History. I enjoy writing short stories and drawing. I want to work in publishing one day because I love reading all types of books.
Popularised by Hollywood celebrities and Facebook moms, pilates and yoga bear a convoluted public image. Some people think they are both way too difficult to get into and others think it would be pointless getting involved in these forms of exercise. Reasons being “It’s basically stretching!” and “You’re not even working out.” In reality, however, Pilates and yoga very quickly establish themselves to be very complex and difficult to manage within the first 5 minutes. What is great though, is that both these exercises have advantages that can last a lifetime, and can help your body’s overall functioning in countless ways. Hence, before dismissing these forms of exercise, , here are the reasons why they could be beneficial to men:
According to Yoga for Everyone, yoga is a practice that involves physical exercises that are combined with meditation and breathing principles. Pilates, on the other hand, is a form of low-impact exercise that strengthens your core and also uses breathing principles.
Pilates can easily be incorporated into your usual workout routine. According to menshealth.com, some basic exercises include the pelvic curl and the supine twist, amongst others. The pelvic curl involves rotating your hips in a circular motion with your feet and back on the floor. Whereas,the supine twist involves laying on your back and moving your legs into a tabletop position while moving your legs from side to side. These exercises improve mobility in your lumbar region and strengthen your hip flexors. These exercises also aren’t time consuming, so you will not have to worry about possibly skipping leg day.
Some benefits of pilates and yoga include improved balance, increased core strength, better posture, reduced menstrual pain (for the ladies), higher energy levels and decreased stress. Interestingly enough, the effects of these two movement-focused forms of exercise can lead to an enhanced sex life.
So, let’s talk about sex. Increased strength, mobility and flexibility can lead to a very spicy sex life. A study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that women who engaged in a 12-week yoga programme reported higher levels of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm and satisfaction, and lower levels of pain. Poses like the cat and cow pose, which go hand in hand, not only increase blood flow but also tone your hip and pelvis. So, when it comes down to the naked dance, participants in yoga and pilates can boast a more adventurous and pleasurable experience.
It is very easy to list the benefits of pilates and yoga, like increased flexibility or increased blood flow, but what does that mean practically? Regular blood circulation is very important for a strong mind and a healthy heart and of course, a strong immune system. The month of May in Pretoria signals the beginning of the weird in-between weather stage wherein, winter kick-starts the day and summer randomly comes in with a sucker punch at some point during the day. But make no mistake, winter is on its way, and it never starts without at least one person getting sick and spreading it all around campus. Moreover, only heaven knows missing out on one day of classes somehow ends up in falling an entire quarter behind. Perhaps, everyone on campus might benefit from the strong mind, healthy heart and strong immune system that are promised by these exercise forms, especially if they are trying to save the semester.
Pilates and Yoga are also both low-maintenance exercises, and do not require you to spend an arm and a leg. All you need is a yoga mat and a device that can go onto YouTube where there are plenty of videos and workouts that you can do alongside the instructor. Additionally, if you are a member of a local gym, there are often pilates classes you can attend. Alternatively, you can Google basic exercises and poses that you can slowly incorporate into your regular workout routine.
All things considered, pilates and yoga can really spice up your life and give you the cheat code you’ve always needed to hack varsity studies.