Reformer Pilates for Men: Why More Are Getting On the Machine
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
TL;DR: Reformer pilates is not just for women, it was invented by a man, Joseph Pilates, to condition boxers and soldiers. For men it builds deep core and functional strength, restores the mobility that lifting and sitting take away, prevents injury, and improves performance in every other sport. Elite male athletes from Cristiano Ronaldo to NFL and NBA players train on it. It is a genuinely hard workout that complements weights and running rather than replacing them, and you will not be the only bloke in the room.
Here is a fact that surprises most blokes: pilates was invented by a man, for men. Joseph Pilates created the method to condition boxers, soldiers and gymnasts, and the idea that it is a women's workout is a modern accident of marketing. We have trained men on the reformers at our Bondi studio for years now, everyone from nervous first-timers to former rugby players, and the smirk usually lasts until about the ten-minute mark of their first class. Reformer pilates for men is one of the most underrated tools in fitness. Here is what it actually does for you, the myths worth dropping, and why so many male athletes now swear by it.
Is reformer pilates good for men?
Yes, and arguably just as useful for men than for the women who currently fill the classes. Men tend to be stronger but tighter, carrying stiffness through the hips, hamstrings and shoulders from lifting, sitting and sport, and reformer pilates directly targets that imbalance. It builds deep core and functional strength, restores mobility, and trains the small stabilising muscles that heavy gym work and repetitive sport tend to neglect. The result is a body that is not just strong in the gym but strong, mobile and resilient everywhere else. For a lot of men, it is the missing piece that makes everything else they do work better and break down less.
The myth that pilates is for women only
This one is historically backwards. Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates, a former boxer and gymnast, who used it to rehabilitate and condition men, including soldiers during the First World War. For decades it was a staple of male athletic and dance training before it became associated with women's studios. So the "it's for women" idea is not just limiting, it is the opposite of the truth. As Joseph Pilates himself said, "Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness," and he built the reformer to deliver exactly that, for everyone. The men walking into classes now are not doing something new. They are reclaiming the original audience.
The real benefits of reformer pilates for men
The benefits hit precisely where most men's training has gaps.
Functional core strength. Reformer builds the deep core that stabilises your spine and transfers power, the foundation of every lift, sprint and swing.
Mobility and flexibility. It restores the hip, hamstring and shoulder range that lifting and sitting steal, which most men are short on.
Injury prevention. By strengthening the small stabilising muscles and correcting left-right imbalances, it protects the joints your main sport hammers.
Better performance. More core control and mobility means more efficient running, stronger lifting and fewer breakdowns.
Back pain relief. A systematic review in the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy found Pilates-based exercise significantly reduced pain and disability in people with non-specific lower back pain.
It is not a replacement for lifting or cardio. It is the strength and mobility layer that makes both safer and more effective.
The athletes who train on the reformer
If you still think it is soft, look at who does it. Elite male athletes across the toughest sports use pilates to build strength, mobility and longevity. Footballers including Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane, golfers like Tiger Woods, tennis players such as Andy Murray, and a long list of NFL and NBA players all train on the reformer or mat. They do it because it extends careers, prevents the injuries that end them, and builds the kind of controlled, functional strength that shows up on the field rather than just in the mirror. When the best bodies in professional sport choose pilates, the "it's not a real workout" line stops making sense.
Will I be the only man in the class?
Probably not anymore, and it would not matter if you were. Men are one of the fastest-growing groups in reformer pilates, and most Bondi classes now have blokes in them, often more than you would expect. Even if a class skews female on a given day, nobody is watching you, everyone is focused on their own springs and form. The teacher will set you up and guide you, and the machine scales to your strength, so you work at your level from the first class. The only thing that makes a man stand out in a reformer class is shaking through an exercise that looked easy, which happens to everyone.
How to start as a man
Start the same way anyone should: in a beginner or Essentials class, with no expectation of being good at it on day one. Wear fitted activewear, because loose gym shorts ride up during leg work, and bring grip socks. Tell the teacher it is your first class so they can set your springs and watch your form. Expect to be humbled by how hard slow, controlled movement is, especially through the core, and expect to feel it the next day in muscles you did not know you had. Aim for two to three classes a week alongside your other training, progressing from Essentials to Flow and beyond as your control builds.
Frequently asked questions
Is reformer pilates good for men?
Very. Men are often strong but tight, and reformer builds core strength while restoring the mobility that lifting and sitting take away. It improves athletic performance, prevents injury, and complements weights and cardio rather than replacing them.
Why don't more men do pilates?
Mostly a marketing accident. Pilates was invented by a man for male athletes and soldiers, but became associated with women's studios over time. That perception is changing fast as more men, including elite athletes, discover what it does for strength and longevity.
Does reformer pilates build muscle for men?
It builds lean, functional strength and muscular endurance rather than bulk. It is excellent for core, stabiliser and full-body strength, and it makes your heavy lifting more effective by improving control and mobility. For size, pair it with weight training.
Can pilates help with sports performance?
Yes. The core strength, mobility and balance reformer builds transfer directly to running, lifting, golf, surfing and team sports. Many elite male athletes use it specifically to improve performance and prevent the injuries that interrupt careers.
Will I be the only man in a pilates class?
Unlikely. Men are a fast-growing part of reformer classes, and most Bondi studios have blokes in every session. Even in a female-skewed class, everyone is focused on their own work, and the teacher guides you through.
Get on the machine in Bondi
If you have written pilates off as not for you, you have been sold a myth. Reformer is hard, it is built on functional strength, and it will make everything else you do in the gym, on the trail or in the surf work better. The first class is the only hard part.
We have trained Bondi men on the reformers from total beginners to former pros. Try the studio on the 21-day unlimited trial and find out what what it's all about. Start your 21-day unlimited trial.
