Viral Videos Show Ripped Gym Mates Collapsing During Pilates Workouts

Pilates may have a reputation for being “girly,” but a new trend on social media is shattering the assumption that it’s easy.

Male athletes and “gym buddies” are humbled by the challenge of Pilates and sculpting, workouts typically dominated by women.

Viral videos show men grimacing, clenching and shaking during classes, both on mats and on strengthening machines called reformers.

DIABETES PREVENTION LINKED TO A SPECIFIC TYPE OF EXERCISE, STUDY SHOWS

Melania Antuchas, an attractive Pilates and sculpting instructor based in Florida, joined the trend and posted videos of private classes with men that have received millions of views.

In an interview with News Digital, Antuchas, who teaches an exclusive 50-minute class that combines strength training and mat Pilates, said that athletic men find the class surprisingly difficult because of their training history.

“We focus on the small muscle fibers, so they are the muscles that are not used in the gym,” he said. “We use those big quads in the gym, we use heavy weights, but with just body weight, heel raises, a band and layers, that’s the real challenge. They’re not used to challenging their balance, their mobility, their instability.”

“After I gave that first initial class to all the men, each one of them asked for the next one because of how much it challenged them,” Antuchas added.

OLDER ADULTS SHOULD TARGET THESE MUSCLES WHEN TRAINING STRENGTH, SAYS FITNESS PRO

After recently hosting the men of the Raleigh Rugby Club, Raleigh Pilates in North Carolina posted a video where the men appear to battle through sets of leg raises, lunges, shoulder presses, sit-ups and stretches on the reformer.

Studio owner Rae Matthews noted that Pilates challenges “stronger people” differently, as athletes and weightlifters typically focus on “large global muscles,” while Pilates asks them to “slow down, stabilize and control movement throughout the full range of motion.”

“A lot of people are surprised because the exercises look small, but they feel really intense because the work comes from deep stabilizers rather than momentum or brute force,” he told News Digital.

What is Pilates?

Pilates was originally developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s to help rehabilitate wounded soldiers and ballet dancers, according to Brookelyn Suddell, director of group fitness strategy and development at Crunch Fitness in New York.

The method aimed to put muscles under controlled tension to develop strength, flexibility and mobility, which is the “foundation for effective movement,” he told News Digital.

Today, Pilates has incorporated more equipment, sculpting techniques for strength training and heated environments, Antuchas noted.

“It’s a slow, controlled, continuous, low-impact exercise,” he said. “It’s about precision, about control, about core strength.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE News APP

Suddell added that Pilates develops a “special type” of balanced, functional strength, working the stabilizers around each joint.

“That means your entire body is working in harmony, from your core to your extremities,” he said. “Even our Crunch CEO, Jim Rowley, a Navy veteran, lifelong weightlifter and all-around powerhouse, credits Pilates for boosting his core strength and mobility.”

Experts agreed that men can benefit from exercise just as much as women, as the practice can improve their overall performance in the gym, their sporting activities, their posture and their longevity.

“I think the key to getting more men involved is to reframe Pilates as smart strength training and injury prevention, not gentle training,” Matthews said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Words of caution

According to Antuchas, the main reason most people seek out strength training and Pilates is to help with lower back pain.

The trainer cautioned that no one should feel pain during a Pilates and sculpting workout, and that modifications should be made as necessary, especially when there is tension in the neck or lower back.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Antuchas, who teaches people of all ages, from 18 to 70+, said his workouts are intentionally challenging without requiring additional equipment, as the fundamental movements are demanding enough on their own.

Those who are new to Pilates should consult a doctor before starting to make sure it is appropriate for them.

“People should be careful if they have recent injuries or surgeries; chronic back or neck pain; limitations in the hip, shoulder or knee; or limited spinal mobility,” Suddell said.

TRY OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Matthews agreed that those with acute injuries, recent surgeries, osteoporosis or pregnancy should work with “well-trained and educated instructors who understand the modifications.”

“When Pilates is carefully taught, it is actually one of the safest and most supportive forms of movement available, but experience is very important.”