Pilates, a mind-body exercise developed by Joseph Pilates roughly a century ago, is seeing an increase in male participants. The UK pilates and yoga market is reportedly worth £1.1bn.
Originally called contrology, the exercise was created by Joseph Pilates, a German national, while he was detained on the Isle of Man during the First World War. He later established a studio in New York City in the 1920s, where ballerinas discovered the practice for soothing overworked joints.
While pilates has historically been dominated by women, men are increasingly showing interest. Hernan Castro-Vidal, who operates a Pilates Nutrition studio in south London, has observed a significant rise in men signing up for pilates, with many influenced by celebrities and footballers. He noted that 12 out of his 15 private clients are men, often preferring private sessions initially due to shyness about joining group classes.
Sports figures such as LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and David Beckham, along with actor Glen Powell and singer Harry Styles, have reportedly praised pilates. Reggae star Shaggy is said to be considering purchasing reformer pilates machines for his homes in Florida and Jamaica.