Why don't men do core exercises?

Lukoind wrote: »

Probably, because most men get lower back pain, while doing core exercises.

And this is based on?

Women love things like sit ups as they wrongly believe it affects belly fat, men believe if they do sit ups etc they turn into women. Just how it is in gyms, most females use the cardio/watch tv but never pick a heavy barbell up, which is what most need to do, and most men avoid yoga/flexibility etc which would help them (obviously *some* women do lift, and *some* men do yoga etc)

I would love to see you in a bikini, keep at it!

Okay, I'll bite.

I am male, 56yo, 5ft8in and 10stone, so average height and weight. I don't wear a bikini. In a week I do these classes: 30min pure core, 90min yoga, 2x60min pilates, 45min spin, 60min bodypump (weights) and 60min bodybalance ("power" yoga-ish). All except for one emphasise core work. It is rare for any other male to attend most of these. Any that does will have had this recommended by their doctor. They will usually drop out between two and six weeks, never to be seen again.

I started all this early last year after giving up work, as an antidote to RSI and postural issues from 40+ years of desk work. Having a lot of time to devote to it obviously makes it far more accessible. Before I started I hadn't even heard of, or considered, that keeping 'core muscles' in good shape was crucial. The typical gym stereotype for me was either lifting weights or cross-trainers. No particular core focus there.

I would say I am now in the best shape of my life, barring perhaps a golden era in my mid teens when I did a decent amount of swimming training. Good flexibility and decent strength. I still take stairs two at a time, move heavy loads effortlessly, and don't get winded digging the garden or cutting the grass. I wasn't obese or even particularly out of shape before I started all this, but nevertheless I really don't want to go back to my 'before', as I feel so much better in general. 20min on a cross-trainer feels like 5hr to me. In contrast, 60min in a studio class feels like 20min, even though I have to work harder in it.

So why don't more men do this? Malthusian's flippant comment is probably more on the mark than you might think. Women have intrinsically more flexibility, so will find yoga and pilates easier than men in general. Men have larger upper-body strength though, so plank and push-ups present less of a problem. Marketing also plays a part. Look at any promotional picture of a gym studio exercise class and you'll see a clutch of attractive women at the front, and maybe one or at most two men at the far back of the picture just to prove it's really not just for women. Also, yoga and pilates just don't look as "hard" as pumping iron.

I did classes at work before I left, and there the ratio was about 60-70% in favour of women, so much more balanced than at my local gym. This could be a demographic thing -- my workmates were mostly in their 20s and 30s, and at the daytime in my gym my co-attendees are more likely in their 50s and perhaps 60s (because it's daytime and we don't work any more).

As for the intimidation factor of being the only man in a group of 20+ women. I've learned to ignore it, and at times even celebrate it. Perhaps the women just think of me now as some sort of 'testosterone mascot'. Don't care. It's doing me a lot of good, so I'll stick with it. Fred246, do the same -- if it works for you and you enjoy it, keep going. Maybe you'll provide other men with the courage to join you. (I haven't, so far!)

Because core classes aren't for everyone. I personally would rather work on my core my own way and pace.

EdSwippet wrote: »

Why would any preference for group or individual core exercise not be gender-neutral?

The question was asked about men. I answered as a man. That was the entire thing.