Workouts Just For Women? Nonsense!

How men could benefit from exercises marketed to their wives.

     Dudes. Listen up. Just because the majority of people in your local spin class wear yoga pants doesn’t mean you should avoid sweating it out with them. Workouts marketed to women are just as beneficial to men, and because there are so many of them, you could be missing out on new ways to get in shape and avoid burnout.

     Here are a few of my favorites that you should try immediately:

The Barre

What it is: If ballet and yoga had a kid, this would be it. It can give you those long and lean muscles and improve overall strength.

Why Men Should Do It: It’s a great core workout and if you want legs of steel, look no further.

Pilates

What it is:  Developed by Joseph Pilates during WWI, it began as a way to rehabilitate injured soldiers through core strength, flexibility, and graceful movement.

Why Men Should Do It: Pilates is great because it works for a wide range of people, from athletes and dancers to seniors and pregnant women. It’s really great for men who lift weights because it can loosen tight muscles.

Zumba

What it is: Developed in the 1990s by aerobics instructor Beto Perez when he introduced salsa music in a class he was teaching, Zumba combines elements of several dance styles to create a fun cardio class where you can burn up to 10 calories a minute.

Why Men Should Do It: Where else can you get your cardio in while also working on your dance moves? Get in a class and prepare to sweat your butt off.

Spinning

What it is: 45 minutes to an hour on a bike may seem exhausting, but that’s the point. Combine an intense calorie burn with a lower-body strength workout and you have the perfect exercise.

Why Men Should Do It: Torch calories and get massive quads, glutes and calves. What’s not to love? Spinning offers an awesome workout in an exciting group environment.