TurquoiseEyes
Cathlete
Oh, I have seen in myself and in others, including men, drastic body composition changes due mainly to a consistent pilates practice, whether it be rehabilitative pilates or more fitness themed workouts incorporating the main principles of pilates. Perhaps this is a silly anecdotal example to be citing,but I happen to have had a few male friends who were dancers for entertainment (not exactly the ballet). They practiced pilates 2-3 times a week and their main workouts were gymnastics influenced (with those hanging bars) bodyweight practice with short anaerobic cardio workouts. I am a weights lover usually, although I am not convinced that it's necessary for everyone. Of course, getting back to the body type discussion you were talking about, men (most often) do not carry excess weight in the same areas we do.
I agree that if someone is doing challenging bodyweight workouts and Pilates, they may not need any weight-training. Unless an individual is losing too much muscle or bone mass loss for their age, those two-three fitness methods could be all they need. I'm personally a full-figured woman, possess long arms, and cannot hold my own weight with flawless form enough to gain muscle solely via bodyweight training - I must use free weights or machines with weight to gain or even just maintain muscle. It's great so many training methods are known today, that we can each choose the one(s) that work for us as individuals.
I'm a big believer in regular stretching/Yoga/Pilates, especially those exercises and stretches done on the floor. Getting down on the floor, kneeling, being able to get up without a struggle, sitting cross-legged...these are all things we take for granted when we're younger. However, many people lose the ability to do all of these things as they age. I've watched my 61-year-old mother go from being a normal working woman taking on a two-hour commute and a full-time job every day for 37 years, to someone who is over 400 lbs. (much of the weight gained from Type II diabetes medications), cannot get up by herself if she falls, cannot kneel or squat, needs grab bars throughout her house, and has severely hunched shoulders. Her sedentary lifestyle and refusal to do any workouts on a regular basis will at least in part be the death of her. She can no longer drive and is basically a prisoner of her house because of her body. My grandmother aged in a similar fashion, also due primarily to her chosen lifestyle. They were a warning to me of what's to come if I do not eat well, do cardio, train with weights, and regularly get on the floor and stretch. I write this up simply to light a fire under myself, not to put my mom or grandmother down. Stretching can really maintain a valuable element of youthfulness.
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