STRETCH YOURSELF

ilates is a bit of a mystery for most men. Many still think it’s something only women do. I know that because when I asked a random sample of male friends (mostly comedians) what came into their heads when Pilates was mentioned, I got a range of responses. I heard references to ‘Pontius Pilates’, the ‘Pilates of Penzance’ and other witticisms even worse than those. Quite a few mentioned farting, including the fear of doing it in public. Lycra came up a lot, as did back and shoulder pain, machines and “big blue balls”. A number of responders brought up yoga or yoga mats, or “yoga in an S and M dungeon”. The most detailed answer I received was “a rehabilitative practice originally designed to work with dance-related injuries, in which a bespoke programme of exercise