icon-account icon-glass

Popular Searches

Popular Products

The Lean Protein
Whey protein powder for weight-loss.

CATEGORIES

Discover Pilates for Men With Opus x Innermost

13th October 2021

Fitness Health

13th October 2021

By Innermost

You guessed it- it's partner time. Introducing Opus.

Here at Innermost, we work with Opus due to their strong and innovative approach to exercise, nutrition and wellness. Based in Notting Hill, London, Opus offer a range of services and products to inspire fitness fanatics everywhere to push themselves to be their best with every single workout. They also love Pilates. And stock some of our award-winning products such as The Fit Protein.

We got together with the team to discuss all things Pilates for men, check it out!

Introducing: Pilates for men 

"Pilates. It's my answer to everything nowadays" says reformer Pilates personal trainer Jade.

"I believe it should form part of everyone’s basic training. But as a Pilates instructor for the last 7 years, I have wondered why are so few men doing Pilates?"

Jade went on to state that when she asks men why they haven't tried out Pilates, she gets one of three reasons...

  • Pilates is for women

Pilates was actually developed by a man, Joseph Pilates (hence the name). He was a boxer, circus performer and body builder in his early life. Fast forward 100 years later, Pilates has grabbed the attention of some of the top athletes around the world. From basketballer’s, Lebron James and the late Kobe Bryant; top golfer Tiger Woods; Tennis champion Andy Murray and footballer David Beckham.

  • Pilates is stretching, so it's super easy

Pilates can be adapted to suit the needs of every individual. It can be tailored towards increased performance, increased mental focus, injury rehabilitation, specific sporting activities or general everyday lifestyle improvement. A good trainer understands the level required for each person, and accordingly make the sessions easier or harder - and trust me, they can be hard!

  • Pilates is only used for injury rehabilitation

Yes, Pilates is a great tool for rehabilitation, but also for prevention. As humans, it’s natural for us to find ourselves in certain postures for long periods of time (think sitting at desks or manual jobs which require repetitive lifting or carrying), and these can result in overusing specific muscles. If this continues, over time the pathway is often acute or chronic injuries. Pilates is one of the perfect ways to maintain balance through our various muscles.

    So, with so many men still to try their hand at Pilates, here are six reasons why I think men should be signing up for classes...

    Fix your posture 

    According to a recent study from Arthritis Research UK around 5.5 million people are living with back pain - and that's in England alone! By their very nature, Pilates exercises promote changes in habitual posture, and we know that this can have a direct link to back pain.

    ‘Good’ posture involves holding our bodies in such a way that any strain or tension is balanced between our muscles and supportive structures. Pilates exercises help to do just that, they rebalance the musculoskeletal system and re-train movement patterns.

    Improve your spinal health for every day life

    Our spine gives the body structure and support; and the movement, stability and alignment of the spine is an essential focus in Pilates. The exercises focus on developing a healthy spine which is able to move in all six directions without restriction (although this can take some time!).

    Control and discipline for your mental health

    In November 2020, The Mental Health Foundation published that nearly 6000 suicides were recorded in Great Britain in 2017. Of these, 75% were men. The principles of Pilates are breath, control, concentration, centre, precision and flow - all of which can take you out of your body and create a sense of focus and calm.

    If we create the right environment, we can retrain the brain into better thought patterns and help OPUS clients to feel good about themselves. Deep breathing techniques in Pilates brings a meditative aspect to training, which helps us to destress. Jade and Opus want to educate their clients to use correct and safe form, leaving no part of the body unattended - and breathing is a large part of it.

    Introduce movements to suit all training 

    As a Pilates instructor and personal trainer, Jade explained that a great future is seeing everybody using elements of Pilates in their basic training for, well, everything. The OPUS team stated that by understanding our natural biomechanics at a deeper level, we can increase everyday movement quality and physical performance quicker - and Pilates is the key ingredient.

    Achieve better core and hip mobility 

    The ‘core’ muscles are known as the “powerhouse” in the Pilates world. That is the epicentre of our bodies which is where many of our movements are generated. A strong powerhouse helps us to control the pelvis and spine while the limbs move.

    Pilates exercises help us to focus on deep abdominal strengthening which is too often missed in general training. Lifting weights, running or picking up our kids requires strong hips and shoulders, and Pilates is the perfect way to reach optimal function around these joints, too!

    Take advantage of the strength benefits for sports 

    As mentioned above, Pilates now plays a huge role in elite sports. Whether you are a gymnast, tennis player or a runner, Pilates can improve specific biomechanical movements by ensuring correct firing patterns between muscles. Developing strength in our deeper muscles and training multi-directional movements means that the exercises can transfer over to our favourite sports.

    Summary

    Pilates at OPUS isn’t Pilates in its purest form. Our classes are dynamic in nature and focus on building deep strength with higher volume and multiple sets on each muscle group. Our carefully curated classes are a nod to classical Pilates, with strength techniques thrown into the mix for a more rounded workout. Alongside our sequenced exercises, an energetic playlist is a must for us and will feature in every session!

    < Older post Newer post >

    Product Spotlight

    The front of The Fit Protein packaging.

    The Fit Protein
    Our Innermost The Fit Protein is formulated to boost energy, and accelerate muscle repair and recovery. Containing 31g of protein and 144 calories per serving.
    New Vegan Formula

    Need Expert Advice?

    Take the quiz

    Take the quiz

    If you're not sure where to start, take our 5 minute health consultation to get product recommendations tailored to your goals.
    Read more

    Other Insights

    Your Summer Survival Kit (From Someone Who Travels A Lot)

    Your Summer Survival Kit (From Someone Who Travels A Lot)

    I'm putting the finishing touches to this post from an airport, which feels appropriate. By my count, I'll be going through three countries in the next six weeks. Meetings, a trip to see family including my niece and nephew, a supplier visit in Italy that I've been putting off for a year. And every summer the same thing happens. The carefully built routine, the one that took months to lock in, gets thrown into a suitcase and I hope for the best. Most people react to this by either giving up on the routine entirely ("I'll sort it out when I'm back") or overpacking so aggressively that half of it never leaves the bag. I've done both. Neither works. What actually works is deciding, in advance, which two or three things earn a place in my bag and which ones can wait until September. So here's mine. Not a wellness influencer's "what's in my bag" video. An honest list, built over about a decade of getting this wrong first. Why travel breaks routines specifically It's worth being precise about what actually changes when you travel, because it isn't just "less discipline." Three things shift at once. You sweat more and drink less water than usual, because you're distracted or the flight dried you out or the hotel room is warmer than home. You're outdoors more, often somewhere sunnier than wherever you live. And your meals stop being yours. You eat what's available, when it's available, and protein is usually the first thing to slip, because sugar, carbs and fat are what's on offer at 6am airport cafes. None of this is a discipline problem. It's an environment problem. The fix is making sure two or three specific things are in my bag before I leave home, so I’m not relying on willpower to begin with. 1. Electrolytes, non-negotiable Most people remember to pack sunscreen. Almost nobody packs electrolytes, and it's the one that actually catches up with you. Water replaces volume, not what you lose through sweat, which is mostly sodium and potassium and magnesium doing the quiet work of keeping muscles firing and fluid balanced properly. Miss that balance for a few days in the heat and you get the symptoms everyone blames on jet lag: the headache, the flat energy, the slight fog by 4pm that a coffee doesn't fix. It's usually not jet lag. It's electrolytes. I take The Hydrate Blend  for exactly this reason. Six electrolytes, no sugar, no synthetic flavouring, dissolves in a bottle of water in about ten seconds. One sachet on a travel day, first thing in the morning, does more for how I feel by evening than anything else in the bag. 2. Something for the sun you're actually going to get Here's the part most people don't think about until it's too late. UV exposure accelerates collagen breakdown, which is a slightly clinical way of saying that a week of proper sun does more to skin structure than most of the year combined. This isn't about vanity. It's a straightforward mechanism: UV generates free radicals that degrade existing collagen faster than your body can replace it. Sunscreen protects against the burn. It doesn't do anything for the collagen you're losing underneath. I've been taking The Glow Blend through summer for this reason specifically. Hydrolysed collagen peptides paired with vitamin C, which matters because vitamin C is a required co-factor for collagen synthesis and most collagen products leave it out entirely, then wonder why customers don't notice anything. It won't undo a week in the sun. It gives your skin something to rebuild with while it's under more pressure than usual. 3. Protein, especially when the meals aren't yours This is the one I've learned the hard way. When your diet goes inconsistent, protein is usually the first macronutrient to drop, simply because it's the hardest to find on the move. Airport food, hotel breakfasts, whatever's left at a conference buffet by 1pm, none of it is built around protein. And the honest science here is less dramatic than people expect: you don't need to train harder to maintain muscle through a disrupted period, you need to keep protein intake somewhere close to normal. That's the whole trick. I'll say this honestly because I'd rather be straight with you than pretend otherwise: my go-to for this is still The Strong Protein (whey based) and The Health Protein (vegan). They earn their place in my bag because they travel well, mix with nothing but water, and does the one job that actually matters on the road, which is making sure protein doesn't disappear from your day just because your routine has. The actual point None of this is about maintaining perfect discipline on holiday. Nobody does that, and if a brand tells you they do, they're not being honest with you. It's about deciding in advance which three or four things matter enough to bring, so the choice isn't being made for you by whatever's in the hotel minibar. If you've got a system that works for you when you travel, reply and tell me. I read every one of these, and I'm always looking to steal a better idea for my next trip. If this is useful, forward it to whoever in your life is about to live out of a suitcase for the next few weeks. It's the email I wish someone had sent me a decade ago.
    Read more
    Why Natural Protein Supplementation Matters

    Why Natural Protein Supplementation Matters

    Walk into any health shop, or scroll any supplement site, and you often find that protein powders start to blur into one. Almost all of them make the same promises on the front: ‘high in protein’, ‘no added sugar’, ‘no additional additives’. The wording is so similar that telling a genuinely good product from a synthetically produced product is harder than it should be. Read past the figure on the front however and you'll usually find a protein that contains artificial sweeteners, synthetic flavourings and colours, and even fillers or bulking agents just to name a few. The reason they tend to do this is that costs of production are much cheaper as a result of the lower quality ingredients. A naturally formulated protein supplement works the other way around. The protein comes from a quality source, the flavour and sweetness come from ingredients you'd recognise rather than ones built in a lab, and anything that doesn't need to be there is left out. This piece is about that difference: what natural really means for a protein supplement, why it matters, and how to spot it for yourself. What "natural" actually means in protein supplements "Natural" is one of the most used and least understood words in wellness, printed on plenty of labels with very little behind it. There's no strict, regulated definition for it, so a brand can reach for the word fairly freely. This is why it pays to know what you're actually looking for. Used honestly, natural points to ingredients that come from recognisable sources and are processed as lightly as the format allows. For protein, that usually means a base derived from food such as: Whey Pea Hemp Brown rice Other plant-based proteins Just as telling is what gets left out, and how openly the packaging accounts for what stays in. A natural protein supplement has little to hide, so the label tends to be short and the reasoning easy to follow. The real test is whether the formula makes sense as a whole. Can you understand what's in it? Does each ingredient have a clear purpose? And does the brand explain the benefit plainly, rather than hiding behind vague wellness language? Why ingredient quality matters in protein supplements When people compare protein powders, the first thing they often look at is the amount of protein per serving. It matters, but this number doesn’t tell you everything about a supplement’s quality. A synthetically formulated powder may contain just as much protein per serving as a natural alternative, but it may also include more artificial additives that are bad for your health.  This is especially important as supplementation is usually taken regularly as part of a daily routine. If something becomes part of your breakfast, post-workout routine or afternoon shake, the quality of the overall formula may influence how well it fits into your daily routine. Natural protein powders are often separated by a few key criteria: Ingredient sourcing: Whey is highly bioavailable and naturally rich in essential amino acids that support muscle repair. A good plant-based blend can also be effective when it is built to provide a strong amino acid profile. What surrounds the protein: Sweeteners, thickeners and flavourings affect taste, texture and how a shake feels once you have taken it. Some formulas rely heavily on artificial sweeteners, gums or thickeners, which may contribute to bloating or digestive discomfort. Digestibility: A protein you absorb and tolerate comfortably is more useful than a bigger number on the label that does not sit well with your body. Purpose: A formula built around a specific goal, such as strength, performance, energy or satiety, is more useful than a generic powder with no clear reason behind the ingredients. The benefits of natural protein supplementation The real value of natural supplementation becomes clearer when you look beyond protein content alone. Below are some of the key benefits of choosing natural protein supplements over more artificial or heavily processed alternatives. Supporting strength and lean muscle Building strength and lean muscle is one of the main reasons people turn to natural protein supplements.  A good one supports muscle repair after training and helps maintain muscle over the longer term. That's especially useful if you train regularly and eat well but can't always put together a high-protein meal straight after a session. Helping with recovery after exercise After a workout, your body needs nutrients to repair and adapt, and protein is central to that process, particularly if you train several times a week. A natural protein supplement offers a convenient way to support recovery without making nutrition feel complicated, whether mixed into a shake, smoothie or simple post-workout snack. Supporting satiety and body composition goals Protein keeps you feeling fuller for longer, which makes balanced eating easier to stick to.  For anyone working towards fat loss, lean muscle or general body composition, natural protein supplementation helps steady your daily nutrition alongside whole foods, movement and rest, without relying on the added sugar that some cheaper formulas contain. Making daily nutrition easier Even with good intentions, it is not always easy to get enough protein through meals alone. Busy days, training schedules and travel can all make consistency harder.  A natural protein gives you a simple, repeatable way to keep your intake up on the days that get away from you, using ingredients you can actually recognise. Natural supplementation doesn't have to taste bland There's a common assumption that natural supplements have to taste bland, chalky or unpleasant. Plenty of people have met exactly that: a protein that sounds healthy on paper but turns out too earthy, too sweet or too gritty to enjoy. It gets used for a few days, then pushed to the back of the cupboard. The problem there is usually the formulation, not the missing additives. Chalky, overly sweet shakes come from corners being cut. Getting flavour and texture right without falling back on heavy sweeteners is genuinely hard, which is a good sign a brand has done the work. Taste matters for a practical reason as much as an enjoyable one. A protein you look forward to is one you'll keep using, and consistency is what actually delivers results. The best-formulated supplement on the shelf does nothing while it sits unopened. The innermost approach to natural protein Everything above is the standard we at Innermost hold ourselves to. Our proteins are built on clean and naturally-derived ingredients, formulated with the backing of nutritional science rather than guesswork. We leave out the fillers, bulking agents and needless extras that have no business being in a quality protein, and we're open about what goes in and why. We also happen to think clean and natural should taste good, because a protein you enjoy is a protein you'll actually use.  Explore our protein powders to find the formula that best fits your goals, routine and lifestyle. References Morton, W., Murphy, T., et al (2018). A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults. Br J Sports Med. 52(6). Click here. Jäger, R., Kerksick, C., et al (2017). International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. Click here. Seijo, M., Naclerio, F. (2019). Whey Protein Supplementation and Muscle Mass: Current Perspectives. Click here.
    Read more