60代、運動好きの主人が苦手なピラティスを続ける理由・Why My Fitness-Loving Husband in His 60s Keeps Doing Pilates

The English version is below. ⬇️
私が自宅でオンラインのピラティスを始めたのは、3年ほど前になります。

60代のアメリカ人の主人は、当時「ピラティスは女性がするもの」というイメージを持っていて、私が勧めてもなかなかやろうとはしませんでした。

私は以前から、ピラティスは姿勢を整えたり、体幹を鍛えたり、腰痛の予防や改善にも役立つことを話していたのですが、筋トレ好きの主人にはあまり魅力的には映らなかったようです。

それでも私がリビングでオンラインレッスンを受けていると、主人も時々レッスンの様子を見るようになりました。画面越しのピラティスの先生に軽く挨拶をするようになり、ある日、「少しだけ受けてみようかな」と言ったのです。

実際に受けてみると、ストレッチが苦手な主人にはかなりきつかったようですが、それと同時に「この運動も必要」ということも体が感じているのかもしれません。

それからは無理をせず、自分のペースで少しずつ続けています。

現在は、腰椎ヘルニアの改善も兼ねて、理学療法士でもあるココナラのななみさんにお世話になっています。体の構造をよく理解された上で、主人の状態に合わせたレッスンをしてくださるので、安心してお任せしています。

しばらく継続していたことで、主人の姿勢や体の歪みは以前よりずいぶん改善していました。

ところが、網膜剥離の手術後は、約1か月間、日中はうつむいた姿勢を続け、夜はうつ伏せで寝なければならず、その影響で私から見ても体の歪みが気になるようになりました。

主人は「もう筋トレを再開したい」という気持ちが強いのですが、私は重いダンベルを持つ前に、まずは体のバランスを整えてほしいと思っています。

そのため、気が乗らない主人をなだめながら（笑）、今もピラティスの予約を取っています。

筋トレは筋力を維持するためにとても大切ですが、年齢を重ねるほど、姿勢や柔軟性、体のバランスを整えることも同じくらい大切なのだと感じています。主人を見ていると、どちらか一方ではなく、その両方を続けていくことが健康への近道なのかもしれません。

英文の下にもイラストがあります。
今回のイラストは、これまでで一番主人の雰囲気に近い仕上がりになったように思います。トップスの柄も、主人が実際によく着ているお気に入りのデザインです。

Why My Fitness-Loving Husband in His 60s Keeps Doing Pilates

About three years ago, I started taking online Pilates classes at home.

At the time, my husband, who is in his 60s and American, thought Pilates was something mainly for women. Even though I encouraged him to try it, he wasn't very interested.

I had often told him that Pilates could improve posture, strengthen the core, and help prevent or relieve lower back pain. But as someone who enjoys weight training, he didn't find it particularly appealing.

As I continued taking online lessons in our living room, he gradually began watching the classes from time to time. Before long, he would even say hello to my Pilates instructor through the screen. Then one day, he said, "Maybe I'll try it for a little while."

When he finally joined a class, it was much harder than he had expected because stretching had never been his strength. At the same time, I felt that perhaps his body was telling him that this was the kind of exercise he also needed.

Since then, he has continued at his own pace without pushing himself too hard.

After practicing Pilates for some time, his posture and body alignment improved considerably.

However, after surgery for a detached retina, he had to spend about a month looking downward during the day and sleeping face down at night. As a result, even I could see that his body had become noticeably misaligned again.

My husband is eager to get back to weight training, but I would rather see him restore his body balance before lifting heavy dumbbells again.

So even now, when he isn't particularly in the mood, I gently encourage him—with a smile—to keep his Pilates appointments.

Strength training is certainly important for maintaining muscle as we get older. But I also believe that posture, flexibility, and overall body balance become just as important with age. Watching my husband has reminded me that good health may come not from choosing one over the other, but from continuing both.

The illustration below appears after the English text.

I think this illustration captures my husband's likeness better than any of the previous ones. Even the pattern on his shirt is one of his favorite designs that he actually wears quite often.