The Benefits of Physique 57™ for Men
Written by Alexander DeJong, Physique 57™ Instructor

When asked by a friend to take a Physique 57™ exercise class that “would kick my butt,” I thought to myself, “Well, how hard can it be?”

Growing up in a sports family—my sister was an Olympic medalist—I was used to the rigors of serious training in swimming, running, and speed-skating. That discipline I later applied to many years of ballet and other dance techniques and I became a professional dancer on Broadway. While I performed the typical Broadway schedule of eight-shows-a-week for some five years, I was also teaching dance and doing personal training. I was definitely ‘fit’. So when I could barely make it through all the exercises and left my friend’s class with trembling legs, it was to say the least “a humbling experience.”

After an intense training course, I am now an instructor at Physique 57™ where I help other people transform their bodies. The studio attracts women who have been devoted to this exercise regimen for many years and whose beautiful, lean bodies prove it. But now the secret is out and in the same way Pilates exercises are being embraced by professional male athletes, the same is happening with the Physique 57™ method. And it should.

While the series of tough but safe exercises incorporate enough push-ups to satisfy an army sergeant, its focus on the lower body is especially beneficial to men who gladly pump iron to see quick results in their arms and chest muscles, but tend to neglect the lower body in the process. Developing the leg and gluteus muscles creates a well balanced body. It is crucial for the development of all other muscles since it stimulates the body to release testosterone.

The benefit of the Physique 57™ method is that you use your own body weight to accomplish this. I was doing Hack machine squats with up to 540 lb. That’s a lot of weight pressing down on your spine. With the Physique 57™ thigh exercises, I work the legs just as hard, if not harder. It took me months before I could even get through them but without the strain on my back and shoulders.

Then there is about 12 minutes of intense abdominal work in every class. I developed a ‘six-pack’ and a stronger mid-section after only a couple of months of committing to this technique.

In addition to the muscle building benefits, the Physique 57™ method greatly enhances flexibility with its stretching exercises employed throughout class. This is an area that quite often is neglected by men who like to have that ‘ripped’ body, but in the process ‘rip’ their muscles because they have little or no flexibility.

While the Physique 57™ method stands on its own, it can also be a great compliment to weight training. The Physique 57™ exercises build core strength and flexibility, and the weight training can add further to a well sculpted upper body. It certainly has shortened my workouts at the gym, because Physique 57™ has already taken care of my legs and abs.

I encourage men to take a Physique 57™ class and experience the benefits of this total body workout.