After a legendary bodybuilding career, Dorian Yates has shifted his focus to his overall well-being and longevity. In a recent Instagram post shared on January 8, 2025, Yates explained why he utilizes Pilates to maintain his goals of staying fit, healthy, and functional while also preventing any future injuries.
Having won six Mr. Olympia titles, Dorian Yates is widely regarded as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. Yates brought an awe-inspiring physique to the competitive stage that was defined by an exceptional blend of size, symmetry, and conditioning. He achieved this through his intense training methods, which were inspired by the late Arthur Jones and Mike Mentzer.
Now in retirement, Dorian Yates is reaping the rewards of his legendary career. At 62, he’s showing no signs of slowing down, even after undergoing a total right hip replacement. Dorian Yates is now dedicated to longevity, focusing on maintaining his health and staying active.
Dorian Yates Explains Why He Does Pilates: “I’m More Flexible Now At 62 Years Old”
Pilates, in particular, has become a cornerstone of his routine, helping to improve mobility and flexibility. In a recent Instagram post, Dorian Yates explained why he utilizes pilates once a week, especially for injury prevention.
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“Why I do Pilates.”
“Once a week I have my 1-1 session which lasts for about 1 hour which is perfect.”
“I’m actually more flexible now at 62 years old, than I was 30 years ago! I’m grateful I left competitive bodybuilding on my own terms and with my health in check, I have some injuries yes, but I’m able to deal with them and explore new avenues of health and fitness.”
He adds that ‘whatever you can do to protect yourself, do it.’
“And when I discovered Pilates, I found it to massively help with mobility and flexibility all round, and it can also help reduce the risk of injury.”
“Whatever you can do to protect yourself, do it.”
Looking ahead, Yates’ goals are simple: to be fit, healthy, and functional.
“Exercise will always be a part of my life, but that doesn’t just mean lifting weights. Nowadays I do a wide variety of activities including: hiking, yoga, pilates and of course, some light weights work in the gym… I suppose the love for the iron never truly leaves you” Yates explained.
“My goals now are to be fit, healthy and functional.”
Yates joked that at one point he made fun of Jay Cutler doing pilates. However, now he is eating his words because he has realized how important it is to injury prevention and recovery.
“I actually saw Jay Cutler doing pilates and thought, come on, man. What are you doing? That’s a girl’s thing, right?
Well, yeah, sorry Jay about that because it’s very useful, very functional for, you know, especially if you got injuries to manage. So, I do it once a week now. It’s gonna help you because it’s gonna help with your mobility, your flexibility, and that’s going to reduce the chance of you getting an injury at some point in the future.”
Yates emphasizes that athletes and individuals, in general, should protect themselves from future injuries by focusing on methods such as pilates.
“If you get an injury and your going to start losing all the gains that you had or maybe you’re gonna compete and now you can’t compete anymore. So, whatever you can do to protect yourself, this would be something I definitely would have done if I’d have known about it when I was younger.”
In the past, Dorian Yates has praised Pilates for being a great way to prevent injuries and gave his followers a glimpse into his weekly training sessions. He went through four different movements all focused on improving mobility and flexibility.
Dorian Yates is a testament that age is just a number. By integrating Pilates into his weekly routine, he has enhanced his flexibility and mobility, while aiding in his recovery. Pilates also helps him prevent future injuries, supporting his longevity, and allowing him to continue pursuing his passion for fitness for years to come.
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