Reformer pilates

@Josayes the free ones at my David Lloyd are great really good I’ve been going 4 times a week since September and it’s made such a difference to my core - two c sections in I was so weak and could hardly do a single sit up but now my core is so strong.

Ive always found the classes there really great though - the yoga teachers are fantastic so maybe we just have a particularly good one. There are multiple free reformer and mat classes every day as well as the paid options all taught by the same teachers.

I have dabbled but honestly strength training is better bang for your buck. My core was rock solid after 6 months of squats. I then went to a hyrox class and one of the challenges was to plank for three minutes. I literally planked non stop, hadn't even practised and could probably have done five minutes.

Would love to know where you go for that price if you’ll share? I’m north east and use LevellOut which is fantastic but expensive

I started doing it as a trial, and then ended up signing up to a membership. I did a trial at two different studios bedore deciding; one that was closer to home was pretty rubbish and still charging £25 a lesson. Cramped studio and hardly any spaces, so a huge wait list.
I signed up as, after having two children as well as some other injuries, it was one of the only forms of exercise I could do other than walking and cycling. I am stronger and more toned than I was pre-kids and doing weights at the gym.
I have a membership and it is expensive, but I do use it. However, I do the "burn" or jump board classes, which are more like a cardio / body pump level workout, just without the impact on my joints etc.
I will say, it very much depends on the instructor as well. I have been to a few at my studio and have thought, this was a waste of my time and money. If the two good instructors leave, so would I.

Im also with virgin active. I have reformer as part of my package. Unlimited classes.

Tomorrow, as an example, there are 14 different reformer classes, different sorts, plus 6 mat classes.

I get unlimited reformer classes as part of my virgin active membership. There are usually four or so classes a day to choose from, different levels, different instructors. I really enjoy it.

I have been doing Reformer Pilates since 2008. Like others have said, it's the only exercise I've consistently kept at. I'm in London. My first studio was in central London, and the price was around £15-£16 or so. I can't really remember. The studio I go to now, a drop in class is £22, but I buy bundles, and sometimes they have offers, so it can be anything between £8 and £12 a session. There are 10 machines in the class. The price generally hasn't increased that much since I started.

It's helped me with my slipped disc, osteoarthritis in my knees. I've always said, if it wasn't for the Pilates, I wouldn't be walking. I was 60 last week, and next month I'm starting a Reformer Pilates teacher training course, I love it that much!

My David Lloyd doesn’t even offer it! Hence me also having a membership elsewhere.
Annoying but when I reformer Pilates at DL I was shown a massive studio with 30+ beds in and thought I wouldn’t go even if they did.
Even if it’s just a tenner on top each time. The tiny classes I go to give me a lot of solid tuition and correction and I feel like it’s a properly taught class. I’ve been to yoga and mat Pilates at DL before as a beginner and was just left to do the moves all wrong with no corrections. Very shoddy practice imo, I stick to the gym and spa there now!
oh, and the occasional spin class.

I pay 14 a class and try and go twice a week. I also do a mat Pilates class as well. I have been doing it since may and my body shape has completely changed!

I do it 3 times a week, £130 for 10 classes. It’s the only exercise I enjoy so for me it’s worth it. Also the health benefits - my balance and strength have improved dramatically

That's a photo of the current Lidl leaflet

If you have the space you can have your own

Im abroad, pay about £70 twice a week for one to one hour sessions. Worth every penny, my body is healthier and slimmer than ever before.

Oh but please don’t buy your own machine until you know what you’re doing, I’ve seen some awful injuries including losing all front teeth!

We don’t have the free ones at my David Lloyd only the payable reformer classes. Are the free ones good?

I go twice a week at £20 a class. Love it! I have biceps and abs now! I get my cardio in for free by walking everywhere

I also go to David Lloyd the mat Pilates at mine are excellent with a good teacher. Same with reformer classes it’s all down to the teacher. I go weekly at £10 a class plus my membership fees that I pay each month

It’s the only thing post partum that fixed my body and I tried many things.

That being said I don’t believe you can do reformer properly in groups. It’s all about stability, neutral spine, core, strength.

You really need someone spotting you permanently. ‘That’s not neutral’, you dropped a hip, your moving this or that, your not straight.

My instructor has 40 years experience. She considers herself classical Pilates and not this new flash stuff you see on insta. She has a full suite, reformer bench, Cadillac, wonder chair etc. She won’t teach more than 2 on benches at a time and she doesn’t even really like that. She says to do it properly it really needs to be 1-1 unless the person has years of experience.*

And to caveat that I have been doing it 1-1 weekly for 3 years. I still wouldn’t join a group!

I did it once and it made me violently travel sick!! Therefore I’ve potentially saved myself a fortune as I could never go back

Would you recommend it postpartum or is regular Pilares better for that? 🙂

All the other classes are included but not reformer pilates.
And yes need to be very quick to book onto the classes that are included in membership.

I go every week. £65 a week for private 1-1

Worth every penny! It’s physio, exercise and therapy all in one

I love reformer and go 2x a week to an excellent studio with small classes. I tried another place with class size of 20 and it was not good at all - music in the background, fast movements, teacher had a headset and wasn’t watching the participants. So quality definitely varies in my experience.

Lots of people by me are doing a reformer Pilates instructor course which is done and dusted in about 3 days, without the need for the qualification in classical/mat Pilates.

But I still enjoy the classes, and at £15 a go would spend the same on an espresso martini.

@Dutchhouse14im at David Lloyd also and some of the classes are free - about half and then the other half are an extra £10 a class. The free ones are difficult it book though! Are none of your classes included?