First Reformer Pilates Class: What to Expect

The reformer machine looks like it belongs in a physio clinic crossed with a torture chamber. Springs, straps, a sliding carriage, a bar at one end you push with your feet. If you've never used one, it's normal to feel a bit intimidated before your first class. It shouldn't be. Here's what actually happens.

Booking your first session

If you're completely new to reformer Pilates, or you're carrying an injury, we'd usually suggest starting with a one-on-one session rather than jumping straight into a group class. It's not about gatekeeping the "real" classes. It's that a private session with the physiotherapist lets you learn the machine at your own pace, get your form sorted, and build a bit of confidence before you're moving alongside other people. Once you're comfortable, you transition into group classes from there.

If you're reasonably active already and not managing an injury, most people are fine to start straight into a group class. Our classes are capped at five people, which is small enough that you're never lost in the room and the physiotherapist running the session can actually watch your technique, not just call out instructions from the front.

What to wear and bring

Fitted, stretchy clothing works best. Loose shorts or baggy tops tend to get caught on the springs and straps, which is more annoying than dangerous, but annoying enough that you'll wish you'd worn leggings. Grippy socks are ideal (the reformer's footbar and platform are metal, and bare feet or regular socks can slip). Bring water. You'll be moving for 40 minutes and it's more physical than it looks from the outside.

Arriving and getting set up

You'll arrive a few minutes early so your instructor can get you oriented to the machine. Every reformer has a sliding carriage that moves along a frame, resisted by a set of springs that clip in and out to change the difficulty. More springs generally means more resistance, though it depends on the exercise, some movements actually get harder with fewer springs.

There's a foot bar at one end you'll push against, long straps for your hands or feet, and a padded box that gets added for certain exercises. It looks complicated. It isn't, once someone's shown you where everything is and what it's for, which is exactly what the first few minutes of your class are for.

What the class itself looks like

Classes generally start lying on your back on the carriage, working through footwork exercises that warm up your legs and introduce you to how the springs behave. From there it moves through a sequence targeting your core, glutes, legs and upper body, mixing lying, sitting, kneeling and standing positions. Because it's a physiotherapist running the class rather than a fitness instructor, exercises can be adjusted on the spot if something doesn't feel right for you, whether that's a niggling shoulder, a stiff lower back, or just needing a lighter spring setting while you build confidence.

Expect a decent amount of core engagement throughout, even in exercises that seem to be working your legs or arms. That's fairly central to what Pilates is built around, and it's a big part of why people notice postural changes and better body awareness fairly early on.

After your first class

Some muscle soreness in the day or two afterwards is completely normal, especially through your core and inner thighs, areas that don't always get worked hard in other forms of exercise. It shouldn't be sharp or joint-related. If something feels off rather than just worked, mention it at your next session.

Most people need a few classes before the movements start feeling intuitive rather than something they're actively thinking through step by step. That's a normal part of learning any new form of movement, not a sign you're doing it wrong.

Cost and what's covered

Group classes run $45 for a single session, dropping to $40 per session on a 5-pack and $38 per session on a 10-pack. One-on-one sessions with the physiotherapist are $95. All sessions attract private health fund rebates, and PhysioLogix is an NIB preferred provider, so it's worth checking what your fund covers before you book.

Where and when

Classes run from our studio at 6/567 Newcastle Street, West Perth. Free street parking is available directly outside with no time limits during class hours, so there's no need to feed a meter or circle the block beforehand.

Ready to try it

If you've been curious about reformer Pilates but the idea of a big, loud studio class has put you off, a small, physiotherapist-led class is a genuinely different experience. You can book a class online, or read more about our reformer Pilates program and how it works alongside physiotherapy for people managing an injury.