Back at the end of August 2025 I took my first Reformer Pilates class, thanks to a friend’s guest pass, at the newly opened studio in Eddington. I was instantly hooked and signed up just a few days later for an unlimited monthly pass. Everything just happened at the right time, a new studio, a convenient location and an introductory offer. I’d been keen to get signed up to a gym for quite some time but there wasn’t anything local enough to make it work so this felt like my chance to finally get back into some consistent exercise.
Let’s be honest, signing up for the unlimited pass was the easy part, although not for my bank balance. I knew the real challenge would begin when the initial novelty wore off. But that’s the thing, it’s been one year and that hasn’t happened yet. There’s always something new happening, be that the brilliant playlists curated by the instructors, the addition of jump-boards, balls, Pilates sticks or just the general flow of the class. I constantly feel like I’m improving or learning something new.
Over the last year I’ve attended more than 135 Reformer Pilates classes. I started off by trying out a variety of classes including Classic Pilates, Fitcore and then the more contemporary Pilates-fitness fusion which has quickly become my favourite. I’m working hard to lose weight (hello 2 1/2 stone down) so I’ve really been focused on those high intensity classes.
Taking the step to sign up this time last year was a big one. I’d tried some local fitness classes but they weren’t for me and although we have a treadmill and an exercise bike (thanks to the world of blogging), finding the uninterrupted time to actually use them felt impossible. So, I knew I needed to get signed up to some form of exercise that I could commit to consistently. I just didn’t realise how truly life-changing Pilates would be for me. It’s hands-down one of the best things I’ve done for my physical and mental health in the last year.
For me, the consistency has been the key turning point. I don’t think I’d feel nearly as strongly about Reformer Pilates if I’d only been attending once a week but that could also be partly linked to my personality. I tend to go all-in on something or not at all. Plus, I wasn’t at a point that I could incorporate other exercise classes at various locations, so it had to be an all-in situation. The results I’m seeing now are from the compounding effect of the whole 100 plus sessions over the year.
The seasons in my life where I’ve belonged to a gym have been some of my best and most productive. Although this isn’t an all-round gym, having the option of Pilates-fitness fusion has been just what I needed coupled with the monthly membership to keep me locked in. I don’t see myself stopping any time soon but I do hope to increase the amount of classes I get to over the coming weeks.
10 things I’ve learned from attending over 135 Pilates classes:
- Not all grippy socks are made equal – find a brand that doesn’t have you slipping off the carriage, wash well and stick with them.
- The importance of showing up for myself. Over the last year even if I didn’t feel like it I’d still go to classes because they were booked, paid for and there was a cancellation fee, so it really did keep me locked in. Showing up consistently to classes has quietly transformed my daily routine, my body and my mind over the last 12 months and I’m so thankful for that because I’m in a much better place this September than last.
- My posture has transformed. After years of feeding babies and pushing prams my posture was a mess. I think that I can safely say that things are much better now but as always, there’s still progress to be made.
- My post-natal sciatica has totally vanished. I didn’t experience sciatica with my first child but it came in strong with the second and after a few years it still wasn’t gone. I honestly thought it would be something I’d have to live with forever. Reformer changed that and I now don’t suffer with it at all.
- Breathing. When I first started I noticed that I was holding my breath when certain moves felt hard but as time went on and with constant reminders from instructors to focus on breathing I really began to notice the difference. I’m now at a place where focusing on my breathing throughout the class comes more naturally to me and an added bonus of this is that it helps to calm my mind.
- Lighter springs can sometimes be way harder than the heavier ones. Your body has to do more of the work with lighter springs, depending on the exercise.
- It helps to calm my mind. As someone who often feels like they have 100 tabs open in their head at all times I’m always grateful to pause my racing mind for 45 minutes. I have to focus on balance, form and breathing so it’s rare that other thoughts can sneak in.
- Wide mix of people attending classes. It can be daunting trying a new workout but my experience of Pilates has been nothing but welcoming. There are people of all different ages and body types attending Reformer classes and they’re all focusing on their own balance, breathing and form.
- Improvement in balance and coordination. My general balance and coordination has improved massively in regular day-to-day life and I don’t find myself tripping over or bumping into things half as much as I used to.
- You don’t need to be perfect. Just take the first step of attending a class, be willing to learn, embrace help and support from the instructors and in time you will see progress. The first time I mastered a flying lunge I was so proud of myself and that sense of achievement was something I really needed. I continue to progress each week and love seeing my hard work pay off when I unlock a new move.