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If you’ve never done this before

Reformer Pilates, if you’ve never done it before

What is reformer Pilates, and how do I start?

Reformer Pilates is a low-impact class on a sprung, sliding bed, with someone teaching you the whole way through. You don’t need to be fit or flexible to start. Book a beginner class, wear something close-fitting and grip socks, and come ten minutes early.

Starthere

What it actually is

The reformer is a bed with a sliding platform on it, called the carriage. Underneath are springs, and they’re what provide the resistance. You lie, sit, kneel or stand on the bed, and you move the carriage using your arms, your legs, or the strength through your middle.

The clever bit is that the springs can hold some of your weight just as easily as they can make things harder. That’s why the same bed works for you in your first class and for someone who’s been coming for years.

Let’s get youprepared

Whatever shape you’re in when you walk through the door is the right shape to start from. We set the springs to suit you on the day, in the class, and we build from there together.

There’s very little to organise beforehand. Comfortable clothes, a pair of grip socks, and ten minutes in hand when you arrive. We’ll take care of the rest with you.

How to start

  1. Pick the beginner class

    Ours is called VEA Foundations. It’s 50 minutes, and it teaches you the basics rather than assuming you already have them.

  2. Sort your kit

    Something close-fitting you can move in, and a pair of grip socks. The socks aren’t optional, and we’ll explain why.

  3. Tell us anything we should know

    There are a few health questions before you start. It only changes how we set you up, and it takes two minutes.

  4. Come ten minutes early

    Enough time to find us, say hello, and have the bed explained without feeling rushed.

The reformer looks alarming when you first walk in. By the end of your first class, you’ll have forgotten you ever thought that.

How you’ll feel afterwards

Worked, but not wrecked. You might notice your middle and your legs the next day, and that settles down a lot once you’ve been a few times.

If anything hurts while you’re on the bed, stop and tell us. There’s always another way to do it, and asking is not a fuss.

Common questions

Do I need any experience to start reformer Pilates?

None at all. Foundations assumes you’ve never seen a reformer before, and we show you how it works before you do anything on it.

How long is a class?

Fifty minutes, apart from VEA Express, which is thirty.

What if I haven’t exercised in years?

That’s a very common place to start. The springs can support your weight rather than only make things harder, so we’ll set you up accordingly. Just mention it when you arrive.