Try a Pilates class
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Pilates comes in two very different forms, a class on a mat and a class on a Reformer, a sliding carriage worked by springs. A ten-week Pilates course through a council adult-learning service can cost under £50.
GentleUnder £100 / $130A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
Someone who has done it
These are real people who did this, as reported by the outlets named. We opened each one before linking it. None of them is connected with this site.
What it's really like
A mat class uses your own body weight on the floor. A Reformer is a machine with a sliding carriage, a movable footbar and springs you adjust, and Body Control Pilates says the teacher should check your set-up before each exercise.
Group Reformer classes in gyms can have 15 to 20 machines in a room, which Body Control says leaves little time for individual correction. Its own London centre keeps classes to eight or nine people, and it says anyone teaching on the Reformer should first qualify in matwork.
In the UK, the Pilates Foundation, set up in 1996 as the first Pilates teachers' association, lists teachers by postcode. In the US, the National Pilates Certification Program keeps a searchable directory of certified teachers by city, state and zip code.
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrokeshire County Council Adult Learning | Mat class, one hour a week for 10 weeks | £43.60, or £21.80 concession |
| Plainsboro Township recreation, New Jersey | Mat class, basic to intermediate, Wednesdays for a term | $40, or $56 non-residents |
| Denver YMCA | Reformer group class, single session | $35 members, $58 non-members |
| Denver YMCA | Reformer private session | $76 members, $106 non-members |
The Plainsboro class asks for some Pilates experience, so look for a basic class first. Denver YMCA Reformer packages expire six months after purchase.
How to start
- Decide between mat and Reformer; a mat course is the cheaper way to learn the basics.
- Find a qualified teacher through the Pilates Foundation (UK), a council or leisure centre programme, or the National Pilates Certification Program directory (US).
- For a Reformer class, check the group size and that beginners are shown how to set up the machine safely.
Where to go
- Pilates Foundation: find a teacher (UK) UK
- Pembrokeshire County Council Adult Learning: Pilates classes UK
- National Pilates Certification Program: find a certified teacher (US) US
- Denver YMCA: Pilates Reformer prices (PDF) US
We opened these links on 9 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between mat and Reformer Pilates?
Mat Pilates is done on the floor; Reformer Pilates uses a machine with a sliding carriage and springs. Body Control Pilates says Reformer beginners need an introduction to setting up the machine safely.
How do I find a qualified Pilates teacher?
In the UK, search the Pilates Foundation's teacher finder by postcode. In the US, the National Pilates Certification Program directory lists certified teachers by city and zip code.
How much does a Pilates class cost?
As last listed, a 10-week council Pilates course in Pembrokeshire cost £43.60, and a single Reformer group class at the Denver YMCA cost $35 for members.
Is Reformer Pilates good for beginners?
It can be, if the class is small and the teacher shows you the set-up. Body Control Pilates warns that large gym classes may not allow individual correction.
Where this comes from: Body Control Pilates, Group Reformer classes, our view; Body Control Pilates, Public group classes; Pilates Foundation, About; Pembrokeshire County Council, Pilates course details; Township of Plainsboro, Pilates Mat Class, Basic to Intermediate (ACTIVE); Denver YMCA, 2026 Pilates Reformer prices (PDF); National Pilates Certification Program, Find a certified Pilates teacher. Opened 9 November 2026.
Read next
Twenty-three hours across three Hawaiian channels made Ted Lomicka the first man to finish the Maui Nui swim
How a Tennessee healthcare executive who came to open water through triathlon swam three Hawaiian channels non-stop, through a night and alongside a young humpback, and how to start swimming in open water or build towards a long swim yourself.
No one left behind on the Expresso trail: fifteen years of Tuesday rides with Girls Outside
How a group of women in Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley turned a Tuesday mountain bike ride into a 15-year habit: the motto, the tailgate and why the group keeps them riding. How to start mountain biking on easy graded trails, or ride harder terrain with a group if you already ride.