For almost a century, Pilates has offered holistic body benefits for everyone. Focusing on core strength, this accessible exercise takes inspiration from bodyweight training, yoga and even ballet. It began to gain popularity in 1926 when Joseph Pilates set up the first Pilates studio in New York, offering all-round body conditioning for modern-day lifestyles.
Whatever your age or activity level, you’ll soon see the benefits of this low impact exercise. We’ve gathered up the best Pilates classes London has to offer – from classical mat Pilates to Reformer Pilates classes.
Can I start Pilates as a beginner?
You can start Pilates as a novice – there are plenty of Pilates London beginners’ classes. Remember not to push yourself too hard, particularly if you’re new to exercise. A 20-minute session of classical Pilates on a mat will help you familiarise yourself with the moves and the muscles you’re engaging. All you’ll need is a mat and comfortable workout clothing.
Is it worth paying for Pilates?
It is definitely worth paying for a Pilates session. While you might be able to find a class online, working with an instructor helps you prevent injury. You may also have access to equipment, such as in Reformer Pilates, while the camaraderie of group classes can spur you on.
How much does Pilates cost in London?
The cost of Pilates in London will depend on the class size, the equipment, and the location. For example, you can find Pilates exercises online for free or for a nominal fee of around £5. On the other end of the scale, private sessions, where you’ll be one-on-one with a Pilates instructor, could cost up to £220 each.
A Reformer Pilates studio will charge more due to the equipment used. You’ll have access to a Reformer machine, helping you target multiple muscle groups at once. Reasonable pricing with a qualified instructor and a small group may cost up to £20 per class.
Is 40 minutes of Pilates a day enough?
While everybody is different, you should start to notice a change with three sessions of 40-45 minutes per week. You can also split this into smaller classes, such as 20 minutes, more regularly throughout the week. The key is to keep moving, giving yourself a full-body workout without overtraining.
Is Pilates better than the gym?
There is no ‘better’ form of exercise when it comes to the gym or Pilates. It depends on your goals. If you’re looking for something that will work your core muscles and improve mobility, you will benefit hugely from Pilates. You may find better cardio and weightlifting opportunities in a gym, or you can do both to improve your overall fitness levels.
What is the difference between clinical Pilates and Pilates?
Traditional Pilates focuses on building strength, improving posture and all-round mobility. Clinical Pilates is tailored to the individual, usually for helping overcome an injury or other movement issue. It all depends on your goals.
What is Reformer Pilates good for?
Reformer Pilates uses a spring-powered piece of apparatus to enhance low impact exercise. You can use the machine to make standard mat work harder or easier with resistance. It’s ideal for improving strength and posture, helping to use muscles you’re not used to exercising.
Whether you want beginners’ classes or advanced machine workouts, we’ve gathered the best Pilates London locations, from West London to Chelsea and Shoreditch.
Frame
With locations including Angel and East Shoreditch, there’s a great choice of Reformer Pilates in East London. Better still, you can find a Frame studio on Bridge Place near our Victoria branch and other West London locations like Hammersmith. Or if you’re after a Reformer Pilates North London location, head to King’s Cross.
Frame’s classes range from beginner to advanced levels. If you’re feeling more confident in your moves, the Dynamic Reformer Pilates class is ideal for honing strength and precision. If you’re after some variety, you’ll also find HIIT and dance classes, with pay-as-you-go and memberships available. One-off Reformer classes start at £23 each.
Choose your branch and a package that works for you on the Frame website.
Core Kensington
Core Kensington offers a huge range of Pilates West London classes. You’ll find two branches – Pilates in Kensington on the High Street, or Devonshire Road in Chiswick. Here you can enjoy small group sessions with certified STOTT PILATES ® instructors. These are known as ‘semi-private’ as they usually accommodate up to three people only.
You can also book one-on-one sessions to improve your mobility and strength. In Kensington, these range from £110 for one session, with a 10% bulk discount on 10 classes. Prices start at £80 in Chiswick, or £700 for 10 sessions. For more specialist sessions, you can choose prenatal and postnatal classes, designed to strengthen the pelvic floor.
Core Pilates also has a studio in Windsor if you’re travelling further afield. You can book individual and bulk classes here.
Ten Pilates
Ten Pilates more or less dominates the Pilates Central London market. Within these, you’ll find Pilates Fitzrovia and St James’s locations, ranging from beginners to Reformer and jumpboard classes. The studios offer training courses and workshops, guided by instructors, physiotherapists and fitness professionals.
Class sizes are small so that each instructor can focus on your technique. You’ll also find clinical courses for injury recovery or prevention, together with physiotherapy and massage. Pricing varies depending on the membership you choose, starting at £22 for a ‘top-up’ to existing packages. You can also get unlimited classes for £345 a month, or buy numbered blocks.
Experience the variety of health and wellness on offer, with more information on the Ten website.
FS8
FS8 offers a London Pilates gym with a difference. It blends all the best of Pilates with yoga and tone classes, giving you a low impact workout that benefits the whole body. The FS8 ethos is focused on holistic fitness, believing in “prehab, not rehab”. This means they warm the body up and cool it down effectively to prevent pain and injury.
These specially formulated classes offer high energy sessions in larger groups than classic Pilates London studios. With gatherings for everyone from beginners to advanced, FS8 creates a welcoming community atmosphere. You can find it on Oxford Street, ideal for winding down after a little retail therapy.
Choose the best Pilates classes London has to offer with The Clermont
Whether it’s your first class or you’re a dynamic Pilates regular, London has some of the finest studios in the United Kingdom. Sign up for a membership or pop in for an intro as part of a self-care session. Once you’re down honing your body, calm your mind with a stay at The Clermont.
