Article: What I Wish I Knew Before My First Reformer Pilates Session
What I Wish I Knew Before My First Reformer Pilates Session
I walked into my first reformer session convinced everyone would be watching me, that I'd press the wrong thing, and that I was about to be terrible at it. Reader: it was fine. Better than fine. But I'd have been so much more relaxed if someone had just told me what to expect. So here's the friendly heads-up I wish I'd had, before your first time on the machine.
In this article
What actually happens in your first session
You lie, sit or kneel on a sliding carriage and move it by pushing against a footbar or pulling on straps, with springs providing the resistance. A good first class starts gentle, lots of footwork to get a feel for the carriage, and builds slowly. Nobody is watching you; everyone is focused on their own machine and quietly hoping they look okay too. The first five minutes feel unfamiliar, and then your body works out the movement and it just clicks.
What to wear (and the grip socks thing)
Wear fitted, stretchy activewear, leggings and a supportive top are ideal. The reason to go fitted rather than loose is practical: baggy clothing can catch in the springs and moving parts, and the instructor needs to see your alignment. Skip anything with zips or buckles that could scratch the carriage. As for footwear, you train in socks, not shoes, and grippy soles make a real difference for stability. For the full breakdown, I wrote a whole guide on what to wear to reformer Pilates.
Is it going to be hard?
Honestly? It's challenging in a sneaky way. It rarely feels brutal in the moment, the movements are slow and controlled, but you'll feel muscles you forgot you owned the next day, especially your core. Here's the reassuring part: it's completely scalable. The springs adjust the resistance, so a beginner and an advanced practitioner can do the same class on the same machine at totally different intensities. You set the difficulty, not the other way around. You will not be the unfittest person there, I promise.
What surprised me most
Three things. First, how much it works your core even during "leg" or "arm" exercises, everything comes back to your centre. Second, how good it felt afterwards, more lengthened and mobile than wrecked and sore. And third, how quickly I stopped feeling self-conscious, by the second session I was thinking about my own movement, not the room. The intimidation is almost entirely in your head beforehand, and it evaporates fast.
How to make your first session click
Arrive a few minutes early so the instructor can show you the springs and footbar without rushing, tell them it's your first time (they love this, it means they'll keep an eye on you), and focus on control over effort, slow and precise beats fast and forced every time. If you're training at home on your own reformer, start with a beginner guided class rather than improvising, our Fit by FitBoutique on-demand app (launching very soon) is built to walk first-timers through it step by step. Mostly, though, just relax. You've got this.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I expect at my first reformer Pilates class?
A gentle, guided introduction to the machine, usually starting with footwork to get used to the sliding carriage, then building slowly. It feels unfamiliar for the first few minutes and then clicks. Nobody is watching you, everyone's focused on their own machine.
What do I wear to reformer Pilates?
Fitted, stretchy activewear like leggings and a supportive top, so nothing catches in the springs and the instructor can see your alignment. You train in grippy socks rather than shoes. Avoid zips or buckles that could scratch the carriage.
Is reformer Pilates hard for beginners?
It's challenging but fully scalable. The springs let you adjust the resistance, so beginners and advanced practitioners can do the same class at different intensities. It rarely feels brutal in the moment, but you'll often feel your core the next day.
What's the one tip for a first-timer?
Tell the instructor it's your first session and focus on control over effort. Slow, precise movement beats fast and forced. If training at home, start with a beginner guided class rather than making it up as you go.
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Written by Ayrah Yuso
I'm part of the FitBoutique team and have a solid passion (and love) for all things exercise related, including Reformer Pilates
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