What level of Pilates class should I go to?

I’ve been thinking about this a bit lately as many of my groups are mixed level so we accommodate lots of different ages/abilities/health issues, but we also have lots of new beginners at the moment, and we've been switching some clients into harder groups. Also, as a regular group progresses, the class will start to get harder as we improve.

Even if you’ve done Pilates before, depending on the training background and preference of your teacher, you might find that in a new class the level you expect to suit you is different from what you’ve done previously. There are so many training providers, some more fitness based, some highly modified, some rehab focused, some closer to the original Pilates method.

Photo credit: Yan Krukau

Broadly speaking, we currently offer the following types of classes:

Beginners classes - just that, suitable for anyone who’s new to Pilates. People who are looking for a refresher and to get back into classes after a break might also like these classes.

Beginners/improvers - these classes are suitable for beginners or those with some prior experience. Exercises might include some harder versions to challenge those who need it but will still include easier versions too.

Mixed level - these classes are more suitable for those who have been doing Pilates for a while and will include some more intermediate exercises. This is especially true of our live online classes as you need to be fairly confident with the exercises to do them at home (again, some modifications are given as not all exercises suit all bodies).

Improvers/intermediate - these classes are more challenging. They are not suitable for beginners and, even if you’ve done Pilates before, you might find the challenge or pace of these classes isn’t right for you. They will include more intermediate exercises.

Advanced - we don’t currently run an advanced class as it’s not suitable for the majority of our members/the general population. That might change in the future however and strong clients can be easily accommodated in other classes. A true advanced Pilates class is very hard! More than most people realise.

If you’ve been thinking about giving Pilates a try and would like to find out more, drop me a line - www.faybpilates.co.uk/contact