Pilates has become increasingly popular in recent years and I have always been interested in it.
Once I find an exercise I enjoy, I tend to stick with it, and recently I took up running.
However, when Reformer Pilates Bicester got in touch and invited me to try out a class I immediately took the chance.
I was excited and nervous all at the same time because I had no idea what to expect.
Reformer Pilates uses a piece of equipment called a reformer to add resistance and variety to a traditional Pilates workout.
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My friend Georgie, who is also a runner and had never tried Reformer Pilates before, joined me so we were in the same boat.
There are a variety of classes offered to suit different levels of ability and we attended the Foundation Reformer class last Monday (15th July) which was perfect for us.
Even though it was July it was raining non-stop when we arrived so we ran from the car park into the grounds.
Despite getting lost along the way, we arrived early as participants are encouraged to arrive at least 10 minutes before the class begins.
Bicester Reformer Pilates is located within the Performance Centre within the beautiful grounds of Bicester Hotel, Golf & Spa.
On arrival we were warmly greeted by the receptionist who asked if we had done Formar Pilates before, to which we replied “no”.
We then met our instructor Tash, who also welcomed us warmly and immediately eased my nerves.
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Reformer Pilates must be performed barefoot or in grip socks, and the studio has lockers for storing your shoes and places to hang your bags and coats.
The first thing I noticed when I walked into the studio was the warm and welcoming atmosphere.
At first I was surprised that there were only five seats in the class, but I quickly realized that this made the experience more personal.
The class started with some light stretching followed by exercise.
Reformer Pilates may look easy from the outside, but it’s not that easy. It’s a full-body strength exercise, and as someone who focuses on cardio, I found it difficult at first.
Nathan, owner of Reformer Pilates Bicester, actually recommends the Reformer for injury prevention and rehabilitation.
When you’re doing something for the first time, you’re going to make mistakes – and we did – but Tash helped us correct them without embarrassing or condescending.
Using the reformer machine as resistance, we did lower body, core and upper body exercises.
The class focused on proper alignment, core strength and stability, and I was amazed at the different ways the machines could be used.
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Tash’s instructions were clear and easy to follow and were an ideal introduction for us beginners.
Music was playing softly throughout the venue, creating a relaxed atmosphere.
The class ended with stretching and after class everyone packed up the equipment ready for the next class, which was easy and took less than a minute.
I was sore for at least two days after the class, which shows just how intense it was.
At £20 a class I would definitely go back and will likely do so in the future.
