I Tried Club Pilates — and It May Have Cured My Pilates Aversion

What Is Club Pilates?

Club Pilates is a chain of reformer Pilates-based workout studios with locations across the United States as well as internationally, in places including the Dominican Republic, Germany, and Singapore.) In addition to reformer Pilates workouts, Club Pilates offers classes that utilize TRX, Exo-Chairs, Bosu balls, dumbbells, mats, and rollers.

The company was founded in San Diego in 2007. The techniques offered by Club Pilates include some updates to the classical Pilates method, namely expanding the equipment participants use during classes. But the company’s core offerings and workout methods are inspired by the philosophy of Joseph Pilates, the founder and namesake of Pilates.

What Is Club Pilates Like?

Put simply, Club Pilates is as approachable as a fitness class can get. The location I went to looks like a regular Pilates studio. There are boxes, foam rollers, reformers, rings, weights, and yoga mats. The studio is adorned with mirrors along the walls adjacent to the reformers so that you can see (and correct, when necessary) your form.

What I loved most about Club Pilates is that the staff is friendly and helpful. My instructor, Megan Wallace, made each of us feel really comfortable on our reformers. She provided clear instructions, gently reminded us to work with our breath, and gave us positive feedback when she heard us doing so. And while this is a small detail, at the end of class Wallace nudged us to spray and wipe down our reformers, and each participant did so happily. To me, this display of hygiene and gym etiquette always bodes well for a class’s cleanliness and overall vibes.

While Club Pilates doesn’t have Equinox-like facilities, the bathroom is well-stocked with some favorites — including Batiste Dry Shampoo and Dove Spray-On Deodorant. I was meeting up with a friend post-Pilates and needed to freshen up, so I especially appreciated these perks.

There are also cubbies for your belongings at the North Hollywood location I visited. They were really roomy, fitting my tote, sandals, water bottle, and sunglasses with tons of room to spare. The shelf is rather large, and it seems to have more cubbies than reformers, so finding a cubby (even if you’re running late) shouldn’t be a problem.

Is Club Pilates a Good Workout?

Even at level one, I’d say that Club Pilates is a good workout. Throughout the entire Reformer Flow class, I didn’t really sweat. And while I did struggle during several moves, the class as a whole didn’t feel super challenging, so I didn’t think that I actually got a good workout in. But when I woke up the next day, my abs were sore. I couldn’t even giggle without feeling my core hurt a bit. To me, that’s the sign of a solid workout.

There are four different levels of classes at Club Pilates, starting off super easy at level one. From here, the classes ascend in difficulty by half a point measure at a time, with the highest level of difficulty for a given class being 2.5. Not all classes go this high, though. The Restore class only goes up to 1.5, and certain locations may not offer all difficulty levels. (The NoHo studio’s Reformer Flow class only goes up to level 2, for instance.)

There are also different types of classes, including Cardio Sculpt (high intensity), Center + Balance, Control, Restore, Suspend (the TRX-based class), F.I.T. (bootcamp style), and teen. If you’re looking for the best or most difficult workout, Wallace recommends the highest level Reformer Flow.

But another sign that Club Pilates is more concerned with making sure everyone gets the best workout for them, versus just filling classes: to sign up for Reformer Flow 2, participants need instructor approval, Wallace says. “This class is for clients with extensive reformer experience, as it focuses on balance, strength, and advanced Pilates movements using lighter spring tension,” she says. If you don’t have the experience but want to work hard, your instructor can help point you to a more appropriate class to help you build the experience you need. Wallace notes that the first two levels can still give you a good workout, especially if you focus on engaging your core and keeping the right form.

Regardless of the difficulty level or class that you choose, Club Pilates is a welcoming space where folks don’t judge each other. I felt comfortable taking the modifications Wallace offered and never felt like people were staring at me or thinking that I was unfit. And that’s the kind of energy that’ll keep me coming back to a group workout.

What’s Worth Noting About Club Pilates

While I had a great time and will be returning, I’d be remiss not to mention that I felt a little out of place at first. My class was full of white-presenting people, and I was one of two women of color. That said, once the class started, those things didn’t matter — again, a credit to the welcoming ethos of Club Pilates and the warmth of my instructor. We were all there to move our bodies in a judgment-free zone. I got out of my head and just started doing the movements. (Also, of course, the makeup of your class will depend on where your studio is located and even when you go: though my class was mostly white, the intro class at 5 p.m. had only women of color in it, so I could tell it was a welcoming space.)

Also worth knowing ahead of time: you’ll need grip socks for all classes. You can bring your own, or purchase them at the studio’s store for around $20.

Who Club Pilates Is Good For

After attending a Club Pilates class for myself, I highly recommend it to anyone who’s curious about Pilates, including those who are new to the workout modality and especially people who’ve been put off by it before. It’s a great workout, although if you’re looking for something super sweaty or intense, you may want to sample one of the more difficult offerings on the Club Pilates menu. Regardless, the folks at Club Pilates made the class less intimidating and reassured me at every turn, which is exactly what I want to get out of my fitness class.

Natalie Arroyo Camacho is a San Fernando Valley-based journalist with more than five years of experience in the well-being and lifestyle space. A proud child of immigrants and first-generation Mexican American, Natalie has landed her byline in the Los Angeles Times, GQ, Teen Vogue, Remezcla, PS, and many others.