Your First Reformer Pilates Class: What to Wear, Bring, and Expect
Booking your first reformer class is the hard part; everything after is easier than the machine makes it look. That said, walking in knowing the unwritten rules turns a nervous first class into a good one. Here's everything we wish someone had told us.
What to wear (the honest version)
Fitted, not loose. Leggings or fitted shorts, and a top that stays put when you're upside down in short spine. Loose shirts fall over your face; loose shorts are a liability on a moving carriage. Nothing needs to be expensive — it needs to stay where you put it.
Grip socks — usually required. Most reformer studios require grip socks, and many prefer full-toe styles (full coverage on shared equipment). Buy a pair before you go; studios sell them at the front desk for 2–3x the online price, which is exactly how they get you. A decent pair runs AU$12–25 on Amazon (boutique Aussie brands like MoveActive run AU$20–28). If you want the full toeless-vs-full-toe decision, we wrote a whole guide on it.
Skip: jewelry that dangles, lotion on your hands or feet (slippery), and strong fragrance — you'll be breathing hard in a small room with strangers.
What to bring
- Water bottle. Reformer classes are sneakily sweaty.
- A small towel — some studios provide, many don't.
- Your grip socks (see above — this is the one item you can't borrow).
- Arrive 10–15 minutes early. First-timers get a machine orientation, and you want it. Tell the instructor it's your first class — they will genuinely adjust for you, and every single person in that room had a first class once.
What the first class actually feels like
Expect to spend the first ten minutes confused by the springs — everyone is. Reformer resistance is counterintuitive: sometimes lighter springs are harder, because your core has to stabilize what the spring no longer does. Expect your legs to shake in footwork; shaking is the machine working, not you failing. And expect to feel muscles the next day that you could not previously have named. That's the whole pitch, honestly.
The etiquette nobody explains
Wipe your machine down after class (spray and towels are always provided). Don't adjust springs while someone's mid-exercise beside you — the clunk is the studio's version of a phone going off. Phones stay in the cubby. And if you're between two classes on the schedule, book the beginner one; the "all levels" label is aspirational.
The first class is adrenaline; the habit is the win. Our Practice Planner tracks your sessions, your class-pack budget (those intro offers expire!), and a 30-day streak that makes coming back automatic.
Get the planner — $19The exact socks, bottle, and bag we'd hand a friend before their first class are in the Studio Bag Essentials section of our storefront.
As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you.
One last thing
You will not be the least experienced person in the room for long. Reformer Pilates has one of the highest "came back for a second class" rates in fitness for a reason: it's hard in a way that feels like care instead of punishment. Book the second class before you leave the building — future you will thank you.