One-to-one vs group reformer classes: which is right for you?

It is one of the questions we are asked most by people thinking about starting: should I book one-to-one sessions, or join a class? It is a fair question, because at many studios the difference is stark, a private hour of attention versus a room of twelve people following along. At The Old Dairy the honest answer is that the gap is smaller than you might think, because our classes never have more than four people in them. But there are still genuine differences, and one will suit you better than the other.

What you get in a one-to-one

A private session is entirely built around you. The whole hour follows your body, your goals and your pace. It is the right choice when:

• You are working with something specific, an injury you are rehabilitating, a condition that needs careful handling, or a post-surgical recovery where every exercise needs tailoring.
• You want to move faster. An hour of undivided coaching simply teaches you more per session.
• You feel self-conscious starting. Some people want to find their feet privately before joining others. That is completely valid, and a few one-to-ones make a lovely on-ramp into classes.

What you get in our small group classes

With four people at most, our classes are closer to shared personal training than a typical group class. Your instructor sets up your reformer for your body, adjusts your springs, and gives you hands-on corrections throughout. What the group adds is harder to measure but very real: the energy of moving alongside others, the friendly accountability of a regular slot, and the simple pleasure of becoming part of the furniture at a small studio where everyone learns your name.

The honest comparison

If your situation is straightforward, you are healthy, or managing the everyday aches most of us carry, our classes will give you almost everything a private session would, at a fraction of the cost, and with company. If your situation is complex, start one-to-one. Many people blend the two: classes as their weekly rhythm, with an occasional private session to work deeper on something specific.

Not sure? Start with an intro session

Every new member starts with an intro session anyway, one-to-one time with an instructor to learn the reformer, talk through your body and your goals, and find out which route suits you. There is no need to decide before you have even lain down on a carriage. Come and try it, ask us honestly, and we will tell you honestly back.