I'm new. How do I start?

Everyone begins with a personal 1:1 introductory session (£33). You can book your introductory session on our booking page and choose a time that suits you.

Do I need any experience?

Not at all. Our beginner reformer classes are designed for complete beginners, with a maximum of 4 people per class.

The Old Dairy, Lamport (NN6 9HF), just off the A508, with free on-site parking.

How do I know what level I'm at?

You don't need to! That's exactly what your 1:1 introductory session is for: your instructor sees how you move and recommends the right level (we run Level 1 to 3), so you always start in the right place.

Should I start with private 1:1s or group classes?

Most people join a group class after their intro (max 4 per class, so it stays very personal). Private 1:1s, duos or trios are ideal if you're recovering from injury, pregnant or postnatal, have specific goals, or simply prefer focused attention. Your intro session helps you decide, and you can always mix both.

How do the memberships work?

Your membership is built around your flexibility. It's an annual membership that gives you your plan's number of sessions to spread across the year, however suits you. Off travelling for three months? That's absolutely fine. You could do two classes a week in the three months before your trip to get in the best shape for it, and not lose any of your sessions. Pick Lifestyle 1, 2 or 3 for how often you'd like to come.

Can I try before committing to a membership?

Yes. Everyone starts with a 1:1 introductory session (£33), with no membership required. It's a relaxed way to experience the studio and see if it's right for you.

Is reformer Pilates okay if I have an injury or health condition?

Very often, yes. Our instructors are APPI-trained with specialist knowledge in rehabilitation, back pain, pregnancy, pelvic floor and menopause. Tell us anything relevant at your intro and we'll tailor your sessions, and do message us if you're unsure.

What should I wear or bring?

Comfortable, fitted activewear you can move in, plus grippy socks if you have them (we have some too). Just bring water. We provide everything else.

What if I need to cancel a session?

No problem. Give at least 24 hours' notice and you can rearrange. Our online system lets you manage your bookings and track your usage.

28 September 2026

What happens in your first sports massage

Booking a treatment somewhere new involves a small amount of guesswork: what to wear, what you will be asked, whether you are expected to know what is wrong with you. Here is what the first hour at The Old Dairy actually looks like, so none of it is a surprise.

It starts with a conversation

The first appointment is an hour. You will still be treated, so it is a massage and not an interview, but there is time built in at the start to get to know each other. What you do with your days, what hurts and when, what you have already tried, and what you would like to be able to do that you currently cannot. People often arrive apologising for not knowing the right words for it. That is perfectly fine, and describing it plainly is more useful than a borrowed diagnosis.

The purpose of that hour is a plan, not just a treatment. You should leave knowing what is being worked on and roughly what the next few weeks look like.

Then the hands-on part

Treatment is built around what came out of the conversation and what is found once work begins, which is not always the same thing. The area that hurts is not reliably the area causing it, and a session often spends time somewhere you did not expect.

Why you might leave with more than a massage

Annabelle runs the sports massage sessions and also teaches in the studio, and that second part shows up in what she notices. In practice it means you may well be shown something to take away: a way to sit, a way to load a hip, one or two things to do in the week between appointments. It is usually two things, chosen because they are the two that matter, and it is offered rather than imposed.

What happens after the first one

Most people do not need a long course of treatment. After the first hour you will have a rough idea of whether this is a one-off, an occasional tune-up, or something worth booking a few of while you work on a particular problem. There is a block of six for people in that last group, but nobody is pushed towards it, and plenty of people simply come back when they feel they need to.

If it turns out that what you need is not massage at all, you will be told that too. It is a small studio and sending someone to the right place matters more than filling a slot.

Practical details

Wear something you can move in. The studio is at Lamport Manor, just off the A508 between Northampton and Market Harborough, with free parking at the door. Treatments run on Friday and Saturday mornings, and you do not need to be a member or to have done any Pilates before.

Sports massage works alongside medical care, not instead of it. If you have a diagnosed injury, persistent pain or you are under a GP or physiotherapist, tell us before your session and keep them in the loop.

Do I need to know what is wrong? No. Describing what you notice is plenty.

What if I only want the massage? Then that is what you get. The movement side is offered, never imposed.

Browse our movements, or read more about sports massage at the studio.