New to Reformer

New to Reformer? Start Here.

If you’ve never tried Pilates before – or it’s been years since you last exercised – the thought of walking into a studio can feel daunting. Will everyone else be better than you? Will you be able to keep up? What even is a reformer?

Our members came to us from every possible starting point. Some had never done a class of any kind; some were coming back to exercise after years away, or after an injury, or after being told to strengthen something. Every single one started exactly where you are now. And every single one started with a 1:1 introductory session before joining any group class.

That’s the Old Dairy difference – by the time you walk into your first class, you’ll already know your instructor, understand the equipment, and feel confident.

What Happens in Your Introductory Session?

Your introductory session is a full 1:1 hour with one of our instructors. It’s not a test – it’s a conversation.

We Get to Know You

Your fitness background, any aches, injuries, or health conditions, what you’re hoping to achieve. No judgement – just understanding.

We Introduce the Reformer

How it works, how it feels, what the springs do. You’ll try some basic movements so it feels familiar before your first class.

We Recommend Your Path

The right class level, the best times for you, and the membership that suits your life. Completely personalised.

What Is a Reformer?

If you’ve never seen one, a Pilates Reformer looks a bit like a single bed on rails. It has a sliding carriage that moves back and forth on a frame, connected to adjustable springs that create resistance.

You can lie on it, sit on it, kneel on it, or stand next to it. The springs support your body while challenging your muscles – making exercises both safer and more effective than working on a mat alone.

Unlike a gym machine that isolates one muscle, the reformer engages your whole body. Your core is always working, even when you’re focusing on your legs or arms. That’s why Reformer Pilates builds functional strength – the kind you actually use in daily life.

What to Expect in Level 1

Level 1 is where everyone starts, and every session is built from the same four things.

• Breathing and alignment. We start by connecting breath to movement. This is not just relaxation; proper breathing technique is the foundation of effective Pilates.
• Core engagement. Learning to activate your deep core muscles, not just your abs, so every exercise builds from a strong centre.
• Footwork. A series of exercises pressing against the foot bar that teach you how the springs feel and how to control the carriage. Good for leg strength and alignment.
• Simple sequences. Gradually building movement patterns that develop coordination, control and body awareness.

Classes last an hour. With only four people in each one, your instructor can give you real feedback and corrections, so you progress in confidence and ability at your own pace.

The Journey from Level 1 to Level 3

• Level 1, foundations. Breathing, alignment, core engagement, and how to control the reformer. This is the building block for everything that follows.
• Level 2, building. More complex sequences, heavier spring work, and an introduction to other equipment such as the Tower and the small studio props. Your coordination and control develop significantly.
• Level 3, challenge. Faster-paced, flowing sequences for experienced practitioners, with cardiovascular elements and advanced exercises.

There is no timetable for moving up and no pressure to. Your instructor will tell you when you are ready, and plenty of members stay where they are happy. We also run classical reformer classes and a Tower hour for anyone who wants to go further sideways rather than upwards.

How to start

Three steps, and the first one takes a couple of minutes.

• Book your introductory session. One hour, 1:1 with an instructor, £33. The next available times are listed further down this page.
• Come in and meet your instructor. Nothing to prepare. You will try the reformer, talk through anything that aches, and leave knowing which class to walk into.
• Start the classes that suit you. Your instructor recommends the level and the times that fit your week, and from then on you book through our app.

What to wear, and what to bring

Close-fitting clothes you can move freely in, so your instructor can see how you are moving. Grippy socks if you have them, and we keep spares if you do not. Bare feet are fine too; shoes never go on the reformer. Bring some water. Everything else, including all of the equipment, is here.

When you arrive

We are at Lamport Manor, NN6 9HF, on the A508 between Northampton and Market Harborough, with free parking directly outside. For your first visit, give yourself an extra five or ten minutes so you can find us and settle in without rushing.

Finding a class that fits your week

Level 1 classes run six days a week, from eight in the morning through to an early evening class on Wednesday and a late morning on Saturday. You can see every class, with spaces remaining, on our timetable.

Because we cap every class at four people, the popular times do fill up. It is worth having a second choice in mind, and your instructor will point you at the classes with space when you come in for your introductory session.

What it costs, and how membership works

Your introductory session is £33 and stands entirely on its own. There is nothing to join beforehand and no obligation afterwards.

If you carry on, you choose a membership that matches how often you want to come. Payments are taken every four weeks rather than on a set date each month, which means you can start whenever suits you instead of waiting for the first of the month. All of the options are set out on our memberships page, and if none of them fits, 1:1 sessions are there too.