12 Sep Why are Reformer Pilates classes more expensive than most fitness classes?

The average neighbourhood membership (such as Safra) costs about $40 per year in Singapore. Fitness centres such as Amore, Fitness First, Virgin Active or California Fitness charge members up to $250 per month, with a minimum of one year contract. Pilates Mat classes conducted by freelance instructors may range from $20-$35 per person for each group class, while Pilates Reformer classes at Pilates studios cost up to $65 per person per group class.

If you attend one Reformer class once a week, it totals up to $260 a month for 4 classes! Yes, Reformer Pilates classes may be priced steeper compared to other group exercise classes. Most people shy away from giving Pilates Reformer classes a shot as a fitness option as they are relatively more expensive, but there are valid reasons why people are willing to pay more for Pilates Reformer classes. In this article, we will be sharing some of the reasons why Pilates is worth its cost!

1) Experienced Pilates Instructors

Pilates instructors need at least four months of full-time training before they are eligible to sign up for certification examinations. In order to be a qualified Pilates Instructor for Reformer, one has to undergo an instructor training course consisting of at least 8 hours daily for 14 days, followed by a minimum of 100 practice teaching hours with another fellow trainee, and 20 hours of observation and attending classes as a client. This means that if you want to be certified to teach Mat, Reformer, Chair, you will need to do at least 42 days full-time, 300 practice hours and 60 observation hours! In fact, a certified Pilates Instructor across all equipment is akin to taking a undergraduate degree – in both hours spent and costs.

With the above requirements fulfilled, potential instructors can then apply for a certification exam that includes a practical exam as well as a 1.5hr written exam on the human anatomy. In fact, some polytechnics in Singapore are in the works to include Pilates as a module in their curriculum, as it will take a minimum of four months of full time study to master how to teach a beginners’ Pilates class. As compared to other forms of fitness training where instructors can be certified via a weekend course, without a practical exam, Pilates certification courses require much more effort, time and money. This is one of the key reasons why Pilates classes are more expensive than most group fitness classes. The Pilates instructors have spent considerable amount of time, effort and money in order to get themselves trained as instructors. This also means that Pilates instructors have a strong foundation in anatomy and movements as compared to many other fitness instructors.

At Pilates Fitness, on top of the Pilates education received from top global Pilates schools such as Stott Pilates, our instructors receive personal instructor training from the Founder of Pilates Fitness for at least 200 hours before they are allowed to handle clients. This positions Pilates Fitness Instructors as the cream of the crop, equipping them with the ability to manage customized exercises for each individual in a group class. We also only accept instructors with at least 5 years of Pilates experience at our studio. It is of utmost importance to our Founder that our instructors are passionate about their job, are inclusive and non-judgemental and are able to concentrate on the positive development of every participant in class.

All Pilates Fitness instructors hold a global certified Pilates certificate and are trained with at least 5 years of Pilates experience to bring you the safest and most effective Pilates exercises. Whether you are a seasoned athlete or an exercise novice, a twenty-something or an active grandparent, our passionate team works with you to create your optimal fitness routine. The experienced instructors at Pilates Fitness are trained to customize each Pilates class according to each individual’s strength and ability, maintaining a challenging yet manageable workout for everyone. The modification of exercises to the individual’s needs make Pilates a more effective workout than attending boot camps or going to the gym.

2) Small-class size

The smaller the Pilates Reformer class, the more attention the Instructor can give to each participant. Unlike most group fitness classes where participants simply mimic the movements led by the instructor, Pilates instructors instruct the movements with their voice and move around the class to correct the posture and form of each individual. This ensures that all participants enjoy a full body workout and discover how to use different parts of their muscles at every class. Some group exercise classes can take in as many as 60 participants per class, and instructors are often at the front demonstrating the exercises and unable to correct every participant. This results in some people leaving the class worse-off with injuries as they may have used the wrong muscles to execute the move. Quality is more important than quantity – going to a 10 pax class at $45/class twice a week may reap better results than going to a 15 pax classes at $30/class four times a week. Time is money, effectiveness and efficiency are more important than doing many classes, achieving only half the result.

As Pilates Fitness limits each class size at a maximum of only ten people, the instructors are able to give each client attention. If you have attended classes at Pilates Fitness before, you will realised that our instructors are not repetitions counters, our instructors are busy moving around the studio to carry out corrections and modifications based on each client’s health issues and weaknesses. Also, it is important for clients to maintain a focused mind-body connection (ie. executing the exercises as per instructed) throughout the class as Pilates exercises are heavily focused on stability & coordination. This helps to train the brain-body cognition and enhance body awareness, which makes Pilates a more all-rounded workout as compared to mass fitness classes and boot camps.

At Pilates Fitness, we preserve the quality of the classes by ensuring we do not have more than ten persons per class and that every client is using the right muscle at every exercise. We take pride in ensuring every client will get the full benefits of exercising in a small class.

3) Impact on your Joints

Pilates exercises has zero-impact on your joints as the resistance is from the springs and straps. In any event that you are unable to handle the resistance, the springs will return you to the starting position without any sudden impact. This also means that the elderly, people with body size on a bigger side, or even those recovering from an injury can still do Pilates safely on a daily basis. Pilates strengthens not only the core but the whole body in every class, targeting each muscle group evenly and working them in different directions. As a result, Pilates increases flexibility and produces a uniform and deep strength and tone, without needing to lift heavy weights in the gym.

Pilates stands out from other group exercises as it focuses on controlled, deliberate movements and muscle engagement. Each repetition is precise and objective-driven to get targeted benefits. Depending on your strengths and weaknesses, all Pilates exercises can be modified to push you to deliver your best so that you achieve maximum results with every class.

At Pilates Fitness, we created unique group class routines that combine the benefits of Pilates, leading to weight loss and a better posture with less body aches and more flexibility. Low-impact exercises such as Pilates allow you to achieve the same benefits as high-impact exercises, without causing damage to your joints, and may even promote the healing and recovery of damaged joints. Pilates Fitness instructors use effective cues and unique routines to ensure that all participants reap the maximum benefits, with the right posture so as to prevent injuries and incorrect muscle usage.

In short, you are paying value-for-money quality Pilates exercises that are fully customized to your needs while keeping in mind your safety and health in the long run. At every class, you are not only getting qualified instructors who knows about human anatomy and how to activate right muscles, you are also training strength, core, flexibility, coordination, balance and posture in just 55 minutes! Think about it this way – you’re getting the same if not better results as you would by training with a personal trainer, but this time, only within a fraction of the price! What are you waiting for? Take the first step to be a stronger, leaner and toner individual and sign up for Pilates Fitness Reformer classes today!