Club Pilates Review: Is It Worth $25 Per Class?

If you’ve never taken a pilates class, you might be under the impression that it won’t be that challenging of a workout. But you’d be completely wrong!

Created by Joseph Pilates, a German bodybuilder and gymnast, pilates began as a series of core and postural exercises for soldiers without access to much equipment.

Since then, numerous professional athletes have incorporated Pilates into their workout routines, and studios have popped up all over the world.

One of the most popular places to practice is Club Pilates. These classes are easy to find, but is the studio any good? Let’s find out with a full Club Pilates review.

(Some photos and video courtesy of Club Pilates)

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What to know before your first Club Pilates class

All you’ll need to workout at Club Pilates is a water bottle, comfy workout clothes, and a pair of grippy socks.

Walking into Club Pilates, one of the first things you’ll notice is that while it is a group class, the setting is still intimate with only a dozen workout stations or so.

After being greeted and checked in by one of the front desk representatives, who are notoriously friendly and seem to know all of the members by their first name, you’ll drop your belongings in one of the provided cubbies and fill up your water before heading into class.

Most locations don’t offer amenities like showers or changing rooms, so it’s best to come dressed and ready to go.

Of course, if you’re lucky, you’ll be taking a class during a theme day or holiday, in which case you’ll be encouraged to arrive in full costume!
What’s a Club Pilates class really like?

Along with the reformer machine, which is a specialized strength and flexibility machine common in pilates, each station inside the studio is equipped with:

an Exo-Chair
TRX straps
A Bosu Ball
A resistance ring and bands
A foam roller
A yoga block
A workout mat
and a few other items.

Depending on the class, you may be asked to grab a set of dumbbells as well.

The structure of your class will depend on which level you’re signed up for, each offering different specially focused fifty-minute workouts.

To move up to the next level, experience at the previous level is required.

Lower level classes, like level 1 and level 1-point-5 focus on the fundamentals and are great for beginners or anyone looking to rehab an injury. Levels 2 and 2-point-5 are more challenging in difficulty and tempo, and this is where you’ll start to really build your strength. From there, specialty classes exist like Restore, which is great for recovery, or Cardio Sculpt, which pushes the intensity and calorie burn to the next level.

There’s something for everyone here and the leveling system really prevents you from getting in over your head, burning out, or potentially getting injured.

In general, if you’ve never taken pilates before, some people find it similar to yoga, but with some key differences. There’s a huge emphasis in pilates on core strength and stability, and while pilates can be done on a mat only, using the reformer will challenge your muscles in ways you could never imagine!
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How much does Club Pilates cost?

Like most good workout studios, most Club Pilates locations will allow you to take a free class before signing up for a membership.

Following that first free trial class, Club Pilates offers several membership options.

The more classes you purchase at once, the better deal you’ll get. On average, a pack of 8 classes per month will run roughly $150 per month and the Unlimited package will cost about $250 per month, depending on location.

Expect a single drop-in class to cost around $25 to $35.

Club Pilates isn’t cheap, with just one or two classes costing more than a month at most commercial gyms. But the high-end classes compare nicely to what you’d pay at most group fitness studios.
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Downsides to Club Pilates

There’s a lot to love about this pilates studio, from the fantastic class programming to the friendly staff and instructors. But it won’t be the right fit for everyone.

For starters, some outdated stereotypes about pilates still exist, through no fault of Club Pilates themselves. That means some men might feel a little out of place in classes mostly geared toward women. Some members have suggested adding Guys Nights or other types of classes. Of course, the relative lack of men at the studio also helps make Club Pilates a safe and welcoming environment for women looking to work out in peace.

Next, most Club Pilates locations don’t offer much in terms of amenities. If you like to shower off after class or relax in a hot tub or sauna, you won’t find that here. You might be better off taking pilates at a commercial gym, if that’s the case.

And finally, Club Pilates is pretty expensive. It’s not much worse than taking classes at an Orangetheory or yoga studio, but if you’re just looking for a good workout, a gym membership that includes group classes is a much better deal.

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