Your first class
You have booked your first reformer class. Here is what nobody tells you beforehand — including the one item most studios will turn you away for.
Grip socks are not optional
Most reformer studios in Australia require them, and many will sell you a pair at the door for more than they are worth. The reason is practical rather than fussy: the carriage moves, and bare feet slide.
Look for silicone grip across the full sole rather than just the heel and ball — Pilates asks your feet to hold position during lateral work, not only front to back.
What to wear
Fitted rather than loose. Not for looks — your instructor needs to see your alignment, and baggy fabric hides whether your ribs are closed or your pelvis is level. Leggings and a fitted top are the standard.
Leave jewellery and long necklaces at home. Hair tied back and off your neck; you will spend time lying on your back.
Before your first class
Arrive ten minutes early. Reformers are adjusted to your height. Doing that while the class waits is nobody's idea of a good start.
Tell the instructor it is your first time. Also mention any injury or condition, even an old one. They will give you alternatives before you need them.
Eat lightly, an hour or two before. A lot of the work happens face down or with your knees at your chest.
Expect to be confused. The cues — neutral spine, ribs down, lengthen through the crown — are a language. Everyone learns it slowly.
What helps before you go
A few weeks of mat work at home makes a real difference. Not because you need to be fit, but because the vocabulary stops being new. If you already know what a bridge and the Hundred feel like, your first class is about the machine rather than about everything at once.
The Mat Society four-week plan covers the classical mat repertoire studios build on — the Hundred, roll up, single leg stretch, swan, teaser. Twelve exercises, twelve sessions, thirty minutes each.
General fitness information, not medical advice. If you have an injury or a health condition, mention it to your instructor and speak to your doctor before starting.