Getting Started With Us

Working with UsPilates Mat WorkPilates ReformerPilates Apparatus
Written By Gina Craig

You’ve heard about Pilates. Perhaps you have been recommended to do it by a healthcare professional, or maybe a friend has suggested giving it a try. Great!

You’ve obviously started doing your research as you have found this blog. That’s a great first step. The next step is to find the best class/es for you, and get you started.

Find A Studio

Getting the right studio is important. In a world where the term “Pilates” is being used to describe a real variety of mat and Reformer based exercise, it is important to do your research and get the right studio for you.

The studio space, the teachers, the style of teaching and classes all play an important role in your overall experience, and what you are going to get from it.

We are a Classical Pilates Studio, meaning that our teachers are trained in and teach Pilates as a system and method as was designed by Joseph Pilates. The exercises that we do, and the order in which they are taught and performed is specifically designed to help your body progress in strength and ability. Classical Pilates does not mean rigidity; our teachers are highly trained professionals who draw on the vast array of Classical Pilates exercises and their experience to deliver classes that will meet the needs of the clients and bodies in front of them. We believe strongly in a client focussed approach that treats every body as an individual, with supportive and encouraging teaching to help you realise your body’s potential.

We teach classes across the Pilates system, offering group classes on Mat, Reformer and Tower, as well as private sessions. Our Apparatus studio is equipped with Reformers, Cadillac, Ladder Barrel, Arm Chair, Wunda chairs, and PediPul. Our Tower & mat studio is equipped with Towers, Classical and standard mats, spine correctors and arcs.

We have carefully designed our studios to feel warm and welcoming. Somewhere you can leave the stresses of the day behind and focus on you. We get to know our clients; who you are, what your body needs, and how you learn best. We work around the ethos of a Pilates community, where we work together, support each other, and laugh together.

If this sounds like the studio for you, that’s great! Let’s get you started…

Discover the Right Class for You

With group classes in Mat, Reformer and Tower available you may be wondering which classes are best for you.

In an ideal world we would love everyone to do a mat class, Reformer class and Tower class each week as this gives you a wonderful all around combination that will give you the biggest benefits and help you see & feel changes in your body in the quickest way. However we realise that this isn’t going to be achievable for everybody, due to budgets and busy schedules. This is why we offer a Studio Induction that allows you to experience a little bit of everything to help guide you in your choices. We also offer a book as you go system, meaning you are not tied to a set block of classes and can instead book into the class/es that best suit your schedule on any given week. Reformer one week…Tower the next…Absolutely fine! What is most important is being able to show up each week, however that looks for you.

Studio Induction Workshop

Taught in a small group of upto 4 people, the Studio Induction is a great way to get started. In this 1.5 hour workshop you will

  • Discover the Mat, Reformer and Tower; learning how to use the Reformer & Tower safely and identifying any adaptations or modifications that may be best for your body right now

  • Learn how the different elements fit together within the Pilates system, and how they challenge the body in different ways

  • Have the opportunity to ask questions to help you determine the classes that will be best for you

Our Studio Induction Workshop is best suited for those who are generally fit and well, with no significant conditions or injuries that might warrant a more tailored approach or significant modifications to exercises that might warrant a more focussed 1:1 approach to get you started.

We typically run Studio Inductions once or twice per month, depending on demand and availability. See our Getting Started page for more details, upcoming dates and to book a space.

Studio Induction 1:1s

If you have conditions or injuries that may require more of a tailored approach to get you started, or if you would simply prefer 1:1 attention then we recommend starting off with at least a couple of 1:1s. Your teacher will work with you on a 1:1 basis to identify the exercises, adaptations and modifications that are best suited for your body. We recommend at least 2x 1:1s before moving into group classes, and there is no maximum to the number of 1:1s you can have with us. Some clients continue to have 1:1s on an ongoing basis, some will combine 1:1s with group classes each week, and some might just book into the occasional 1:1 to focus on key areas every so often alongside their classes.

Special Requirements:

We work with clients with a variety of needs and requirements. Our teacher team hold additional certifications in specialist areas including orthopaedic conditions, scoliosis, osteoporosis, endometriosis, exercise post breast cancer surgery (Pink Ribbon Programme) and older populations. For certain conditions we may recommend starting with 1:1s so that we can work at a pace that is tailored for your needs. We also have a specialist team of Gina and Lauren who offer specialist classes for clients during Pregnancy and after childbirth. Our specialist Pregnancy and Postnatal Classes run slightly differently from our regular classes, with different requirements to get you started. You can find out more about our Pilates for Pregnancy and Postnatal Pilates classes here.


We recommend the Studio Induction (workshop or 1:1s) as a starting point for everyone. It s a mandatory requirement if you wish to join group Reformer or Tower classes, and optional for those wishing to attend group mat classes.

How to Book

We use a booking platform called BSport for all of our bookings. This allows you to quickly and easily see which classes are running each week, which classes still have spaces available and make & manage your bookings with ease. Our booking calendar is integrated into our website, and can also be found via the BSport Solutions app.

Our Getting Started page on our website is the best place for new clients to find out more about our Studio Induction workshops & 1:1s and to book. Simply follow the instructions and use the booking buttons on the webpage to book.

You can also find our full booking calendar on the website homepage. Select the session you wish to book and follow the instructions on screen to complete your booking.

Note: If you have used BSport with another gym or fitness studio in the past your log in information will be the same. Use the Forgotten Password function to reset your password if needed.

What to Expect - Before your Class

Once you have booked your first class you will be sent a Welcome email that includes helpful information such as how to find us, what to wear and a link to our online health form for you to complete. We typically send this within 24 hours of your booking, so if you’ve not received it in this time please check your junk mail folder incase it has landed there (it happens sometimes!).

We might contact you if we have any questions about the information on your health form, or we may simply have a quick informal chat at the studio just before your class. If you have any questions at all before your class please do get in touch and ask. We appreciate that coming to a new studio can be a big step and we want you to feel happy and confident about your upcoming booking with us.

What to Expect - Your First Class

Stepping into a new studio can feel a little daunting and you might be feeling a little apprehensive about your first session. Don’t worry, we are here to help put you at ease. Your teacher will be ready to greet you on arrival and will guide you through your session.


Everyone works at their own pace and there is no expectation for you to pick things up quickly. We are here to guide and support you. We believe that every body has the potential to be strong and move well, and we will encourage you every step of the way to find your strength and grow in both confidence and ability.

If you are having a 1:1 with us, this time is for YOU. It is a chance to work at your pace, so please feel free to ask questions and let us know how the exercises are feeling for you. If you are coming to a group class for the first time, please be reassured that Be:Poised Pilates clients are a lovely bunch. We encourage a relaxed, welcoming and supportive atmosphere at the studio.

Ready to get started?

Great…here’s a reminder of what to do next

Gina Craig
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