Club Pilates New City- Intro Lesson

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are our own.

I can’t lie- I was both excited and nervous when Club Pilates first contacted us. I love to workout, would love to continue to work on my core, and my back surgeon told me that Pilates was a great core building exercise that I could do to strengthen my back and continue to rehab, while avoiding further injury( you may recall that I had emergency back surgery in January of 2021). I was however SUPER nervous because clearly my core and lower back are weak and I wasn’t sure I could do it.

With people looking to get back into shape after being quarantined so long, this is the perfect opportunity to get into a routine and try something new. So if you are looking, this is the perfect review for you.

Club Pilates has been in New City for 3 years this past July. The owners Lisa and Mark started doing Pilates and loved it so much that they wanted to bring it to others. Their greatest joy is helping people work on skills that are necessary to keep your body centered as you get older such as balance, and core strength. These both play pivotal roles in aging well.

Having been promised that the program is differentiated for all levels, Sofija and I attended an introduction class. These classes are FREE of charge, and you can sign up for several different available times, or if you and a bunch of friends want to try, you can contact them to set something up. This class is a bit shorter than a typical class, but introduces you to the apparatus, the way that the classes are run, and also gives you an idea of some of the basic exercises that you will complete. Sofija is an avid Peloton user and walker, and I run daily, so we are both in decent shape. I don’t however feel that you need to be in any type of shape to participate.

Our instructor Lisa (who is Ring certified) walked us through slowly, and circulated the room to make sure that we were all on track. If we had difficulty or were in the incorrect position, she fixed us. She was indeed able to meet the needs of all of her diverse learners, in our class we had people of all shapes and sizes, all walks of life.

Although it was new it didn’t seem overly difficult, and I wasn’t sure I would feel anything the next day. BUT DID I EVER. I can see why this is so good for your core build up, I was certainly sore and it wasn’t even a full class. It is recommended for best results that you attend 2-3 times a week. To do so in this studio, you simply go online to reserve your class (as early as your schedule allows as they will get closed out). The reservations system is necessary as there are so only so many setups for participants.

I have been super fortunate, and have created amazing bonds with groups of people that I have worked out with over the years. Most of my best friends are as a result of working out with them. Club Pilates recognizes this and puts together special member events for groups.

After completing the Intro Class with Megan on Monday, I was able to sign up for the Flow 1 class on Saturday with Lisa. I arrived at the studio early, and was so happy that I did. First – I was greeted and checked in by the young lady at the front desk who was super sweet and attentive. While waiting for my class I was able to get a sneak peak at the Flow 1.5 – and was super excited that I might be able to take that class in the future (a love a class that challenges me mentally and physically).

The Flow 1.5 class was ending, so I was able to see each of those members cleaning and sanitizing the items that they used (hospital grade cleaning products and rags that are washed and reused) . This is key for me since I am immune compromised – I pay special attention to how a gym or studio is cleaned and maintained. I made my way over to my designated reformer since class was getting ready to start. The instructor, Lisa introduced herself and asked if anyone had any injuries that she should know about. Class started, and it was everything I was hoping it would be. We worked on our glutes, arms and abs making sure that we stretched after each round of moves. I loved how Lisa walked around and corrected the placement of someone’s feet on the foot bar, as well as helping someone who had an injury and needed a modification.

At one point we used the box on the carriage (which is the flat part of the reformer) to work our upper bodies (including arms, shoulders and back). We incorporated the small ball by our feet while incorporate the long straps with handles for our feet.

After class ended (which felt so quick), I felt rejuvenated. I wiped the reformer down as well as the items I used during class, cleaned up my area and left for my afternoon. I felt amazing, slightly sore in all the right places since I used muscles that have been hidden for way to long (this is something I look for). Sunday when I woke – my muscle still membered what I did the day before as they were still slightly sore and I 100% needed that day of rest to get back to myself.

If you are looking for a workout that is low impact, that you muscle that you did not know you had and feel amazing after – Pilates is the workout for you – and Club Pilates is the place to go.

Let’s answer some of the most common questions:

Are masks required? At this time they are not mandatory for those who are vaccinated, but you can wear one if you feel more comfortable. The stations are spaced pretty well, I never felt confined.
How clean is it? You can see it when you walk in, the facility is spotless, the stations are cleaned with hospital grade wipes after each class, but you can also grab some and clean your station before you begin.
Do I have to take a group class? NOPE they have private lessons available in back rooms- this does NOT require a membership.
How old do you have to be to participate? 14 years is the youngest. They offer team workouts for athletes, as well as scout (boy and girl) classes.
Are there discounts available? Yes, there are discounts for American heroes (first responders, teachers, nurses, doctors etc), and students.