Do I need to be flexible before starting Reformer Pilates?

No. Pilates builds flexibility; it does not require it. The same applies to fitness. You are not expected to arrive in shape for it — you are expected to arrive. The Reformer machine assists movements that would be difficult on a mat, making it particularly well suited to people at the beginning of their movement journey.

What is the best Reformer Pilates class for beginners in Edinburgh?

At Luma Pilates in Edinburgh, beginners start with Reformer Fundamentals — a class designed specifically for people who are new to the Reformer. You will learn how the machine works, how to set it up for your body, and the foundational principles that run through every class at every level. Nothing is assumed, nothing is rushed.

What should I expect in my first Reformer Pilates class?

Expect to feel slightly new to your own body. The Reformer asks for more awareness and intention than most forms of exercise. Your instructor will show you exactly where to place your feet, how to hold the straps, and how to breathe through each movement. You will likely feel muscles you did not know needed attention. Most first-timers want to come back before they have even reached the door.

Can Beginners Do Reformer Pilates?

Q: Can complete beginners do Reformer Pilates?

Yes, completely and without qualification. You do not need to be fit, flexible, or coordinated to begin. Fitness and flexibility are outcomes of the practice, not prerequisites for starting it. The Reformer machine is fully adjustable, which means it works equally well for a complete beginner and an advanced practitioner.

Q: Should I book a private session or a group class for my first Reformer Pilates class?

Both are good options. Group classes at Luma are small by design, so your instructor can see and cue you individually throughout the session. If you would prefer more personal guidance before joining a group, a 1:1 private session gives you your instructor's complete attention to learn the fundamentals at your own pace. Private sessions at Luma start at £90.

Reformer Fundamentals class at Luma Pilates Edinburgh. Small groups with expert instruction — Every class at Luma is small enough for individualised, client-focused instruction – Reformer Fundamentals, Edinburgh

Short answer

Yes. Completely and without qualification. You do not need to be fit, flexible, or coordinated to begin. The Reformer machine is fully adjustable, which means it works equally well for a complete beginner and an advanced practitioner. Fitness and flexibility are outcomes of the practice, not prerequisites for starting it.

Why the Reformer suits beginners particularly well

The Reformer machine can look intimidating. It's a sliding carriage with springs, straps, and a footbar, and in the hands of an advanced practitioner it's used for complex, demanding work. But the thing that makes it so effective at that level is the same thing that makes it so well-suited to beginners: every element is adjustable.

The springs that create resistance can also provide support. Movements that would be extremely difficult on a mat such as a controlled leg press or a hip hinge with full range, become manageable on the Reformer because the machine assists the movement while still asking your muscles to work. A good instructor adjusts the setup for your body before you even begin.

What our Reformer Fundamentals class is designed for

At Luma, we built our Reformer Fundamentals class specifically for newcomers. It's the entry point to the Reformer, and it's exactly where we'd recommend you start.

In Fundamentals, you'll learn how the machine works, how to set it up for your proportions, and the principles that run through every class at every level: breath, alignment, control, and how to engage the muscles that are actually supposed to be doing the work. Nothing is assumed, nothing is rushed.

From there, Reformer Fundamentals Progressing builds on those foundations before you move into the levelled classes: Reformer Pilates 1, 2, and 3. That progression is deliberate. Each stage gives you time to genuinely embed what you've learned before adding complexity.

Anna Marchington teaching a beginner Reformer Pilates class at Luma Pilates, Edinburgh — Anna Marchington cueing a Reformer class at Luma Pilates, Edinburgh

What to expect in your first session

Expect to feel slightly new to your own body. The Reformer asks for more awareness and intention than most forms of exercise, and that takes a little getting used to. Your instructor will show you exactly where to place your feet, how to hold the straps, how to breathe through each movement.

You'll likely feel muscles you didn't know needed attention. You might not get every movement right first time, and that's fine, and entirely expected. What you will leave with is a clearer sense of how your body moves when it's paying attention. Most first-timers want to come back before they've even reached the door.

Class sizes at Luma are kept small by design, which means your instructor can see you individually throughout the session. You are never left to figure things out in the background.

Lucia Poulter, Luma's lead instructor with 26 years of experience teaching Pilates worldwide, puts it plainly: "Every client starts as a beginner. The Reformer becomes more powerful the better you understand it, and our job is to make sure you understand it properly from the start."

Anna Marchington trained through the Advanced Teacher Training at The Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado and has spent over 20 years teaching. She is particularly experienced at working with clients who are new to movement, returning after a break, or coming to Pilates through injury. Her approach is methodical and unhurried, building the kind of physical literacy that actually lasts.

Do I need to be flexible or fit already?

No. Pilates builds flexibility; it doesn't require it. The same applies to fitness. You are not expected to arrive in shape for it. You're expected to arrive.

Co-founder Max Howarth came to Reformer Pilates in his fifties with no background in the discipline. At 60, he's in better physical condition than he was at 30, and attributes much of that to consistent practice. He also teaches at Luma. "The early sessions are where the most interesting things happen," he says. "That's when you first discover what your body is actually capable of when it moves with real intention."

Common concerns before your first class

Most people who hesitate before booking their first Reformer class have one of the same handful of worries. Here's the honest answer to each of them.

I'm not fit enough. The Reformer is not a fitness test. It is a tool that works with wherever your body currently is. The spring resistance can be adjusted to assist movement rather than resist it, which means the machine meets you where you are rather than demanding something fixed from you. Fitness is something the practice builds. It is not a requirement for starting it.

I'm not flexible enough. Flexibility is an outcome of consistent Pilates practice, not a prerequisite for it. The Reformer develops active flexibility by strengthening muscles in lengthened positions. You do not need to be able to touch your toes to begin. Many clients who describe themselves as completely inflexible when they start find their range of movement improving within a few weeks.

I'll be the worst in the class. Classes at Luma run with a maximum of ten clients, which means your instructor can see you throughout and give you individual attention. There is no comparison between clients, no performance element, and no expectation that you will do everything perfectly in your first session. In a Reformer Fundamentals class, everyone is learning. That is the point of the class.

I'm too old to start. Luma's co-founder Max Howarth started Reformer Pilates at 55 with no movement background. He now teaches five classes a week. Lucia Poulter works with clients in their eighties. The Reformer is particularly well suited to people starting later in life because the adjustable resistance means you are not competing against a fixed standard, and the low-impact nature means you can train consistently without the recovery cost of higher-impact exercise.

I have an injury or a health condition. Tell your instructor before class. The more they know, the better they can support you. The controlled, low-impact nature of the Reformer makes it one of the most appropriate forms of exercise available for people managing injury, chronic pain, or post-surgical recovery. Many of Luma's clients come to us specifically because other forms of exercise are not suitable for where their body currently is.

I'll feel self-conscious. This is the concern most people don't say out loud. It is also the one that disappears fastest once you are in the room. Luma's clients range from complete beginners to experienced practitioners, from their twenties to their eighties, and from people who have never done any structured exercise to competitive athletes. Nobody is watching you. Everyone is focused on their own practice. And the instructors have genuinely seen everything.

Starting later in life, or returning after a long break

The Reformer is particularly well suited to people who are coming to structured exercise for the first time in years, or who have never felt at home in conventional gym or fitness environments.

The adjustable resistance and supported range of movement mean the machine works with your body rather than demanding something fixed from it. Clients who describe themselves as unfit, inflexible, or intimidated by exercise consistently find that the Reformer is more accessible than they expected, precisely because it removes the need to perform.

For clients in their fifties, sixties, and beyond, Reformer Pilates builds the kind of strength and balance that has a direct effect on everyday quality of life: getting up from the floor with ease, carrying shopping without lower back strain, feeling stable on uneven ground. These are not small things.

Max Howarth, Luma's co-founder came to Reformer Pilates in his fifties with no movement background. He now teaches at the studio. His experience is not unusual. A significant number of Luma's most committed clients started exactly where he did.

Private sessions for beginners who want a head start

If you'd prefer more personal guidance before joining a group class, a 1:1 private session is an excellent option. You'll have the Reformer to yourself and your instructor's complete attention to learn the fundamentals at your own pace. Private sessions at Luma start at £90. View all pricing.

Lucia Poulter enjoying a private Reformer Pilates at Luma Pilates Edinburgh — This is what Pilates looks like when you've been doing it for 26 years

How to get started

Your first three sessions are where the practice really starts to reveal itself. If you're new, our introductory offer is the right place to begin: 3 Reformer or Tower classes for £48, or 3 Barre or Yoga classes for £30.

View our full class schedule or browse all classes to find the right starting point.

Written by Lucia Poulter

Lucia is lead instructor and co-founder at Luma Pilates. With 26 years of teaching experience and Comprehensive BASI certification, she has introduced hundreds of complete beginners to the Reformer. Her view has never changed: the only thing you need to start is the willingness to show up.