Already decided between Mat and Reformer? This guide explains how Pilates class levels work and where you are most likely to feel comfortable. If you are still choosing between the two formats, read our Mat vs Reformer guide first.
You do not need to choose perfectly. Class levels are starting points, and it is normal to move between them as your experience, confidence and needs change.
If you compare Pilates timetables, you will quickly notice that studios use different names. One studio may offer Foundation, Level 1 and Open Level. Another may use Beginner, Mixed Ability and Advanced. Gentler classes may be called Restore, Gentle Pilates or something similar.
There is no single industry-wide naming system. The important thing is not the title alone, but what the class expects from you. Class levels usually reflect four things: how familiar you are with Pilates, how much explanation you need, how quickly the class moves and whether specialist equipment is involved.
At Power of Pilates, Reformer follows a clear progression from Beginner to Mixed Ability and then Advanced. Mat Pilates begins in Mixed Ability because there is no machine to learn. Restore offers a gentler pace, while Private Pilates gives the instructor time to work with one person’s movement, history and goals.
The best class is not the hardest class you can survive. It is the class in which you can understand the teaching, move with control and build confidence.
Reformer beginners are learning two things at once: Pilates and how to use the equipment. The moving carriage, springs, straps and footbar are straightforward once they become familiar, but they can feel like a lot to take in during a first class.
A Beginner Reformer class moves at a pace that gives the instructor time to explain how the machine is adjusted, where your body should be positioned and how each exercise should feel. You will still work your whole body. Beginner does not mean easy; it means there is more time to learn.
At first, much of your attention is on springs, straps and where to place your hands and feet. Gradually those details become automatic, allowing you to concentrate more fully on the movement itself.
There is no fixed number of Beginner classes everyone must attend. Some people feel ready to try Mixed Ability after two or three visits; others prefer longer. What matters is whether you can follow the class without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
Mixed Ability does not mean that everyone performs the same exercise at the same difficulty. It means one class includes people with different levels of experience, and the instructor offers appropriate choices.
An exercise may begin with a foundation version. Some participants remain there, while others add a longer range, a balance challenge, different resistance or more coordination. The instructor is not simply delivering one routine; they are watching how people move and deciding which option is appropriate for each person.
You do not have to take every progression. Good Pilates is not about copying the person next to you; it is about choosing the version you can perform well.
Mixed Ability is where many clients remain long term. The class can continue to challenge you because the resistance, range, tempo and complexity of exercises can all be changed.
Advanced Reformer is for experienced clients who are already confident using the machine and have developed good control, body awareness and technique.
The main difference is not simply that every exercise is harder. Advanced classes generally move with more flow. There may be fewer pauses for equipment explanations, more complex transitions, greater coordination and more demanding balance, strength or endurance work.
Being strong does not automatically make someone ready for Advanced. You also need to understand the equipment, respond quickly to instructions and maintain control when the exercises become more challenging. A client who can perform a difficult movement but loses alignment or rushes the transition may benefit more from Mixed Ability for a little longer.
There is no prize for progressing quickly. Your instructor will usually be the best person to tell you when Advanced is likely to be enjoyable rather than frustrating.
Mat Pilates usually works differently from Reformer. At Power of Pilates, beginners can join a Mixed Ability Mat class from their first session because there is no machine to learn how to use.
The instructor still expects new people to need explanation. The difference is that everyone can begin from the same basic position on the mat, and exercises can be adapted by changing the range, leverage, pace, position or number of repetitions.
For example, one person may keep both feet on the floor while another lifts one leg. One may work with a smaller range while another adds a progression. Both are doing the same exercise at an appropriate level.
A Mixed Ability Mat class should not feel like a race to complete the most difficult version. Beginners and experienced clients can work together because the exercise is layered, not because everyone is expected to do exactly the same thing.
Restore is a gentler class for people who want more time to change position, understand the exercises and move without feeling rushed. It can suit people who are rebuilding confidence, feel less mobile, have been away from exercise or simply prefer a calmer pace.
Gentler does not mean passive. Restore can still work on strength, balance, mobility and control. The difference is in the pace, the amount of support and the time available for adaptations.
Restore is based on what you need, not your age. Some younger clients choose it after illness or a long break, while some older clients are perfectly comfortable in Mixed Ability or Advanced classes.
A private session allows the instructor to focus entirely on one person. It can be useful if you have a complex injury or medical history, are returning after surgery, feel very anxious about joining a group or want detailed help with technique.
A private session is not automatically necessary for every beginner. Most people without complex needs can begin in an appropriate group class. Private Pilates becomes valuable when the instructor needs time to understand your history, observe your movement closely or adapt the session around specific restrictions.
It also does not have to be permanent. Some people use one or two private sessions as a bridge into a group class. Others prefer individual teaching because it matches their goals or learning style.
Progressing is less about completing a certain number of classes and more about how comfortably you can participate.
Moving back to a gentler class is also normal. Health, confidence and energy change. Class levels are not permanent labels or measures of success.
Beginner Reformer is a full class. The extra time is used to teach well, not to remove all challenge.
A very fit person can still be new to Pilates and unfamiliar with the Reformer. General fitness does not replace equipment knowledge or Pilates technique.
Many people prefer Mixed Ability and continue progressing there for years. The best level is the one that suits how you want to exercise.
Choosing Restore, returning to Beginner or booking a private session can be a sensible response to a change in health, confidence or movement.
In a Beginner Reformer class, everyone is learning the same foundations. In Mixed Ability Mat, the instructor will give you appropriate options while more experienced people take different versions.
Most people are concentrating on their own movement. They are usually far more interested in following the instructor than in what anyone else is doing.
One class is not a permanent decision. The instructor can advise whether another level or format would suit you better.
No. Choose a class appropriate for your current experience and support needs. You do not need to become fit enough for Pilates before starting Pilates.
Tell us which studio is closest, whether you have done Pilates before and anything that may affect your movement. We will help you choose a sensible starting point.
