Pilates on Bourke is currently my favourite place for reformer classes. They are fairly small with…read moreonly 8 machines. This means lots of individual attention. And the instructors are super-helpful, not afraid to get hands on and complement you when you are getting better. The jumpboard classes are especially good, but I have not had a bad class here. I have also tried their barre class which was one of the better ones in the city. Natalya is really fun and her play list veers more into the pop territory, which is great for keeping the energy up during class.

From the owner: Opened in 2014, Pilates on Bourke provides state of the art Studio Pilates and Group Reformer…read morePilates classes as well as a range of Yoga and Barre Fusion classes. Our Pilates instructors are fully qualified and registered with the Pilates Alliance Australasia. Whether you are looking for rehabilitation, achieving peak physical fitness or anywhere in between, our teachers are able to tailor a program for your individual needs. After all, we want you to be the best you can be. We also provide osteopathy and remedial massage services through our allied health partners, Principle Four Osteopathy and Trademark Therapy in our spacious and relaxing consulting room. We have specially chosen our partners as we believe they provide a wonderful compliment to your Pilates and Yoga practice for all round well being.

I'll start by saying that I really like the concept of barre body & it's a great workout. The…read morereason for the lackluster score is twofold- 1. I think the price is utterly ridiculous & 2. There's no good 'beginner class' options which means people are more prone to injuring themselves due to lack of knowledge or technique. I did about 3 weeks of classes (and intro 2 week deal and a week afterwards) and went probably 9 times so I got a great overall view of the classes. The teachers were really lovely but a few moved far too quickly through the yoga components of the classes & I could see people struggling to keep up & rushing their poses to do so (which will lead to injury eventually). There was no explanation to newbies about the poses and no real extra attention paid to them. For those in the know the workout is excellent - it's quite lower limb heavy but different classes are varied and it is hard work- my butt & legs were killing me for days after each class!! The price. Woah. It's so expensive. Over $200 a month for unlimited classes! That's too much by anyone's standards. Their overheads are not that excessive. So what's my summary - eh, if you can afford it, do some yoga classes somewhere else first so you get to know the poses and then go nuts. You'll get a great workout with lovely teachers in a truly gorgeous space.

I admit I was pretty intimidated about the idea of doing a Barre class. I always thought it would…read morebe some kind of ballet show-off session with super toned chicks in impossibly skimpy outfits making me feel fat and frumpy. After some friends and my Pilates teacher filled me in on what REALLY goes on here, I thought I'd bite the bullet and give it a try with the two week $50 pass as a way to shake up my exercise regime. I'm really glad I did and can confirm a few things for anyone else wondering if they should take the plunge. 1) There's women of all shapes and sizes here. I once also saw a guy, but usually it's a women only affair. 2) Apart from the Barre that you use for some exercises and a couple of ballet terms, it's not very ballet/dancy at all. 3) The teachers are very kind and super lovely. There's none of that "look at me I'm so great" attitude you might get elsewhere. 4) The Barre Tone classes will make you sweat and work muscles in small but excruciating ways. 5) Your arms, legs and bum will look and feel better in just a month! I'm now attending two or three classes a week (mostly Barre Tone and Barre Body ones) and really love how it has improved my fitness, flexibility and strength in just a couple of months. The online booking system is very easy to use, though I wish you could book more than a week in advance as I like having my schedule organised a fortnight at a time. I also really like that I can use class credits in any of the Barre Body studios around Melbourne and Sydney as this gives me more flexibility when travelling.

I am pooped. This morning I tried my very first Functional Fitness class at Breathe Wellbeing and…read moream totally wrecked and going through a "I exercised this morning therefore I will eat all of the food" phase. The Breathe Wellbeing functional fitness class is small - only a group of around 10 - and consists of intense circuit training with 40 seconds/40 seconds off. The exercises include sprints, running up/down stairs carrying weights and a hell of a lot of ab work. Can you see why I am tired now? The small classes mean you are well looked after by the instructor, who will assist with your posture and technique throughout the circuits - ensuring you're exercising at your very hardest. Breathe have a number of different classes including reformer pilates, which I have tried also and absolutely *loved*. One of the standouts about Breathe is their online/app booking system (the small classes mean you have to book in) as well as their simply stunning studios, that will literally take your breath away. Imagine a sexy New York warehouse apartment without any furniture. All in all a sleek and sexy studio providing a great workout for all.

I've been a client at the original Breathe Wellbeing on Little Collins for over two years now and…read morecan't sing their praises high enough. About a year ago they opened their second studio, tucked away on hidden laneway, Goldie Place. It a beautiful studio with three levels dedicated to different parts of the Breathe experience. The first level you will encounter is the reception/lounge area where you can check in for classes, get changed and have a cup of tea and a piece of fruit before or after your session. I really enjoy getting to my session early and taking a little time to sit and read or work on the couch before my class starts. It's a bit bright space, filled with good tunes and great vibes. Upstairs is a large reformer studio space, with around 18 beds available for each class under a super high ceiling. The machines are new and I love that there is a mirror down one wall here so I can see if I'm doing the exercises right and correct my form. There's a good mix of Level 1 & 2 classes offered by a variety of teachers so if you're new to reformer this is a great studio to learn in. Downstairs lacks the open space feel that you get on the two floor above, but what it lacks in prettiness it makes up for in hard classes that will get you energetically moving and increasing your fitness. This is the level for functional fitness, a kind of bootcamp-esque class that involves a bit of cardio, strength training and balance work that will put your body to the test. I've tried only the Level 1 classes so far, but can tell that they will kick my ass in a much harder way that I'm used to with reformer. This is a good thing! Pro tip: buy an introductory membership that will let you experience a mix of classes (reformer, functional fitness, yoga, mobility/stretch) at both studios over two weeks for the very low price of $50.

OH GOD MY LEGS. Kaya…read morehas been kicking my ass for the past month and this is the only sentence I can utter after one of their killer pilates reformer classes. Kaya is part of that new breed of gym where you really feel like you should be dressed up when you go in - it's just that beautiful. Hardwood floors, geometric architecture, you could confuse this gym with a trendy new Northside cafe. I am addicted to their pilates reformer classes. They are touch but achievable and you honestly feel stronger the next day. They also host Barre classes, boxing classes and a variety of different yoga classes in temperature controlled rooms. One of the coolest things about Kaya (at least in my eyes) is the electronic lockers. At my last gym, I was given a beaten-up key to a grotty locker, but here the lockers are ready for you to input your very own 4-number code. Easy. Simple. Secure. If you work/live in the city and are looking for a decent gym, look no further.

Looking for a space to get your health kick on? Look no further then Kaya. With their range of…read moreclasses, people pop in and out straight from work and the daily grind, and into workout clothes for a session to get themselves back in order. Its a health club. You wouldn't come here for the gym, even though they have what you need here. But the classes? Oh yes. You may look into some of the rooms and think to yourself, what the heck are these machines? Why that is Reformer Pilates. Get on one and find out for yourself, cause it'll be your new friend. This session made me remember that I had a core. Who knew? And after those 45 minutes of intense not expecting to get sweaty -but I did, I was most definitely sore the next day. And I loved that. Yoga has always been my go-to. Nidra yoga with Ashleigh here is something everyone should do to get in touch with your inner peace. Its so soothing, almost like a grown up nap time. But it's so so much better than that, like mind out of body stuff. Plus, it's much more rewarding. Yin and meditation was with Derek; yin yoga really focuses on getting to know one pose and learning what is comfortable for you. Being someone who normally does vinyasa, yin is calming, and it's good to stretch yourself in one pose. I walked out feeling like a pigeon pose champ. The barre class. Holy cow, for anyone looking for that dancer-type body, this one's for you. I had zero idea of what I signed up for, except for Google pictures and making up some concept in my mind. The Monday night session with Kirby kicked my butt, well my legs actually. It was so different from what I imagined it'd be like, and a lot more strenuous. I was that person taking little intermittent breaks just to compose myself. Yep, not ashamed, I just was not used to that intensity in a workout. For days following this, my legs felt like straight up jello. Kirby was great, she was extremely motivating and fun, and mixes it up. Matt, the Membership Advisor, is a sweetheart and the perfect go-to person for enquiries and help. I mean, everyone is nice and friendly at Kaya, but Matt was welcoming as well. The location is ideal, convenient for any city folk as it's the top of the emporium and it feels like a sanctuary sitting up there. What better way to sweat yourself back into shape then on top of a mall?

This is a great small pilates studio, small but beautifully laid out with great equipment. Both…read moreregular teachers Donna and Sarah are very friendly and adapt classes to suit each person, making sure that it remains challenging. Lots of variety too and very good working with any limitations/injuries. Very easy to book and change classes.

From the owner: Fluid Pilates is a fully equipped Pilates studio in Collingwood. At Fluid Pilates we offer…read morepersonalised Pilates instruction addressing specific goals, postural deviations, muscle imbalances and strength and flexibility. Custom designed programs are created to address the individual needs of each client to achieve their Pilates goals whether it be injury management and rehabilitation, pre and post natal Pilates or general fitness and body maintenance. Choose from either small group Pilates classes or perfect your Pilates with private Pilates classes. Contact Fluid Pilates for further information or to make a booking.

So happy that KX has opened in my hood. I've had friends raving about their classes but couldn't…read morequite muster up the energy to travel to Richmond or beyond so was pleased to know KX classes are now only a short walk away (no excuses!) I kicked things off with an amazing Scoopon deal of four classes for $29. It was pretty hard to stretch those classes beyond a week because this place is addictive. KX operates under a quality brand protocol so all trainers follow the KX school of training and the studios have the same welcoming, friendly vibe. Their instructors are professional and knowledgable, and the equipment is great quality (and brand new!) Despite my muscles feeling very tender (having not done reformer classes for over a year) I'm hooked.

From the owner: The KX Pilates workout increases intensity by recruiting the most number of muscle fibres in the…read moreshortest amount of time, and by reducing the time between sets. With this increased muscle fibre recruitment along with working at constant pace throughout our 50 minute power workout, you will be constantly challenged and engaged, focused on the task at hand at all times.

I really enjoy this studio! Conveniently located in the Melbourne CBD this studio space is…read moregorgeous. My favorite amenity is the change rooms they have right inside the studio which make it easy to come right after work, change and go to class. They also offer lockers with lock codes you can set yourself which are very convenient. I have attended pilates classes here so far which have been perfect as a complete beginning. The teachers are quite supportive and help you find alternatives for poses if you're not ready for something more challenging yet. The classes on class pass are usually 8-10 credits so very affordable for a studio location that is down town.

From the owner: Traditional Mat-based Yoga; Aerial Yoga;…read moreReformer Pilates