No fitness required
— we work with the body that walks in.
No experience required
— complete beginners are the point.
Everything provided
— reformers, mats, props, and grip socks at reception.
INTRO OFFER
$150
Three private Pilates sessions — reformer, mat, or a mix — plus a complimentary group class when you’re ready.
New to Pilates and new to the Centre · Illawarra residents
Who these sessions are for:
- You’ve never used a reformer.
- You’re coming back after years off.
- You’re working around something.
- You tried another studio and it didn’t suit you.
- You’re 45 or older.
- You’d simply rather learn properly first.
1 · Assessment and first contact with the machine
We start with a conversation: your history, any injuries or conditions, what you’re hoping for. Your teacher then looks at how you stand, how you move through the hips and spine, where you’re strong and where you’re guarding. From there you get on the reformer — springs, straps, footbar, carriage, headrest — and move through the first foundation exercises slowly, with the setup explained rather than assumed.
2 · Building the foundations
Breath, centring, alignment and control — the principles the whole method rests on. You’ll repeat the exercises from session one with more precision and add a handful more, so that the movements start to feel like yours rather than like instructions you’re following. This is usually the session where the machine stops feeling foreign.
3 · Your own sequence, and where to go next
You work through a short sequence largely unprompted, with your teacher correcting rather than instructing. We talk about which group class suits you, what to expect in it, and what to keep an eye on in your own body. You leave with a plan and the complimentary group class to use whenever you’re ready.
What’s included in the $150
- Three private one-to-one sessions — reformer, mat, or a combination of both
- A full Pilates assessment covering posture, core strength and flexibility
- The foundation principles and technique, taught at your pace rather than the room's
- One complimentary group Pilates class, to use once you're ready to join the room
- All equipment provided — reformers, mats, props. Bring grip socks or buy a pair at reception
Reformer Pilates at the Wellness Centre is simple and effective. The small classes allow the instructor to give each person the attention they need. The result is a great workout without strain or pain.
CHERYL, 60
Reformer, mat, or both?
You can use your three sessions however suits you. Most beginners spend all three on the reformer, because that’s the piece of equipment worth learning under supervision — the springs change what a movement asks of you, and getting that wrong is how people end up sore rather than stronger.
Mat Pilates has no machine to learn, so it’s an easier drop-in later on. But a private mat session is genuinely useful if you’re working around an injury, or if you’d like something you can continue at home between classes. Talk it through with your teacher in session one — you don’t have to decide when you book.
If you’d like the fuller picture first, we’ve written a plain comparison of mat Pilates and reformer Pilates, and there’s more on our group beginner classes on the Beginners Pilates page.
Before you book
The fine print, plainly
Eligibility and conditions
- Available to Illawarra residents who are new to the Wellness Centre and new to reformer or mat Pilates. One per person.
- The pass expires 30 days from the date of your first session, so book all three within the month.
- Sessions are booked by appointment around your availability and your teacher’s — not from the group timetable.
- Cancellations: private sessions fall under our appointment and cancellation policy. Please give as much notice as you can.
- Non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Full terms are on our bookings and memberships page.
Frequently asked questions
I'm not fit at all. Is that a problem?
No — that’s the usual starting point. Most people who book these sessions haven’t done structured exercise in a while, and the first session is about finding where you’re starting from rather than testing it. Nothing is graded, and there’s nobody else in the room.
I've got a back / knee / shoulder issue. Can I still do this?
Often yes, though it depends on the specifics. Tell us when you book and tell your teacher at the start of session one — the assessment is partly there to work out what to include and what to leave alone. If you’re under the care of a doctor, physiotherapist or specialist, please check with them first; we’ll work alongside whatever advice you’ve been given.
Do I have to book all three at once?
No. Most people book the first and schedule the other two once they’ve met their teacher and seen how their week looks. The only thing to keep in mind is the 30-day window — the pass expires a month after your first session, so it’s worth having a rough plan for all three.
Will I have the same teacher each time?
Yes, wherever possible. Continuity is much of the value — by session three your teacher already knows how you move, what you’re guarding and what to correct, and that’s difficult to rebuild from scratch. If your teacher is unavailable we’ll tell you beforehand, not at the door.
How long is each session?
Each session runs for 45 minutes. Come ten minutes early for the first one, so the initial conversation and assessment happen before the clock starts.
What happens after the three sessions?
That’s the conversation in session three. Most people move into a group class (Reformer or Mat) — Beginners Reformer Pilates are capped at seven, Mat classes at 15 so it stays close to the attention you’ve just had — and your complimentary class makes the first one easy. Some prefer to keep working one-to-one. Either way you’ll leave with a suggestion rather than a sales pitch. Ongoing options are on our memberships and class passes page.
Is this the same as the 28-Day Reset?
No — the 28-Day Reset is an intro pass for group classes, so it doesn’t include private sessions. It does cover reformer, mat, yoga and meditation, and most of those classes are beginner-friendly, so plenty of people choose it to try a few things. These three sessions are for learning the reformer one-to-one first.
A note on what this is
Pilates here is a movement and wellbeing practice, not medical or physiotherapy treatment, and it isn’t a substitute for care from your doctor or allied health professional. If you’re pregnant, recovering from surgery, or managing a health condition, please check with your practitioner before starting and let your teacher know — we’ll work sensibly alongside whatever advice you’ve been given
Where to next
ALL INTRO OFFERS
Four ways to start
The 28-Day Reset, the 3-class pass, iRest meditation and these privates, side by side.”
START PROPERLY
Three sessions. One teacher. $150.
Purchase online, then ring us and we’ll talk it through and book your sessions — most people find that easier. We’ve been teaching Pilates on Keira Street since 2011.
Wellness Centre Wollongong · 81 Keira St, Wollongong NSW 2500 · 02 4226 3777
Helping locals come back to themselves since 2011. Explore all Pilates classes
