Reformer Pilates is the way to go. It is also the priciest. Onelife in Tenleytown has 1:1 and group sessions and I’ve liked the teachers there. Balance is also good and has more class options.

Sounds like I should focus on reformer Pilates.

Solidcore is NOT for beginners! You do NOT want Solidcore!

I went to Club Pilates as a complete newbie. Before you take a class they give you brief a one on one lesson on how to use the machine (called a reformer) and the basic moves you do in beginner classes. It was a good intro and made me feel less self conscious in class.

Pilates is now my fave form of exercise. It makes me feel so strong and powerful! And it has completely eliminated my back/neck/shoulder pain. Bonus, it also gave me great posture!

I prefer reformer Pilates to mat. I find I feel better after a reformer workout than mat. Reformer is also better for me because I am uncoordinated and clumsy, and it's easier to stay in form on a reformer. Mat pilates is more like yoga, which is hard for me.

Anonymous wrote:How does SolidCore compare to Club Pilates, RTR Pilates, and Barre3? Any other ones I’m missing that I should be considering?

Ok you're not talking apples to apples...

Barre3 is barre (not pilates) and done while standing or on a mat.
Solid Core is a mix of pilates and Lagree, with high intensity movements and done on a machine called the Megaformer.

RTR and Club Pilates are on on a reformer. RTR focuses more on form IMO, while club pilates has a different vibe trying to make it a more fun/younger workout. I prefer RTR personally and have had very good results but Club Pilates is where I go when I can't get into RTR.

I am a Pilates instructor and instructor trainer. I agree with the PP who said go take some privates or semi-privates to learn how to properly engage your core before you jump into a class. Mat classes are the most difficult bc you have no apparatus to assist you.

Anonymous wrote:PP from above: Try something like this first. Do NOT do Club Pilates first. The instructor quality is crucial when beginning.

https://www.balancestudio.com/about/

This looks like it could be good. Would you recommend their Pilates or GYROTONIC classes?

I also found Pilates Mechanic online. Anyone know if it’s any good?

https://www.pilatesmechanic.com/

PP from above: Try something like this first. Do NOT do Club Pilates first. The instructor quality is crucial when beginning.

https://www.balancestudio.com/about/

I would start with a place that will do a one on one or a duet for your first lesson then do classes. Usually these are smaller single owner studios. I would avoid the chains until you learn proper form because they don't pay enough attention IMO.

15:50 again - the PP at 15:58 above makes a good point about differentiating the different kinds of Pilates! There’s Mat Pilates which is floor work, usually done on a yoga-style mat , sometimes with weights; and then Reformer Pilates, where you use the machine that looks like a torture device. SolidCore uses its own machine that is loosely based on a Reformer.

IME Reformer is the best thing ever bc you can really isolate the different muscle groups you’re targeting, and it’s very easy to modify to make things harder or easier as needed. Helps avoid injury

Club Pilates is reformer pilates with the machine. I took regular mat for 3 years and then did club pilates. It was odd and didnt always make sense with the progressions. But you can try a free class and see if you like it.

Do NOT start w SolidCore, it is
going to be way too intense!!!! It is also extremely fast-paced for a complete beginner, even counting the “breaks” in the Intro classes where the instructor very briefly demos the next four moves or so. You’ll likely want some hands-on adjustments at the beginning as well as some modifications to avoid injury (ie w no core strength you might end up hurting your back bc it will take on all the work your core should also be doing). Start with a Level 1 at RTR, on a weekday in the middle of the day if you can. The one Club Pilates class I tried was in between the two in terms of intensity level.

How does SolidCore compare to Club Pilates, RTR Pilates, and Barre3? Any other ones I’m missing that I should be considering?

Solidcore has a studio at cathedral commons and downtown Bethesda and they offer beginner classes throughout the week. It’s a good class to start with as they provide breaks in between sequences and a lot of hands-on correction of form.

OP again. I should have said beginner who is not in great shape right now.

What are my Pilates options in the Bethesda/upper NWDC area? And which/where would you recommend for a total beginner who is particularly lacking in core strength right now?