The Reformer looks intimidating and isn't. Here's exactly what happens in a first class in Rabat — minute by minute, plus what to wear and what it costs.
In this article
Most people book their first Reformer class slightly nervous about the machine. It looks like equipment you need to already know how to use. You don't.
What a Reformer actually is
A sliding carriage on rails, connected to a set of springs, with a footbar and two straps. That's it. The springs can make an exercise easier or harder depending on what you're doing — which is exactly why it suits beginners. On a mat, gravity is the only resistance and it never adjusts. On a Reformer, the load is dialled to you.
The first ten minutes
You'll be asked what brought you in, whether anything hurts, and whether you've done Pilates before. This isn't small talk — it changes the spring load you're given and which exercises get swapped out.
Then you lie down and learn to breathe. It sounds anticlimactic. It's the part that makes everything after it work.
What the 50 minutes look like
A typical first class runs footwork, then arms in straps, then core sequences, then something standing or kneeling to finish. You'll be corrected by name, repeatedly. In a class capped at six, that's the whole point.
You will not be pushed to failure. Pilates builds control, and control is not trained by exhausting you.
What to wear and bring
- Fitted clothing — loose tops flip over your head in inverted positions
- Grip socks, or bare feet. Regular socks slide on the footbar
- Water. The studio is air conditioned, but you'll work
- Nothing else. Mats, springs, straps and boxes are all provided
Arrive ten minutes early for a first class. Setting up your machine properly takes a few minutes and rushing it costs you the first exercise.
What it costs to try one in Rabat
A single Reformer class in Rabat generally runs 250–400 MAD. At our studio in Hay Riad a first Reformer class is 250 MAD, which is a reduced rate on the regular 300 MAD drop-in — the full list is on our pricing page.
The day after
Expect to feel your abdominals and the backs of your legs. Not soreness that stops you walking — more the sensation of muscles reporting in that you'd forgotten you had. That's normal, and it fades after two or three classes as your body adapts.
If you want to see the class times, they're on the booking page. Most people know after one session whether the method is for them.
Questions, answered
01Do I need experience to take a Reformer class?
No. The springs adjust the load to you, which makes the Reformer more beginner-friendly than mat work, not less. Say it's your first class when you book and the session is adapted.
02What should I wear to Reformer Pilates?
Fitted clothing and grip socks or bare feet. Loose tops get in the way during inverted positions, and regular socks slide on the footbar.
03How much is a first Reformer class in Rabat?
At Define Pilates in Hay Riad a first Reformer class is 250 MAD, reduced from the 300 MAD drop-in rate.
04How long is a Reformer class?
50 minutes. Arrive about ten minutes early for your first one so your machine can be set up properly.
05Will I be sore afterwards?
Usually mildly, in the abdominals and hamstrings, for a day or two. It settles after the first two or three classes.
✳Written at the studio, Hay RiadUpdated Jul 21, 2026
