Older adults
Low-impact reformer classes for adults in their sixties and beyond who want to stay strong and steady. Small groups on Franklin Street, with an instructor who sets every spring for you.
Carrying groceries, climbing stairs, rising from a low chair and turning to check your blind spot all draw on leg strength, core control and balance. On the reformer you train those same patterns. You work lying down, seated or kneeling on a moving carriage, with springs set lighter or heavier for you.
Researchers studying Pilates in older adults have reported gains in balance and lower-body strength. We cap classes at eight people, so your instructor can watch your alignment and change your springs during class.
The carriage and springs carry part of your body weight. You build strength with no jumping or pounding on your knees and hips.
You practice standing and kneeling balance work with the reformer frame within reach. Over time you learn to shift your weight with control.
Every movement starts from the breath and the deep abdominal muscles. You use those same muscles to sit and stand tall through the day.
You move your hips and shoulders through their full range against light spring load. Stiff joints loosen without a forced stretch.
Pilates supports medical care and doesn't replace it. Talk with your doctor before you start a new exercise program, and do so first if you had a joint replacement or recent surgery. If you have osteoporosis or osteopenia, tell your instructor before class. Some movements, such as deep forward bending of the spine, need a modification, and your instructor will choose a safer alternative.
Prefer to start one-on-one? Book a private session and spend 50 minutes with your instructor before you join a group.
$75
$25 per class, new clients
Three group classes within 14 days. Join a membership within 7 days after the pack ends and get $25 off your first month.
Buy now$240
$80 per session, new clients
Three one-on-one sessions to learn the reformer at your own pace.
Buy nowNo. If your doctor clears you for exercise, you can start reformer Pilates at any age. Joseph Pilates kept teaching into his eighties, and many people take their first class after retirement.
Yes. Every class is open level. Your instructor lowers your spring resistance or swaps an exercise for you, and nobody waits on anyone. If you feel unsure, start with a private session.
Your instructor will show you a safe way to get on and off and will help you the first few times. If getting down to a low surface is hard for you, mention it when you book and your instructor will plan your class with that in mind.
Many people with these conditions practice Pilates with modifications. Talk with your doctor first, then tell your instructor before class. With osteoporosis, your instructor will avoid deep forward bending of the spine and choose alternatives.
Yes. You can reach Suite 315 on a step-free route, and the studio is accessible. Find the entrance in the courtyard at 431 West Franklin Street, and call (919) 240-4229 if you want directions before your first visit.
Street parking and town lots around West Franklin Street cost about $1.50 an hour during the day and are free after 6 pm and all day Sunday. The studio entrance sits in the courtyard at 431 West Franklin Street, Suite 315.
Three group classes for $75 within 14 days. Every class is open level and capped at eight.
Buy the Intro 3-Pack