It depends! I have seen some people see their back pain disappear after one lesson! (Sometimes Pilates works like magic…) If you have had back pain for many years, you will probably feel better after the first lesson, but it might take 3-6 months to be completely pain free.

Absolutely. Ankor attracts a wide range of clients, with a wide range of goals. Some of the most common reasons for starting Pilates are to: improve core strength; recover from an injury; improve posture; gain flexibility; improve general health and wellbeing. Our teachers always know what you’re trying to achieve with Pilates and they will tailor their lessons to help you meet your goals.

If you have back pain, we recommend you start with Basics. If you’re very fit, exercise regularly, and want a challenge, you are welcome to try an Intermediate, but we always recommend that when you sign up you do 4-6 weeks of Basics classes so that you understand the fundamentals.

1-1s offer a more tailored approach, and you will be given “homework” exercises to practice in your own time. 1-1s are great for if you’re recovering from a specific injury, if you’re motivated to practice in your own time and if you like lots of personalised attention.

Group classes are great for making sure that you’re exercising every week! You will improve your core strength, posture, flexibility and wellbeing in the comfort of a group. Teachers will still throw in specialised exercises to help you meet your specific goals but you’ll also learn more general exercises.

Pilates is great for men! Joseph Pilates, the founder of Pilates, was a man, and quite a macho man at that. He used to box, lift weights, do gymnastics, yoga, and trained people in the police force and military. Increasingly, you see professional sportsmen practicing Pilates to prevent injuries and condition their bodies (England football team, Andy Murray, Tiger Woods and Lebron James, to mention a few…). If you want rock hard abs, the ability to touch your toes, and to lose your desk slouch, come and give it a try.

No, you can mix and match. Most of our members have a favourite class that is automatically reserved for them through our booking system, TeamUp, but you can also come to a different class every week if you want to. If you’re going away on holiday, fear not, just use your class credit within the same month.

Our Pilates classes have a maximum of 12 people in each class, so you will always receive individual support and guidance from your teacher. Pilates at a leisure centre has become a little bit ‘bootcamp’-ey (there’s nothing wrong with bootcamps!) where you are essentially doing crunches. We like to strengthen your abdominals, but you will also improve your flexibility, posture, and learn the precision of the method of Pilates.

We understand that starting something new can be nerve racking but please don’t be too nervous! We regularly receive feedback that Ankor Pilates classes are incredibly welcoming. Our teachers are friendly and create a relaxed atmosphere, and . You don’t need any level of fitness to start Pilates and we welcome clients of all genders, ages, and fitness levels.