Pilates on Bourke is currently my favourite place for reformer classes. They are fairly small with…read moreonly 8 machines. This means lots of individual attention. And the instructors are super-helpful, not afraid to get hands on and complement you when you are getting better. The jumpboard classes are especially good, but I have not had a bad class here. I have also tried their barre class which was one of the better ones in the city. Natalya is really fun and her play list veers more into the pop territory, which is great for keeping the energy up during class.

I was introduced to KX Pilates through a friend of mine who raved about it. I was slightly nervous…read moreabout attending a class as I heard Pilates reformer requires extreme balance and co-ordination, which I lack at the best of times. I was pleasantly surprised to be guided through personally by owner and expert Aaron who helped my each step of the way. The studio was very boutique and boast the latest beds in a light filled room with a complementary apple on your way out. I must admit that the casual prices are a bit steep at 30 a session which would probably stop me from continuing on a regular basis. I did however find a scoupon deal which includes 5 sessions for 29 on the internet & purchased it in a heartbeat. I really enjoyed the class and intend on going back to get some more experience.

I'll start by saying that I really like the concept of barre body & it's a great workout. The…read morereason for the lackluster score is twofold- 1. I think the price is utterly ridiculous & 2. There's no good 'beginner class' options which means people are more prone to injuring themselves due to lack of knowledge or technique. I did about 3 weeks of classes (and intro 2 week deal and a week afterwards) and went probably 9 times so I got a great overall view of the classes. The teachers were really lovely but a few moved far too quickly through the yoga components of the classes & I could see people struggling to keep up & rushing their poses to do so (which will lead to injury eventually). There was no explanation to newbies about the poses and no real extra attention paid to them. For those in the know the workout is excellent - it's quite lower limb heavy but different classes are varied and it is hard work- my butt & legs were killing me for days after each class!! The price. Woah. It's so expensive. Over $200 a month for unlimited classes! That's too much by anyone's standards. Their overheads are not that excessive. So what's my summary - eh, if you can afford it, do some yoga classes somewhere else first so you get to know the poses and then go nuts. You'll get a great workout with lovely teachers in a truly gorgeous space.

I admit I was pretty intimidated about the idea of doing a Barre class. I always thought it would…read morebe some kind of ballet show-off session with super toned chicks in impossibly skimpy outfits making me feel fat and frumpy. After some friends and my Pilates teacher filled me in on what REALLY goes on here, I thought I'd bite the bullet and give it a try with the two week $50 pass as a way to shake up my exercise regime. I'm really glad I did and can confirm a few things for anyone else wondering if they should take the plunge. 1) There's women of all shapes and sizes here. I once also saw a guy, but usually it's a women only affair. 2) Apart from the Barre that you use for some exercises and a couple of ballet terms, it's not very ballet/dancy at all. 3) The teachers are very kind and super lovely. There's none of that "look at me I'm so great" attitude you might get elsewhere. 4) The Barre Tone classes will make you sweat and work muscles in small but excruciating ways. 5) Your arms, legs and bum will look and feel better in just a month! I'm now attending two or three classes a week (mostly Barre Tone and Barre Body ones) and really love how it has improved my fitness, flexibility and strength in just a couple of months. The online booking system is very easy to use, though I wish you could book more than a week in advance as I like having my schedule organised a fortnight at a time. I also really like that I can use class credits in any of the Barre Body studios around Melbourne and Sydney as this gives me more flexibility when travelling.

In sculpture, an armature is the framework upon which the sculpture is built. The armature…read moreprovides strength and stability to the sculpture and holds it erect. I can't think of a better name for a Pilates studio, and it certainly is the perfect name for this particular Pilates studio, which aims to give all its clients the guidance and training required to achieve a strong body framework. The studio holds individual, small and larger group classes for both mat and equipment courses. It's important to start Pilates at the very beginning in order to have a sound understanding of its technique and principles and Armature Pilates have a great selection of beginners classes for newcomers. They'll also take you through to higher levels of Pilates and even hold Instructor workshops. This isn't the cheapest place to do Pilates, nor the cheapest type of exercise one can commit to, but in terms of the expertise and complete guidance you'll get at this studio, the classes are worth every cent and your body will thank you for it.

As a Pilates devotee I was sad to say goodbye to the studio I loved when I moved to the Northside…read more Steph the owner of Armature patiently guided me through their class styles and how their booking and credit buying system worked. The flexibility of their studio practice is as bendy as their excellent instructors which is one of the things I love most. Buy a quantity of credits in store then pick and choose classes online as suits you - just use your credits within 90 days - easy! Never underestimate the convenience of being able to move out of an early morning class while you are out imbibing cocktails into the wee hours the night before. The other great thing is that I have found all the classes and instructors to be amazing in their own unique way. So now I just slot into classes when I can fit them in rather than follow the same schedule each week for fear of missing out on my favourite work out. And last but not least, it's a simple and airy set up with two rooms and a newly opened dedicated reformer studio at another location nearby. No need to be a fanatical fitness freak here. Just roll on up and give them a go... you're body with thank you.

Since my accommodation in Melbourne didn't have a gym I hopped on Yelp in search of nearby exercise…read moreoptions and found Barre Body. The studio's wide timetable coupled with the fact that it was literally steps away from my hotel made it an easy choice for me. I took advantage of the $50 unlimited two week class pass. During my four night stay I made it to six classes at Barre Body. Each visit I found the studio to be clean and inviting, the instructors warm, friendly and competent and the other students to be of varying ages and abilities. (Note to men: I never saw another guy at Barre Body except the one I brought with me on my first visit. This is a very female centric studio.) I sampled all of Barre Body's barre classes during my stay. Each is a bit different but all include a bit of a yoga/pilates mat aspect. Here's a more simplified breakdown of each: Barre Moves = more dance focused than the other classes, a good one if you like/miss ballet Barre Body = weights + yoga Barre Tone = weights + pilates Barre Cardio = weights + faster movements than any of the other class. expect to sweat more too. You need not bring anything with you to Barre Body, except maybe a water bottle. All mats, weights and balls are provided and in good condition. The two week pass is great value and definitely a good option to sample this studio.

I'm always keen to try new things so when I heard about this class that is a mix of yoga and barre…read moretraining I was certain I had to give it a go. The studio is at the back of Endota spa on Flinders Lane and is beautifully clean and serene. I attended a lunchtime class which was taught by the owner (Emma) and it was lucky I got a spot, as the class was full. The barre body class uses weights and mixes yoga with it. I'm not going to lie, it was a hard class, especially because I've never been to a gym before. My body is so sore now, but the sorer the better right?! I must say I'm looking forward to going back and trying the other types of classes. They also support One Girl (a charity dedicated to providing education scholarships to girls in Sierra Leone). I have signed up for the 2 week unlimited pass for $50. What can I say I'm a sucker for punishment.

I took up the 2 week introductory offer with Yoga Flame. I…read morereally really love this place. I have now had 3 Hot Hatha Flow classes under my belt and feel I can write an informed review. The space itself is fresh white decorated with luscious indoor plants. It has sense of community and calm here with staff and fellow students all very friendly. There are two practice rooms. You can hire mats and towels or bring your own. There are boxes to place your belongings and slots inside the practice rooms to place valuables. The class sizes are smaller to what I have am used to and this gives the teacher a chance to come around to guide and assist you with your postures. I really feel challenged here and that is what I love about it. Make no doubt about it, you will SWEAT and you will work your butt off, but the after glow is ever so sweet and the feeling of accomplishment makes you feel really good about yourself. All the teachers have many many years experience between them. The owners of Yoga Flame have studied under well know Yoga teachers all over the world and they all continue to keep up their learning. Yoga Flame holds workshops with renowned yoga teachers from all over the world regularly and I will be attending a 3 day workshop on Moon Sun Fire with Octavio Salvado this weekend. I really encourage you to give Yoga Flame a try. They have studios in Windsor and Moonee Ponds.

Serenity now serenity now. This studio is just beautiful…read more I tried Yoga Flow at Happy Melon using my Bodypass membership and really enjoyed my time here. Upon arrival you need to walk through the tiny alleyway and enter through the side door and reception is to the left. Reception is open and bright and I was warmly welcomed and asked to register my details as to head upstairs for the ladies lockeroom. So this lockeroom is so clean and well designed with gorgeous basins, clean toilets, showers and lockers that have USB ports and chargers. Did I also mention that you don't bring yoga mats to class as everything is supplied and cleaned for you? Yes thats right, manduka mats, cork blocks, straps and even towels. Let's move on to the instructor...she was friendly, clear and provided gentle adjustment. She was a sub but I'd be happy if all of their instructors were like this. After the class there is hot tea to try and many regulars stayed for a double. I had a Happy Melon tea and toured the studio and stood at the patio area and was purely happy. What a way to start my Sunday. Cause I use bodypass I can only go 3 times a month but they have several membership options (that seem on the dearer side) but hey they also offer Pilate's, meditation, heaps of workshops and lots of types of yoga! Can't wait to go back.

I started coming to Happy Melon because I was looking for a prenatal pilates class. There aren't…read moretoo many of them to be found, but Happy Melon has multiple sessions every week - and even a postnatal class for when you are transitioning back into regular practice. The instructors have all been great and are super knowledgable about pregnancy and the changes happening to your body throughout. They know just how much to push you so you remain strong but without doing anything to harm your body or your baby. Lucie is my favourite because she has very good taste in music and is so good at giving gentle corrections! I have not been to a yoga class, but they look varied and interesting. The space (for pilates it is a few blocks over on Wills Street), is calm and light and the pilates machines are fairly new and of a very high quality. Everything is clean, and they don't even ask you to wipe down the machines. I feel like a princess! It's a great studio if you want to keep up your pilates practice during your pregnancy, and really just seems like a great studio all around!

I really enjoy this studio! Conveniently located in the Melbourne CBD this studio space is…read moregorgeous. My favorite amenity is the change rooms they have right inside the studio which make it easy to come right after work, change and go to class. They also offer lockers with lock codes you can set yourself which are very convenient. I have attended pilates classes here so far which have been perfect as a complete beginning. The teachers are quite supportive and help you find alternatives for poses if you're not ready for something more challenging yet. The classes on class pass are usually 8-10 credits so very affordable for a studio location that is down town.