I have put together a quick cheat sheet on class etiquette to help you and your fellow students get the most out of your time at Authentic Pilates. Think of this as your Cliffs Notes version of our studio policies to keep everything running smoothly and respect for everyone in our community.
Don’t worry, there won’t be a pop quiz!
,Do yourself, your fellow Pilates studio community members, and your teacher a solid by showing up before class starts. Entering after a session has already started can be disruptive to the flow and focus of your fellow class participants. Please, arrive a few minutes before class (15 minutes if it’s your first visit) to allow yourself time to get situated, use the restroom, etc. before it’s time to move, engage, and flow. That being said, we understand there are real traffic issues happening in our expanding area. Of course, we have the utmost grace as we realize these things can’t be controlled.
There are no hard and fast rules for what to wear to a Pilates class. Form-fitting clothing will help your instructor cue in on your body alignment, but it’s not a requirement. Please, be sure NOT to wear any pants or shorts with zippers as even the small zipper end clasp can cause tears in the upholstery of the equipment.
Pilates socks are not required. Those of you that know the purist that I am; I prefer you feel the full sensory nerves of your bare feet and toes that relate and connect all the way up through the rest of the body neurologically for an enhanced workout. That being said, I totally understand if you are cold natured, prefer socks from a hygiene standpoint, or a safety perspective in terms of having sweaty feet that may lead to slipping. Please, make sure to wear socks with grips on the soles of them for safety on the apparatus. We do sell Authentic Pilates studio socks ($10 per pair) if you find yourself in need of a pair. That being said, I do ask that street shoes not be worn anywhere past the reception area, even when utilizing the restroom, so the floors remain as clean and hygienic as possible for everyone. I realize you may prefer socks for the restroom.
Do yourself a favor and try to unplug as much as possible for an hour. Unless you are expecting to go into labor, have a spouse that might be going into labor, have an actively sick child, or are a health care provider that is on call, I promise you will be that much more recharged to return to the amazing caretaking person you are for all the people and responsibilities in your life if you give yourself one full hour of undivided attention for your wellness. Your wellbeing deserves to be a priority. Please, leave all phones with your belongings in the reception area and set to silent.
Phones will not be permitted on the studio floor. When cell phones are placed under the apparatus, they pose a danger to the instructor and surrounding clients from accidentally stepping and slipping on them. I know no one wants a broken screen.
I know many people like to track and record workouts with an apple watch. Please, set notifications to silence on your apple watch as the notifications also create not only distractions of attention and focus to your valuable hour of self-care, but also are distracting to your fellow class participants and instructor. Also, a good habit is to rotate the face of your watch inward on your wrist, because exercises on the Reformer using the leather straps with handles are notorious for accidentally calling emergency support on the apple watches.
I want to ensure everyone has a successful, positive Pilates experience and workout. Client safety is always my first and foremost priority. Please inform the instructor if you have any ongoing/acute injuries or pre-existing medical conditions before class. Modifications will be provided if needed, and the instructor will check in with you throughout the class. However, please note that group classes will honor the leveling title of the class in terms of beginner, intermediate, or advanced, as well as the working level and pace of the majority of the participants that regularly attend that class. That being said, if a client is experiencing an ongoing injury and/or condition that prevents them from adequately and comfortably participating at the pace and level of the class or poses a risk to further injury, they might be asked to come to a different level of class that will be a safer and more successful match, or private sessions may be suggested.
While everyone likes to smell good, less is more when you workout. When people workout and sweat, scents of perfumes, lotions, and scented laundry detergents can spread rapidly and fill the room. These can cause allergic reactions and/or migraine for your instructor and fellow studio community members. Please, limit scents to standard deodorant. Please, no glamour wash on laundered clothing.
Everyone likes a clean and tidy studio. Please, help us by taking a few minutes to sanitize your apparatus at the end of class with the wipes provided and returning all of the apparatus pieces to their resting/original positioning (such as hooking the handles of the Reformer on the resting pegs), so the equipment is ready to go for the next client/class. Please, return all props and pillows to their storage place. Don’t forget to look around your apparatus and cubbies to ensure you don’t leave any belongings or valuables behind.
If you need to cancel, please cancel at least 12 hours before a group class and 24 hours before a one-on-one private or semi-private session to avoid a late cancel charge. If you want to take a class, but it’s full; put yourself on the waitlist.
Group class sizes are intentionally kept small and limited to five participants to ensure safety and to provide an authentic, high-quality, and thoughtfully customized Pilates experience. This is one of our highest-priority studio values at Authentic Pilates.
Our goal is to support you in reaching your workout and overall health goals. At the same time, each reserved spot in a class is essential to keeping the studio thriving. Frequent cancellations or no-shows may affect future booking privileges.
Please note that cancellations due to inclement weather that prevent safe travel are always understood and exempt from this policy.
I know the Mindbody Online client scheduling and payment software can very much have a mind of its own, and I apologize for any inconvenience or confusion it causes. Please rest assured that I am doing what I can to remedy the client experience from my end, and I am in the onboarding process of administrative assistance to make your client experience more seamless. Please email me any scheduling requests or inquiries about your account. I will do my very best to take care of them either on my lunch break or at the end of teaching hours for the day. Please note that my Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays are my longest teaching days from 9-7/7:30pm, and so responses may not be until the next business day. Due to giving my undivided focus and presence while teaching in the studio floor, any immediate needs or inquiries via text about a same-day upcoming class may not be able to be addressed.
I am always available to you for any questions, needs, or concerns. Each individual who walks through our doors is important and deeply valued as part of the Authentic Pilates community. It is an honor to support you, and I am committed to providing attentive, personalized guidance every step of the way.
