pricing and FAQs
pilates class Pricing
For my evening Pilates classes at Saint Benedict School, Darley Abbey, the way I operate my classes is in “terms” or blocks of sessions usually of a 10 week period. A 10 week block costs £100. I DO NOT offer pay as you go options, but if f I were to price by class, the price would be at least £12.50 per class. So by paying for the 10 week term this works out at a 20% discount.
Please note that the Thursday morning class at St John’s Methodist Church, Allestree works a little differently due to room availability. The room is only available during term time, and not during school holidays, so this block of classes follows the school term (usually around 12-13 weeks). A 12 week block for this class costs £120.
As there is a limit to the amount of people I can accommodate in any class, you are effectively paying for your space in that time slot, rather than paying per class.
Louise Walker pilates frequently asked questions
location, class times and practicalities
Q - Where are your classes held?
A – Classes are held at Saint Benedict School, Duffield Road, Darley Abbey, Derby, DE22 1JD on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday evenings and at St John’s Methodist Chapel Birchover Way, Allestree, Derby, DE22 2QL on Thursday mornings.
Q - What days and times are your classes?
A – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings – all 6:15-7:15pm, and Thursday mornings 10:00-11:00am.
Q - What type of Pilates do you teach?
A – My classes are Mat Pilates. Whilst I am a classically trained Pilates teacher, my Pilates classes are a mix of classical and contemporary Pilates. This means that we don’t rigidly stick to the original 34 exercises designed by Joseph Pilates – we get the best of both worlds adding in modern small equipment and techniques as modern movement science has advanced.
Q – How long are your Pilates classes?
A – Classes are 60 mins long. We tend to do a few minutes breathing and warming up, 45-50 minutes of Pilates exercises and then 5-10 minutes of stretching and relaxation to finish.
Q - What do I need to bring to a class?
A – You will need to bring an exercise mat, a Pilates ball (£7.99 on Amazon), a Pilates ring (£13.99 on Amazon) and water. If you don’t already have a mat, I recommend you get a mat that is as thick as possible (you can just search for 15mm Pilates mat online and they are mostly very similar options/ prices - about £13.99). I provide other equipment such as various kinds of resistance bands and Yoga blocks etc.
Experience levels and injuries/ health conditions
Q – Are your Pilates classes suitable for beginners?
A – Yes, my Pilates classes in Derby are suitable for beginners - my classes are planned to work for everyone - from complete beginner, people who haven’t exercised for a while to the more experienced. I provide a basic option for an exercise, and then give options for those that are ready to make the exercise more challenging – which allows people of multiple experience and ability levels to participate in the same class.
Q – I’m worried I won’t be able to do the exercises as I am fairly out of shape and haven’t exercised for some time – will this still be suitable for me?
A – Yes absolutely. As I offer lots of different options, and I encourage you to listen to your body and do what is right for you – that might mean doing less repetitions, and/ or reducing the range of motion, taking more breaks - or all of the above. As long as you leave feeling better than when you arrived, I don’t mind what you do during the session!
Q – I have an injury/ health condition – will your classes be suitable for me?
A – I have a health questionnaire that you complete before attending a class to check for any health conditions/ injuries that mean Pilates is unsuitable for you. However, there are a lot of conditions that you can still practice Pilates with – and in fact Pilates is often recommended (and was developed to) help people recover from injuries. Joseph Pilates originally called his method Contrology, and called it “returning to life through Contrology”. I have a lot of experience in working with clients with health conditions and injuries, and am used to providing alternatives that work for you.
If you have any concerns about this, drop me an email to discuss.
Q - Is Pilates good for people over 40?
A - Pilates is an excellent form of exercise for people over 40. It helps maintain strength, flexibility, balance, and posture while being gentle on the joints. Check out my blog post here on Pilates for over 40s.
Q – Can Pilates help with lower back pain?
A – Yes. Pilates is widely recommended for improving core strength, posture, and spinal support. Many people find that regular Pilates helps reduce lower back pain and improves mobility. Check out my blog post here on Pilates for back pain.
Q - How often should I do Pilates for back pain?
A - For best results, most people benefit from 2–3 Pilates sessions per week. However, if you don’t have time to do multiple classes, even one class per week will improve strength and mobility over time.
Q – Can you recommend other health professionals for my injury/ health problem?
A – Yes I can. Many of the core Pilates exercises we do are often recommended by Physiotherapists/ other heath professionals as part of your rehabilitation plan, but if you do need additional support then I do have a Physiotherapist and a Chiropractor that I have personally used that I can refer you to. Sometimes we need to be physically adjusted back into alignment.
Pricing and the block booking system
Q – How does your block booking system work?
A – I work in “blocks” of classes, usually around 10 weeks long – the dates are set dates (for example 17th March to 19th May 2026). You pay for the block of classes upfront, and are paying to secure your space in that time slot for that time period.
Q – Can I try a class without committing to the whole block of classes?
A – Yes, you can come and try a FREE FIRST CLASS before deciding whether to commit to the rest of the block of classes.
Q – How much do classes cost?
A – Classes cost the equivalent of £10 per class, so if the block of classes is 10 weeks long, then the block would cost £100.
Q – Can I do a Pay As You Go option?
A – No, after your FREE first class to decide if it is for you, I don’t offer a pay as you go option.
Q – Why don’t you offer Pay As You Go?
A – I want to work with the same clients on a regular and long term basis. It allows me to understand any health challenges/ restrictions people have and I can plan classes knowing what everyone is capable of. With Pay As You Go it is a different set of clients each class which means trying to help people progress is like a stab in the dark! It also helps to provide you with the motivation to keep coming and therefore you will see and feel the benefits that Pilates brings if you commit to a regular practice. It is also nicer for everyone involved as we get to know each other and build a community. And lastly, Pay As You go involves so much admin that it takes too much of my time which is better spent on continuous improvement - focusing my time on making my classes the best that they can be.
Q – What happens when I can’t make a class?
A – You are able to make that class up on another day/ week (I’m not too precious about when it is) - if you’ve paid me for 10 classes, I want you to do 10 classes!
Q – As I haven’t been able to make it to class, can I have a refund?
A – No, I do not provide refunds as I am already very flexible with allowing you to catch classes up (I don’t know any other teachers that do this). The pricing per class is worked out assuming you will only make 7 or 8 classes out of a 10 week block as life sometimes gets in the way and you can’t fit in catching them up another time. If I were to charge on a class by class basis, my pricing would be about £12.50 - £13 or more per class so £13 x 7 or 8 classes works out at roughly the same as you are paying for the 10 week block anyway.
Q – How do I book on to for my FREE first class?
A – Email me on louise@wellness-with-lou.com