Cheap Reformer pilates classes are now available in South Australia but you won’t get an instructor to help

Forget ‘exclusionary and intimidating’ exercise classes. A new South Aussie provider says its ‘world-first, teacherless studio’ aims to bring ‘affordable pilates to the masses’.

Megan Hand and Tammy Beshara try the new teacherless Pronto Pilates classes. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

A new South Australian pilates operator has slammed traditional providers as being “out-of-touch and elitist”, for charging between $20 and $80 a class.

So fed up with the popular mind-body exercise being out of reach for many, Steve Anson and his pilates instructor wife Emma Shelton have devised a “world-first, teacherless studio bringing affordable pilates to the masses”.

He said just the second Pronto Pilates studio, offering the new, automated classes, would open in South Australia this week, with reformer pilates classes ranging from $5 to $11, depending on the membership plan.

“Everything about pilates is exclusionary and intimidating, from the high costs, to working up the courage to join a studio and attend classes as a beginner,” Mr Anson said.

“My wife and I fell in love with pilates back in 2022 but after paying more than $500 on classes in one week, we woke up to ourselves and realised just how out of touch and elitist pilates is for the average person.

“We wanted to create an alternative that was affordable and accessible for all.”

Mr Anson said access to the unmanned studios was via a mobile phone app.

“While traditional pilates studios rely on the availability and consistency of in-person instructors … (we’ve) 100 per cent on-screen, meticulously-designed in-studio sessions, meaning a perfect class is delivered every time,” he said.

“This also negates the need to pay expensive instructor wages – one of the biggest contributors to expensive traditional classes.”

Ms Shelton added classes would be offered “365 days per year, from 5.15am” with 70 different sessions on rotation.

”(It’s) a game changer, as most studios only offer a limited number of classes in the morning and evening … making it difficult to fit workouts into a busy schedule,” she said.

Adelaide’s Megan Hand is an early convert.

Megan Hand and Tammy Beshara inside the new Pronto Pilates studio at Unley. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“In a time where cost of living is a huge factor for almost all Australians – add in our hectic and often busy lifestyles and finding the time – this makes wellbeing and fitness … affordable, flexible and importantly achievable,” she said.

“If you’re working from home, in between meetings etc., it is super quick to jump on the app and lock in a spot.”

A Pronto pilates studio will open in Glenelg tomorrow. Unley also has a studio.

Originally published as Cheap Reformer pilates classes are now available in South Australia but you won’t get an instructor to help