Chair Pilates Classes in Borehamwood

Gentle, low-impact Pilates done seated and standing alongside a chair. No getting up and down off the floor. Ideal if mat Pilates feels too much right now, whether that is because of a back, knee, hip or other mobility issue, or because you are new to Pilates and want a gentler way in.

I am Valerie. I have been teaching Pilates in Hertfordshire for over a decade, and chair Pilates is the class I get asked for most often by people who tell me, “I would love to try Pilates but I just cannot get on the floor anymore.” If that is you, this is the class for you.

Class details

Wednesdays 10:00 to 10:45 (45 minutes)

First class: Wednesday 3 June 2026

Allum Manor, 2 Allum Lane, Elstree, Borehamwood, WD6 3PJ

£45 for a block of 4 weekly sessions

Free on-site parking

Limited to 12 places so I can give every person individual attention. Mixed ability. Total beginners welcome.

Is Chair Pilates for you?

It probably is, if any of these sound like you.

You have a mobility limit. A bad back, dodgy knees, stiff hips, arthritis, or you are recovering from surgery or injury. Standing pilates with chair support takes the load off the joints that hurt, while still strengthening the deep core muscles that support your spine.

You are new to pilates and nervous. The idea of lying on a mat with a room full of people doing things you do not recognise can be off-putting. Chair pilates is a gentler way in. You will learn the same fundamentals (breathing, alignment, core engagement) but in a position you are already familiar with: sitting on a chair.

You sit at a desk all day. Forty-five minutes on the bits desk work wrecks: hips, mid-back, shoulders, neck. Wednesday mornings at 10am works particularly well if you are working from home or self-employed and can step away for a short break mid-morning.

If you are not sure whether it is right for you, get in touch and tell me a bit about what is going on. I am happy to advise honestly.

What Chair Pilates actually involves

Each class starts with seated breathing and posture work, then moves into a sequence of exercises that combine seated movements, gentle standing work with the chair as support, and finishes with stretches.

What you will work on:

• Posture and spinal alignment
• Core strength without crunches or sit-ups
• Shoulder mobility and neck tension
• Balance and confidence on your feet
• Breathing patterns that support your back

The exercises are slower and more precise than a gym class. The goal is quality of movement, not how much you sweat.

What to bring

• Comfortable clothes you can move freely in
• Grip socks (mandatory, as regular socks are too slippery for the standing parts)
• A bottle of water

I provide chairs, mats and small equipment.

Pricing and booking terms

£45 for a block of 4 consecutive weekly sessions. That works out at £11.25 per class.

Important things to know before booking:

• You book the full block. There is no drop-in option and no per-session pricing.
• If you miss a week, that session is lost. We cannot carry it over to the next block or swap into another class.
• Spaces are limited. Once a block is full, the next one starts in 4 weeks.

This works for most people, but if you travel a lot or have unpredictable weeks, the regular mat classes might suit you better. See the full timetable at here.

How to book

Reserve your place online with our booking system for the 3 June block now. Spaces are limited and the first block will fill fast.