Trial finished? How to choose the membership that fits your week

Three weeks go quickly. One minute you are setting up your first Reformer and wondering what a footbar is, and the next you have favourite instructors, a preferred spot by the plant wall and a trial that ends on Friday.

If you have enjoyed it, the next question is which membership to choose. The options are simple, but the right one depends on how often you will realistically come, how predictable your week is and how you like to pay. This guide lays out the choices and does the maths, then covers the terms worth knowing so you can decide with confidence.

The options at a glance

All of our memberships cover both studios, so you can train at Wollongong or Shellharbour whenever it suits.

• Unlimited, $54 per week. As many classes as you like across both studios.
• 2 Classes a Week, $44 per week. Any two classes each week across both studios.
• Casual Class, $29 per class. Any class from our timetable, valid for 28 days.

On top of these, there is our on-demand video library, with a full library of 300 videos and a shorter Homework collection of 35 videos designed to top up your studio training between classes.

Start with your honest number

The most useful thing you can do before choosing is look back at your trial and work out what you managed in a normal week, rather than the week you were most motivated. Then think about the weeks ahead. School holidays and the end of year rush both affect what is realistic, and so do summer weekends away.

If you aren't sure, our guide to how often you should do Pilates can help. The short version is that two to three sessions a week, mixing studio classes with some movement at home, is where most people see steady progress.

The per-class maths

Here is how the cost per class works out for each option, based on how many classes you take in a week.

One class a week. A casual class is $29. On a week like this, casual is the cheapest choice, as long as you are happy to buy each class.

Two classes a week. Two casual classes cost $58. The 2 Classes a Week membership costs $44, which works out at $22 per class. Unlimited would be $27 per class.

Three classes a week. The 2 Classes a Week membership plus a casual class would come to $73. Unlimited is $54, or $18 per class.

Four classes a week. Unlimited works out at $13.50 per class.

So the rough rule is this. If you come once a week or less, casual makes sense. If two classes is your steady rhythm, 2 Classes a Week is the best value. Once you regularly fit in three or more, Unlimited is cheaper. It also gives you the freedom to add a Stretch or Yoga class whenever your body asks for one.

Which one suits you

Unlimited

Unlimited suits people who want Pilates to be a regular part of most weeks, and people who like flexibility. It is also the best choice if you want to mix intensities without counting, for example two harder classes plus a Stretch session. It is our most popular membership for a reason.

2 Classes a Week

This option suits people with a steady routine who know two classes is what they can keep up. Two classes a week also lines up with Australia's physical activity guidelines, which recommend muscle strengthening activities on at least two days each week. If you are building a habit, a reliable twice-weekly booking is a great foundation.

Casual

Casual suits people whose schedules change a lot, people who travel for work, or members of another gym who want an occasional Reformer class. Each class is valid for 28 days, so there is some flexibility in when you use it.

The terms worth knowing

Memberships are a commitment, so it is worth understanding how they work before you sign up. These are the key points from our policies:

• Memberships are charged weekly.
• The minimum term is 12 weeks. After that, you can cancel any time with four weeks' written notice.
• There is a 7 day cooling off period from your first payment, during which you can cancel the contract with no additional fees.
• During the minimum term, contracts can only be cancelled in limited circumstances set out in the policies, such as relocating 30 kilometres or more away, with proof of your new address.
• Classes on a membership are valid for the membership term only and can't be extended.
• Group classes have a two hour cancellation policy. Cancelling inside that window, or not showing up, incurs a $10 fee.

If anything isn't clear, ask at the studio or contact us before you join. We would much rather answer a question up front than have you surprised later.

A note for Mpower fans

If you have tried our on-site Mpower Martial Fitness sessions at Wollongong, with Box, Build & Burn classes, combined Pilates and Mpower memberships are available at a major discount. Ask the team about the options when you are choosing.

Making the decision

A few final tips from the front desk perspective:

1. Choose for your average week, not your best. It is easier to add a casual class to a 2 Classes a Week membership than to feel guilty about an Unlimited membership you aren't using.
2. Lock in your regular classes. Whatever you choose, book your usual times in advance. Habits hold when the booking is already made.
3. Use both studios. The two timetables together give you far more options, which makes any membership easier to use well.
4. Count the home sessions. If you plan to train at home between classes, our on-demand video library, bought separately, may let a 2 Classes a Week membership go further. The Homework collection's 35 short sessions are designed to top up studio training.
5. Reassess after the first 12 weeks. Your routine will have settled by then, and you will know whether the option you chose still fits.

Keep the momentum going

The best membership is the one that keeps you coming back. You can compare all the options and join on our memberships page. If a friend is still on the fence, the 21 day trial is the best way in for them too. It gives unlimited group classes at both studios for $65, with no membership and no lock-in.