Never tried Pilates before and I was a bit nervous. No need for that here!!! All the guidance and encouragement you'll ever need. I wasn't in terrible shape (or so I thought!). There are muscles that you will work that you never even knew you had. But the VERY best part is that there is NO impact. I've tried aerobics and step classes in the past and even the elipitical at the gym--they all make my knees a wreck. I've also recently gotten out of physical therapy for "weak shoulder blade muscles" that were causing neck/back pain. Pilates is able to work these muscles (and many others) with no pain other than the muscle building kind. And even that has gone now that I've been going for a few weeks. All the motions are slow and controlled and if you need to rest, it's OK. This isn't a militant, personal-training-type environment. We always have fun, BUT we always get it done. I've done the mat classes and they are a bit more challenging, but still excellent for beginners on up. Working on the machines is sometimes tough, but there's a lot of fun in there too. The studio is new and beautifully soothing--VERY CLEAN! I've even tried to get my mom to come for her osteoporosis. Unfortunately she lives our of state! I'd recommend this place to anyone.