Choosing a pilates studio on Koh Samui: five things worth checking

There are more places to do pilates on Samui than there were, which is good, and they are not all the same, which is worth knowing. Five things to check before you book anywhere — including here.

1. Reformers, or mats with the word reformer

Ask how many reformers are in the room and whether every class uses them. Isla has ten, wooden, and every class is on them.

2. Class size

A reformer class over twelve is a class where nobody corrects your form. Ten is our ceiling because that is how many one teacher can actually watch.

3. Whether you can follow the teacher

Classes here are taught in English. If a studio’s timetable does not say what language a class is in, ask.

4. Booking and cancelling

You should be able to see places remaining, book, pay and cancel from your phone without messaging anybody. the timetable does all four. Cancellation windows should be written down before you book, not explained after.

5. A price that makes sense for how long you are here

A visitor should not need a membership. ฿900 a class, ฿1,800 for three if you are new, and packs whose expiry runs from first use — the packs and prices — is what fair looks like from where we stand. And if you are here long enough, the Isla retreat is the studio arranged around a stay rather than the other way round.

A class on Koh Samui with no machine needed

Isla teaches weekly classes at partner hotels on the island: mat pilates at Wild Cottage Sanctuary, and sunrise yoga on the beach at Banana Fan Sea Resort. Each is ฿500 to drop in, mats are provided, and you do not need to be a guest. The days and times are on the timetable; the packs and prices covers the reformer classes at the studio.