What changes when the studio shares a building with the gym
With a separate studio, Pilates and the gym mean two trips, two car parks and two sets of opening hours. With the studio inside the gym, a class becomes one block in a longer visit. That allows combinations a stand-alone studio cannot offer, such as an easy warm-up on a bike before class or a short strength block afterwards. It also adds one thing to plan: the order.
RPM's reformer Pilates page explains the machine and the first session. If you are still deciding between a full gym and a Pilates-only studio, that comparison has its own guide.
Can I get reformer Pilates plus full gym access in Abu Dhabi?
Yes, at clubs with a reformer studio and a training floor under one roof. At RPM, women can: the reformer studio is in the women-only Ladies section, which has its own strength and cardio equipment. Which tier covers the floor and the studio sessions, and whether classes are included or sold as packages, is confirmed on enquiry. For men, RPM offers the gym side only, in the Mixed section.
Four ways to build one visit
| Visit plan | Order | Rough length | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm-up and class | Ten to fifteen minutes of easy cardio, then the reformer class | About an hour and a quarter | Early mornings and stiff days |
| Class, then strength | A class focused on the trunk or arms, then a lighter strength block for the legs | About an hour and a half | Women who want both on one evening |
| Strength, then class | A full strength session, then a stretch-led class | About an hour and three quarters | Heavy lifting days when you want a gentle finish |
| Class, then steady cardio | The reformer class, then 20 to 30 minutes on a bike or cross-trainer | About an hour and a half | Weeks when your cardio has fallen behind |
Ask the instructor what each class will emphasise when you book, and plan the floor work around it.
A packing list for a double session
- Fitted clothes for the reformer, where loose fabric can catch on straps and springs, and a top you are happy to sweat in on the floor.
- Grip socks if the studio asks for them, plus trainers for the floor.
- A water bottle you can refill between the two halves.
- A small snack for the changeover if the visit runs past a mealtime.
- Your own towel until you have asked whether towels are provided and whether showers are available.
The changeover between studio and floor
The few minutes between the two halves decide how the second one goes.
- Drink water, and eat something small if you are hungry, more so in summer.
- Swap socks for trainers or the other way round, and wipe down anything you used.
- After a class, open the floor work with a lighter set to warm up the muscles you are about to load.
- After lifting, tell the instructor at the start of class what you have just trained, so she can suggest lighter springs where they help.
When two halves are too much for one visit
- Your technique slips early in the second half.
- The visit runs past the time you can spare and you start rushing the class.
- You dread the long visit and begin skipping both.
- Soreness from a combined day lingers into your next planned session.
If two or more of these sound familiar, split the halves across two days. A combined visit is a convenience, not a rule. For laying classes and strength days across a week, see scheduling reformer classes around strength days.
If you are pregnant, postnatal, injured or managing a medical condition, get clearance from your doctor, midwife or physiotherapist before planning long or combined sessions.
Inside RPM: the studio and the floor in one section
At RPM the reformer studio is inside the Ladies section, a women-only area with its own strength and cardio equipment on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal. A woman can therefore take a class and do her floor work without crossing into the Mixed section. Reformer classes are held in the studio. Its photos show reformers, some fitted with towers, together with trapeze-table frames and a ladder barrel, so ask which apparatus your class uses.
Some kit is known to be in the Mixed section's functional area, such as the turf lane with its sled, the kettlebells and the heavy bags. Women who want those as well should check that their tier covers the Mixed section. Before you join, confirm:
- whether reformer classes come with your tier or are sold as packages
- whether a class and floor time can be booked for the same visit
- where you change, since the changing area has keypad lockers for your bag
- whether the recovery suite or the grooming hub is included, if you want to end the visit there
The studio is not open to men, whose training takes place in the Mixed section.
Questions, answered.
Can I book reformer classes without using the gym floor?
Ask the team how studio sessions are sold. RPM does not publish prices or package terms, so confirm whether classes need a tier, a package or both.
How long does a combined visit take?
The plans above run from about an hour and a quarter to an hour and three quarters. Start with the shorter ones and build up.
Should the class or the gym come first?
Whichever matters more that day. Do the priority first, while you are fresh, and keep the second half lighter.
Can I finish the visit in the sauna or ice bath?
Ask whether your tier includes the recovery suite. If you have a heart or blood-pressure condition, are pregnant or take regular medication, check with your doctor before using heat or cold.