QUESTIONS ABOUT THE METHOD
Formats, levels, locations, and what's happening at Irvine, answered in one place.
01 - THE METHOD
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It's the STUDIO X way of progressing in pilates. Classical movement, taught in a contemporary way. It’s sorted into formats by apparatus and levels by skill & fitness level, so you know what you're walking into and what you're working toward.
Five Class Styles that range in challenge level and focus: Reform x Tower, Reform x Chair, Cardio X, Reset X, and Mat X.
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The old names told you what body parts we’d focus on. They didn't tell you what you'd learn, what apparatus you'd be on, or what the expections where based on your skill and fitness level.
Naming by apparatus and level answers all three before you book. All classes will include Full Body Integration so you get this best workout possible and the most benefits overtime.
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Each level is built on the one below it. Level |2| assumes what you learned the foundation of the movements, skill, and strength of level |1|. Level |3| takes the furtherest challenge of both.
Moving up isn't about going harder or faster; it's about carrying more skill, strength, balance, & stability into the next challenge.
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Both; in that order. The repertoire, the apparatus, and the logic of how movements build come from the classical pilates method. The delivery is contemporary: leveled, coached, and programmed for how people train, advance, and want to move today.
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Reform x Tower — reformer and tower together. The core of the method, and most of the schedule. |1| |2| |3|
Reform x Chair — the Refomer & Exo-Chair. Its own apparatus, its own skill set. |1| |2| |3|
Mat X — New to Studio X & the repertoire on the mat. |1| |2| |3|
Cardio X — conditioning. Formerly cardio sculpt. Open Level.
Reset X — mobility, breath and length. Formerly power stretch. Open Level.
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Costa Mesa — Reform X Tower, Cardio X, and Reset X
Orange — Reform X Tower, Reform X Chair, Cardio X, and Reset X
Irvine | COMING SOON | — becoming our OC Mat X studio from August 24
Santa Monica | COMING SOON | — Reform X Tower, Reform X Chair, Cardio X, Reset X, and Mat X
All Memberships & Class Credits work on all Class Formats
02 - THE LEVELS & STYLES
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You will love our Reform X Tower |2|, Reform X Tower |3|, Reform X Chair |2|, or Reform X Chair |3| and we promise we will still make your legs shake!
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Coming from ass x abs, arms x abs or full body x burn? You're already training at |2|. Book Reform x Tower |2| and nothing about your routine changes.
New to Studio X, new to the apparatus, or back after time off? Start at |1| across the different formats.
Never done Pilates at all? Reform x Tower |1| is the front door. Or if you’re interested in a different apparatus try Reform X Chair |1| or Mat X |1| are the other good places to start.
|1| isn't a beginner class in the sense of an easy class. It's where the foundation gets built (the springs, the setup, the breath, the names of the movements). Everything above it moves faster because it assumes you have that.
Still not sure? Talk with our Front Desk on what might be the best fit for you.
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|1| to |2| — around five |1| classes.
|2| to |3| — ten to fifteen |2| classes, or an instructor recommendation. |3| is also members only, so you'll need a membership to book it.
|3| is our most advance level and assumes the whole room already shares a foundation, and at the pace and challenge of making it through a |2| consistently.
Think of the numbers as a guide, not a punch card. Progression is about skill, not attendance so if your instructor sees you're ready sooner, they'll tell you.
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If you feel you are ready for a Level |3| class - we invite you to talk to our Front Desk to get an evaluation for placement but we always encourage familiarity with the Studio X Method class system to at least get an idea for what you are in for in a Level |3|.
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Our |3| classes are members only, so they won't appear for you on ClassPass.
Two reasons. First, |3| assumes the room already shares a foundation, and that's only true if we can see your history with us. Second, |3| carries the requirement above.
|1| and |2| are bookable as usual.
03 - IRVINE & LOCATIONS
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Irvine isn't closing so much as changing shape. It's closing temporarily while we make much needed studio updates and we transform it into our OC Mat X studio.
The same Studio X energy you know in a new format.
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October 2026 - Super soon! This is just a quick internal glow up to the studio space.
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We love Irvine too, and we can't wait for the reopening. In the meantime, Costa Mesa is less than a five-minute drive down the street from the Irvine studio and runs reformer classes seven days a week. (We are adding in some additional class times as well to accommodate)
Orange is open to you as well; one membership covers all of our studios.
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Permanent, and about to get its own home. The mat is where the repertoire originated, and it's where control gets tested with the least amount of equipment between you and the movement.
Mat X is the Studio X version of the Classical Mat Pilates method.
From August 24, Irvine becomes our OC Mat X studio. Mat X will also be available in LA at our Santa Monica Location.
Preview it on Sunday, August 23 at Studio X | Irvine. Book your spot on our app: STUDIO X APP
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You may change your mind once you've done Mat X inside the method, but if you don't, nothing you love is going anywhere.
Reformer, tower, chair, Cardio X and Reset X all continue at Costa Mesa, Orange and Santa Monica. One membership gets you into all of them.
04 - BOOKING & MEMBERSHIPS
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Yes. One membership, every Studio X studio.
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Mat X Preview Day can be booked on our booking app:
STUDIO X APP -
Still have questions, feedback, or concerns? No worries! Feel free to fill out the form below on this page or email us at admin@studioxpilates.com and our customer service squad would be so happy to get you the answers you need.
Still have questions, feedback, or concerns? Send them here and our customer service squad will get you answers. You can also email us directly at admin@studioxpilates.com.
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