Booking reformers, mats and named spots

Spot booking lets a client choose a particular place in the room when they book, such as a reformer or a mat position. The system shows a map of the room, and each spot can only be taken once.

This page draws on Mindbody's blog, Momence's help centre and Glofox's feature page, checked on 5 November 2026.¹

Why it matters more in pilates

Mindbody says that in pilates, class size is "capped by equipment rather than floor space". A studio with a set number of reformers can't add a mat in the corner.¹

Clients often care where they sit too. Mindbody's blog says some want the front row for a clear view and others want the reformer they've used for months. That's the maker's view of client habits, not a survey.¹

Free choice or assigned spots

Studios tend to pick one of two styles.

Momence and Glofox both describe the first style. In Momence customers "will be prompted to choose a spot when signing up". Glofox says members can choose a preferred spot "from an interactive room map".²³

The second style is a studio habit, not something the sources set out. Ask your maker whether staff can move a client to another spot after booking.

Building the room

Mindbody's blog lists what to look for in the room-building tools.¹

• A visual layout that mirrors your studio floor
• Equipment assigned to specific spots, with layouts you can change by room or class format
• The ability to block out spots for maintenance or instructor demonstrations
• Live availability, so two clients never claim the same spot

Momence's steps are plain. When you create a class you set the maximum number of participants, turn on spot selection, and if you don't have a room yet, add one. You then add as many spots as the maximum participant figure.²

Momence also suggests adding objects like doors to the map, "to help customers orient themselves when choosing a spot".²

Reformers versus mats

Same tool. Different limits.

• Reformers. Each spot stands for a machine. If one is out for repair, you block that spot so nobody books it. Mindbody's blog gives maintenance as a reason to block spots.¹
• Mats. Spots are often just marked positions on the floor. A studio can number them on the map so clients know where to put their mat. The room still has a maximum, which the map should match.

Keep the number of spots equal to the class capacity. Momence's instructions say to add as many spots as the maximum participant figure, so the two numbers agree.²

Spots and waitlists

When a booked client cancels, their spot opens. Mindbody's blog says an automated waitlist moves the next client into any open spot, so equipment doesn't sit empty. Whether the new person gets that same spot or a different one is a question for your maker.¹

See how waitlists work when a class is full.

Questions to ask

• Can a room layout be reused by several classes?
• Can you block a spot for one class only?
• What happens to a client's spot if the class moves to a different room?
• Can staff override a client's spot at the desk?

The answers are in your maker's help pages or, failing that, from its support team in writing.