Whether you’re a Pilates princess or just enjoy a cursory scroll of TikTok, you’ve probably at the very least heard of Lagree. It’s a high-intensity, low-impact, and full-body workout that utilizes endurance, strength training, and cardio, performed on a machine known as the Megaformer. That might sound a bit scary, but it’s a buzzy workout phenom that has people all over the FYP proclaiming serious results. Pilates princesses, hardcore HIIT-ers—this one’s for you too.
I’ve been a Pilates devotee for some years now, specifically reformer pilates. I sustained a shoulder injury during a particular intense HIIT class and could no longer do the burpees and thrusters with 25 pound weights in quicktime. During my recovery, I still craved moving my body and the collective feeling (of the good kind of pain and even better end-triumph) that a group workout class provides, but yoga felt a bit slow for me. (And quietening my mind has proved, thus far, ineffective).
Pilates came up as an option when surfing Reddit—an exercise that emphasizes core strength, flexibility, and alignment. I found Pilates to transform my perspective on exercise and my own body: that slow movements didn’t equate to low intensity, the importance of breath, and mind-body connection. I committed and saw results: I carried myself differently, the shoulder pain faded, and my neck looked longer. I felt more mindful and conscious of my body, and was able to track my progress because the exercises and machines are so modifiable. From then I was hooked.
So when I started getting Instagram Explore page shots with a Megaformer in dimly lit, boujie studios that could be as close as Brooklyn and as far as Bali, I assumed it was a trussed-up version of Reformer Pilates. Well, I was wholly incorrect. Founded in Los Angeles and patented by founder Sebastien Lagree in 2006, the Lagree vs. Pilates comparisons and debate goes far beyond the machines and the beats of a class. “People are seeking strength-based workouts for their health and longevity,” says Elissa El Hadj, founder of the Lagree studio FORM. “The genius of Lagree is the combining of mindful movement with high-intensity strength training. The perfect marriage for an optimally functioning body and nervous system, as well as a stellar-looking physique.”
Below, Sebastien Lagree himself and more experts in the Lagree method break down the practice, the benefits, and the biggest differences between Lagree and Reformer Pilates.
All you need to know about the Lagree Method
“I used to teach Pilates, but my clients weren’t getting the results they wanted,” Lagree says. “So I created my own method to get the results that Pilates wasn’t achieving. In my opinion, Pilates is neither a body sculpting exercise nor a physical workout. It’s rehabilitation.” Lagree believes Pilates is effective when it comes to injury recovery, back pain, and improving body mechanics. Because of its controlled, low-impact movements, it strengthens your core and improves flexibility. But Lagree has other focuses.
“Lagree is an integrated workout combining strength and endurance,” he explains. “The aim is to develop muscle density and reduce bulk. Lagree uses specific training techniques such as time under tension, isokinetics, and isometrics.”
“Precise attention is paid to correct form and alignment, pace and tempo, breathing, sequencing, and scaling to ensure that a client is challenged at their own pace,” says El Hadj, founder of FORM and a previous student of Sebastien’s. When teaching at his West Hollywood and Malibu studios, El Hadj often had the Hilton sisters, Kardashians, NFL players, Victoria’s Secret models, Nicole Kidman, and more in her class. Currently, she’s spearheading the movement for Lagree in the UK. Across 50 minutes, “mindful movement” is paired with high-intensity strength training. What that looks like? Slow resistance training on the Mega Proformer (which El Hadj describes as a reformer machine with “more bells and whistles”) to build full body strength, balance, and endurance. Common moves include high reps of squats and lunges, and moves that induce serious shakes like kneeling crunches and inchworms, and a killer full body movement called the “scrambled eggs,” where you extend one leg to the side and sweep it back while keeping the core stable.
According to Lagree, you can expect—with some long-term commitment—to experience strengthening, firming, and muscle toning. “Lagree builds lean muscle, improves core strength, increases flexibility, and burns fat,” says Nour and Mona of MAD Lagree.
“It’s a low-impact workout, [that] is so gentle on one’s joints, that you can attend class five days per week,” El Hadj says. “Ideal for both rookies as well as seasoned practitioners and pro athletes.”
El Hadj says that, rather than elevating cortisol and spiking adrenaline like many high-intensity classes, Lagree has a more calming and meditative effect while effectively working your body. “The slow tempo exercises demand focus, body awareness, and precision,” adds El Hadj. “Turning inwards is vital for mental and physical development.” You’re basically body and brain training.
“Depending on the percentage of body fat, results can be seen after three sessions,” claims Lagree. “The ideal routine starts with 20 to 30 minutes of integrated exercises for the legs, followed by 10 minutes of integrated exercises for the obliques, then 10 minutes of integrated exercises for the arms.”
El Hadj agrees. “Due to the intensity, it yields very fast results,” she says, adding: “It’s a high addictive workout, so many of our clients attend 3-5 times per week.”
“It’s a full-body workout with a central focus on the core, so every class focuses on strength, balance, posture, flexibility, cardio and endurance.”
There’s a range of machines for performing Lagree: the micro, mini, mega and evo. “The micro is light and portable and can be used anywhere. At the other end of the scale is the mega, which is a real powerhouse. No machine is better than another,” says Lagree. When booking a class, you can inquire about the kind of machine the studio uses—and if you’re new there, you’ll get an induction on how to use it.
Reformer Pilates is practiced on a reformer machine, originally designed by Joseph Pilates, the creator of Pilates. The reformer machine sits low to the ground and features a sliding platform, straps, pulleys, and a spring-based resistance system attached to a long, box-like frame. Many reformers are made of wood or metal and feature front and back platforms as well as handles and foot bars.
The first and main difference with Lagree vs. Pilates lies in the machine. Lagree says to think of the reformer as a rehabilitation machine, with many exercises designed to be performed lying on the back. The Megaformer, on which Lagree works, is a “fitness machine.” Both reformer and Megaformer machines utilize spring-based resistance, but you’ll notice straight away that a Megaformer is much bigger in comparison—it’s ergonomic, with both front and back platforms and handles to allow for more of a variety of exercises. “Think of it like the Rolls-Royce of machines,” says El Hadj. The reformer, in comparison, only features a footbar and less customizable spring settings.
“Pilates is slower and more rehabilitative, while Lagree is more intense, dynamic, and results-driven, with no rest between moves and greater muscle burn,” confirms Nour and Mona of MAD Lagree.
Breaking down a class pattern and routine, the main differences are like so: Lagree is largely focused on more muscularly intense exercises (isometric work, where muscle fatigue is the goal); it also integrates non-impact cardio and higher intensity fitness movements like squats, lunges, and planks as well as slow, continuous movements. Transitions between exercises are also much quicker than reformer, meaning you’ve less time to rest and more time to sweat.
“Time under tension” is a main feature of Lagree. “The longer the muscle is challenged and burns, the deeper the muscle engagement, which means greater definition and strength,” says El Hadj. In classical and reformer Pilates, you don’t work to muscle failure.
Ready to book your first beginner class? Make sure to arrive early to get a walk through with your Lagree instructor, bring your grippy socks, take it slow, and stay hydrated.
