The Lagree Method is a unique and intense workout that combines cardio, strength, endurance, and flexibility to deliver unparalleled fitness results. This instructor-led, 45-minute class focuses on slow, controlled movements to activate slow-twitch, fat-burning muscle fibers, making it a highly effective and efficient way to transform your body.
What is the Lagree Method?
At its core, the Lagree Method is an exercise approach specifically designed to strengthen, tighten, and tone muscles without placing undue stress on joints, connective tissues, or the spine. Developed by Sebastien Lagree, this method utilizes tried-and-proven training techniques, including planks, lunges, squats, and push-ups, alongside unique exercises like Super Lunge, Catfish, and Scrambled Eggs. The Lagree Method is constantly evolving, with new technological advances being added to the equipment to enhance its effectiveness.
Benefits of the Lagree Method
The Lagree Method offers a multitude of benefits, making it a popular choice for those seeking a comprehensive and efficient workout.
Full-Body Workout
One of the primary advantages of the Lagree Method is that it provides a full-body workout. Unlike other fitness routines that target individual muscle groups, Lagree engages multiple muscle groups simultaneously, ensuring a balanced workout that strengthens your entire body. The exercises work your core, legs, arms, and back, ensuring that all your muscles are engaged. This holistic approach improves overall strength and posture, making it beneficial for athletes and fitness novices alike.
Low-Impact, High-Intensity
Lagree is a low-impact yet high-intensity workout, making it suitable for individuals with joint issues or those recovering from injuries. The exercises are gentle on the joints while still providing a powerful workout that builds strength, increases flexibility, and burns fat. The Megaformer allows you to control the resistance of each movement, enabling you to adjust the intensity based on your fitness level.
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Strength Building and Muscle Toning
The Lagree Method is known for its ability to build strength and tone muscles. The slow, controlled movements require sustained muscle engagement, enhancing muscle endurance and strength. As you perform each exercise, your muscles work to stabilize your body, leading to improved muscle tone and definition. This method targets all muscle groups, creating a balanced physique and ensuring that muscles receive the necessary time under tension to grow stronger and more defined.
Flexibility and Posture Improvement
Lagree exercises are designed to stretch and lengthen muscles, increasing your range of motion over time. This is particularly beneficial for those who spend long hours sitting or have tight muscles from other forms of exercise. Additionally, Lagree emphasizes core engagement, which strengthens the muscles in your back and abdomen, improving posture.
Cardiovascular Benefits
While primarily known for its strength-building benefits, Lagree also offers cardiovascular advantages. The fast-paced nature of the workout elevates your heart rate throughout the session, improving your cardiovascular fitness. Incorporating Lagree into your routine can enhance your stamina and endurance, leading to better overall fitness and increased energy levels.
Weight Loss and Fat Burning
Lagree can aid in weight loss due to its combination of strength training, cardio, and high-intensity movements, which burn a significant number of calories. By targeting large muscle groups and increasing your heart rate, Lagree helps you burn fat and build lean muscle. This full-body workout efficiently challenges both the aerobic and anaerobic systems, promoting fat loss and muscle gain over time.
Mental Well-Being
Lagree is beneficial for both physical and mental health. The focus required during the workout can reduce stress and increase mental clarity. Regular practice has been shown to improve mood and overall emotional well-being.
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Balance and Stability
Lagree exercises engage stabilizer muscles throughout your body, improving balance and coordination. This can be especially helpful for preventing falls.
Enhanced Core Strength
Lagree's focus on controlled movements requires consistent engagement of the core, which helps build and maintain core strength, crucial for maintaining good posture and preventing injuries.
Increased Muscle Endurance
The slow, controlled movements with resistance in Lagree help increase muscle endurance over time.
The Lagree Method and Weight Loss: A Real-Life Example
Mia's journey with the Lagree Method exemplifies its effectiveness in achieving weight loss and physical transformation. Starting in April 2019, Mia sought a supportive environment to make significant physical and mental changes. Initially attending classes three times a week and eventually increasing to six times a week, Mia experienced an "EPIC transformation in a short period of time." Coupled with a healthier diet, she lost 20 pounds and dropped from a size 10 to a size 6. Mia's success underscores how hard work, persistence, and consistency with the Lagree Method can yield rapid results. Her routine included cardio two days a week paired with Lagree classes five days a week.
The Science Behind the Lagree Method
The Lagree Method operates on several key principles that contribute to its effectiveness:
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- Proper Body Alignment: This is crucial for optimizing muscle efficiency and preventing injury.
- Range of Motion: Users develop a greater range of motion within two to three sessions.
- Slow Tempo: The Lagree Method utilizes a very slow tempo. Typically, the Lagree instructor will start at a tempo of 4 counts-4 counts to move the carriage out and 4 counts to move the carriage in. (For reference, a tempo of 4 counts represents 8 to 10 seconds depending on the beat of the music. 1 repetition at a tempo of 4 counts represents 16 to 20 seconds.) Lagree Fitness machines are specifically engineered to teach users at an even slower count. In fact, some Lagree Fitness studios may do a count of 8 (32 to 40 seconds to complete 1 repetition); Others may do a count of 16 (64 to 80 seconds to complete 1 repetition). Moving extremely slowly through each exercise tightens the muscles while reducing overall size (“bulk”).
- Constant Tension: Each move is performed for at least one minute, with constant and continuous muscle contraction. Resting is not allowed during each set. Some exercises are taught for five minutes or longer.
- Variable and Isometric Resistance: The Lagree Method utilizes two types of resistance: Variable and Isometric. Variable: Spring resistance is superior to weight because it eases the tension on connective tissues.
- Ramp Integration: The addition of the ramp to newer Megaformer models creates more static resistance, conducive to muscle-building and improving bone density.
- Orchestration of Exercise: The correct sequence of exercises is critical for optimizing the method. It is important to ensure the trainer is Lagree-certified.
- Minimal Transition Time: The Lagree Method eliminates any idle time between sets. Students should effortlessly move from one exercise to the next without losing any time.
- Effective Cueing: Indicia included on the platforms, carriages, and rails of Lagree equipment allows for instructors to efficiently place users into the correct positions and instruct users how far to move the carriage in and out.
- Advanced Machines: This principle will apply to the Supra and Ultra, two advanced Lagree Fitness machines not yet released.
Comparing Lagree to Traditional Pilates
While both Lagree and traditional Pilates share a foundation in core strength and postural improvement, they offer distinct workout experiences. Traditional Pilates, developed by Joseph Pilates, is a mind-body exercise system focused on controlled movements emphasizing core engagement, proper breathing, and postural alignment. In contrast, Lagree Fitness is a dynamic, high-intensity alternative inspired by Pilates principles. The cornerstone equipment of the Lagree Method is the Megaformer, a specialized machine offering various resistance options through springs and levers.
Why Choose Lagree?
- Faster Results: The high-intensity nature of the Lagree Method, emphasizing maximum muscle fatigue, can lead to quicker improvements in muscle tone, strength, and endurance.
- Higher Calorie Burn: The dynamic movements and faster pace of Lagree classes translate to a higher calorie burn during the workout.
- Cardiovascular Benefits: While not solely a cardio-focused exercise, Lagree’s faster tempos and challenging nature can elevate your heart rate and improve cardiovascular health.
- Continuous Challenge: Lagree provides a constant challenge, pushing you to reach your full fitness potential through fast-paced movements, isometric holds, and the unique resistance system of the Megaformer.
- Targeted Muscle Engagement: Lagree exercises target multiple muscle groups simultaneously, making it an efficient workout choice.
Is Lagree Right for You?
The benefits of Lagree Fitness shine for individuals seeking a high-octane workout experience. However, both Lagree and traditional Pilates offer valuable paths to achieving your fitness goals. Consider your fitness level, goals, and preferences when making your choice.
Getting Started with Lagree
Lagree is suitable for all fitness levels. Classes are often led by instructors who can provide modifications for those who need them, making the workout accessible to people with varying levels of experience. For optimal results, it's recommended to practice Lagree 2-3 times a week.
Additional Considerations
- Mental Clarity: The intense concentration required during Lagree workouts helps improve mental clarity and focus.
- Pregnancy: Lagree can be safe during pregnancy with proper modifications, but it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider first and inform your instructor before the class begins.
- Diet: While Lagree helps burn calories and boost metabolism, a healthy diet is key for weight loss.