In these studios where the light is subdued and the music is very present, we see women clinging to a strange sliding machine, their legs trembling but a crooked smile. Welcome to Lagree Fitness, this new class that is being talked about as the trendy sport to refine the figure and support weight loss without spending hours on a treadmill.
Imagined in Los Angeles by coach Sebastien Lagree, this training takes the idea of Pilates, but in a more intense and frankly less monotonous version. We use a series of slow and controlled movements, which keep the muscles under tension from the beginning to the end of the class. Result: the whole body works, with a permanent focus on the abdominal strap, an asset when you want to strengthen yourself and see the scale move.
Lagree Fitness: the method that works the whole body in depth
At the heart of the Lagree method, a signature machine: the Megaformer, available in recent versions such as the MegaPro. We place ourselves on a platform which slides between two fixed platforms, connected to springs which we adjust. By playing on this resistance, each lunge, core or push-up movement becomes a complete exercise, which recruits legs, glutes, back, arms and abs at the same time.
A class lasts around 45 to 50 minutes, with very few breaks: you go from one exercise to another in a few seconds, always in control. The groups are reduced so that the coach can correct the alignments and adapt the difficulty. In Paris, the founder of Lagreeness, Katia Schindfessel, sums up the challenge: “The entire team is officially Lagree certified (certification recognized by Lagree Academy) and fitness coaches recognized by the French state”.
Weight loss, flat stomach: why the Lagree method works
Because the movements are slow, under resistance and without relaxation, the muscles remain under tension much longer than in traditional classes. This high time under tension increases energy expenditure during the session, but also afterwards, by stimulating the metabolism. The core of the body remains engaged on almost every exercise, which helps to gain strength and flatten the stomach.
Concretely, those who do two to three sessions per week often see a firmer silhouette, defined arms and jeans that close more easily. Lagree mainly acts on body recomposition: we gain a little muscle, we lose fat, the contours of the body are redefined.
Who is Lagree Fitness for and how to get started
This training is suitable for those who like Pilates but want something more intense, for those who don’t like running or jumping, or who need to take care of their knees and back. The movements are without impact, but the effort remains very demanding: in the event of cardiac pathology, recent injury or high-risk pregnancy, medical advice is required.
To start, it is better to choose a Lagree certified studio and tell the coach that you are a novice. We start with light springs, we accept trembling and we let the aches pass: they prove that the muscles have worked well.
