Lagree is the hottest workout fixation sweeping through L. A., boasting an A-list roster of fans including Meghan Markle, Kim Kardashian, and Jennifer Aniston.
Invented by fitness maven Sebastian Lagree, this gruelling routine is often dubbed ‘megaformer pilates,’ hinting at its intensity level that’s not for the weak-willed.
Sculpting rock-solid core muscles while turbocharging cardiovascular fitness is what sets Lagree apart; its like upgrading from reformer pilates to a full-throttle burn.
Following Love Lagree’s debut in Cardiff, WalesOnline’s own Stephanie Colderick fancied testing her mettle by jumping into their uber-popular 9.30 am session.
She said: “I joined the popular 9.30am class, which was fully booked and had two new beginners alongside me, and warily eyed up the machine.”
Gazing upon the formidable contraption, Stephanie envisaged disaster: “At first the machine looked pretty scary, the idea being you move on and with the machine, and I was convinced I was going to go flying off it and end up in a heap on the floor.”
However, her initial dread dissolved once she mounted the device: “Thankfully, once you are on the machine it is no-way near as scary as it looks. It is actually easy to control and quickly my fears of falling off eased.”
Pushed to the brink, Stephanie shared: “The workout itself was incredibly intense – this is no walk in the park.
“All of the muscles in my body felt like they were being used, particularly my core and lower back, as we did core, arms and legs and soon I was shaking from the effort.
“I was squatting, stretching, lunging, planking, all into different positions and attached to the machine in different ways, and it was pretty rapid with little to no break in-between exercises.”
Stephanie recounted her intense experience in the fitness class, noting she was drenched in sweat and her muscles trembled. She expressed relief when the instructor announced the final 10 seconds of the strenuous pose.
She said: “Overall it felt like a proper fully body workout – more than what I do in the gym, which is mostly cardio. I felt like I exercised all of my body and pushed myself.”
She praised the Lagree method, saying: “Lagree is brilliant if you are still looking for a full workout but one that doesn’t have you jumping or running, meaning it minimises the impact on your joints.
“With my legs already feeling sore I am sure I will be aching tomorrow and with any luck, will wake up looking and feeling like Kim K.”
