'I tried Jen An & Kate Hudson's fave workout at first ever UK studio, the Lagree Method'
Two years ago, I walked into my first reformer Pilates class and my approach to exercise was revolutioned. It taught me a few things: low-impact doesn’t equal low-intensity; a slower pace trumps speed; your breath is your best friend. These are all hallmarks I – correctly – expected of the Lagree method, but if I had to rate reformer Pilates and the Lagree method on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being easy and 10 being the most difficult, reformer = 7, Lagree = 9.5.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has compared the Lagree method to reformer Pilates; the machines look almost identical, but believe me when I say the tiniest of distinctions make the world of difference. The brainchild of Sebastian Lagree, the eponymous Lagree method uses a Megaformer machine, patented by Lagree in 2006. Both reformer and Megaformer machines use spring-based resistance, but the springs on a Megaformer are easier to switch in order to limit transition time between exercises (i.e., any opportunity to sneak a lil rest).
'By limiting rest time and maintaining a fast-paced workout that means your heart rate is consistently elevated, Lagree provides an effective cardiovascular workout alongside strength training,' co-founder of MAD Lagree Studio and Lagree Instructor, Nour Abu Hamdan, tells me.
'The springs come in different tensions, allowing for customisation based on your individual fitness level and specific exercise goals,' Nour adds. 'And the springs on Lagree machines, such as the Megaformer, offer higher resistance levels than a regular reformer.'
What’s more, the only option for a handle on a 'regular' reformer machine is the footbar, while a Megaformer features several handles of different positions, to challenge your upper-body in various ways.
Such a savvy choice of equipment has garnered the Lagree method a loyal celeb following. Jennifer Aniston, J Lo, Kate Hudson, Kim Kardashian, Michelle Obama, and Modern Family star Sofia Vergara are all said to be fans, but this is the first time a licensed Lagree Studio has launched in the UK. Dubbed the MAD Lagree Studio, it’s situated on the King’s Road in Chelsea and owned by Mona Halawi, 30, and Nour Abu Hamdan, 33, both of whom are certified instructors.
It's Nour’s class I attend, and upon arrival it’s immediately clear that this isn’t any old reformer class. Nour’s (and the rest of the class waiting patiently as Nour talks me through the machine) muscles are MUSCLING, and I’m told this is credit to the bodybuilding principles of the class, inspired by Lagree’s bodybuilding background.
'It was one of my old regular yoga students who convinced me to try Lagree when I was living in Beirut,' she tells me. 'The strength I’ve gained since starting is immeasurable. My posture has changed, I stand and walk upright effortlessly, everything seems much tighter and better held together around my spine and my torso, and I simply feel much stronger.
'I also love that it lengthens and tones your muscles, giving you a lean physique with definition, rather than the bulk that you might get in other types of training. Another thing I have noticed, is that the strength from Lagree stays with you; it's deeply ingrained. You won't lose your strength if you don't workout for a couple of days or weeks, like you might with regular strength training.'
I’m reminded of Lagree’s differences to reformer as soon as the class starts. Before signing up, I’m told that the class ‘incorporates slow, controlled movements with constant tension, targeting multiple muscle groups simultaneously’, and this is what really gets me. We’re told to count down from four for every single movement – bending into a lunge = 4, reversing back to standing = 4, flexing into a bicep curl = 4, extending your arms back out = 4. The burn is real, but I love it.
I exercise just as much for my mental health as I do physical, and the focus required to control the Megaformer carriage and push through the pain at such slow paces means I have no time to think about what I’m having for dinner that night (standard thoughts during my usual workouts).
When asked the purpose of performing movements so slowly, Nour explains, 'It's to activate your slow twitch muscle fibres, which play a crucial role in muscular endurance and overall strength.'
She echoes my thoughts on the mental benefits of a slower-paced workout, too. 'It teaches you to slow down- a skill we all need in this day and age where we are constantly running and chasing the next thing,' she says. 'You have to move slowly; you have to be fully focused, fully present in every movement you do, since you are on a moving carriage. I leave class leaving not only stronger and victorious, but also calmer, more grounded, and clear minded.'
There are certain exercises I can’t quite get to grips with; spider pushes on the handlebars with my hip rotated and the rest of my body in a three-point hold are not the one, but Nour reassures me it’s all about getting used to the equipment. Sure, I’ve done reformer for years, but the absence of certain handles means I’ve never come across some moves.
I’m shaking from start to finish – I’ve got the signature ‘Lagree shakes’, Nour tells me, but the 50-minute class flies by. It pays to try something new, but I’m not sure I’d ever find myself clock-watching in a Lagree class.
How did I feel afterwards? I need a minute to gather my thoughts as I sit on the carriage, and it takes a while for my muscles to stop shaking, but despite it being one of the hardest workouts I’ve ever tried, I’m not totally whacked. I can tell I’ve had a good workout, but I’m energised.
Nour says the benefits don't end when the class does, either. 'Lagree workouts increase your body's metabolic demand by elevating your heart rate, increasing oxygen consumption, and depleting your energy stores during the workout. After class, your body continues to burn calories and consume oxygen at a higher rate to restore these energy levels, repair muscle tissue, and remove metabolic byproducts, resulting in an extended post-workout calorie burn and enhanced fat burning (known as the Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC) effect).'
Sadly, my commute to MAD Lagree Studio isn’t one I could feasibly do every week, but everyone in my class is a regular, and every session on the website for the rest of the week is now ‘Waitlist’ only. The proof is in the pudding.
8 tips for Lagree beginners:
Wear grippy socks to stabilise you.
Arrive early so that an instructor can talk you through how to use the machine
Muscle shaking is normal.
Try to take it slow, even if it burns.
Bring water.
Fuel up with a snack 30 mins-2 hours before class starts.
Have a towel handy (your studio may provide these) - you will sweat!
Book a beginner class.
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