Lagree vs Pilates

what’s the difference?

While Lagree Fitness possesses derivatives of Pilates, it’s a high-intensity workout that garners amazing and rapid results if you’re willing to put in the work. Read on for a more in-depth description of the major differences of both formats.

Lagree Fitness

Sebastian Lagree, founder of Lagree Fitness has been refining the Lagree Method for over 20 years. Sebastian was a pilates instructor who recognized that his clients were seeking more intense workouts to complement their Pilates workouts.  They simply weren’t getting everything they needed from pilates alone. With that knowledge, Lagree took the benefits of pilates (core stability, muscular strength, flexibility) and created a more dynamic, low impact, high-intensity workout.  The Lagree Method was founded on the five components of physical fitness: endurance, cardiovascular fitness, body composition, flexibility, and strength. But he realized he needed a machine to compliment his new format. Voila! The Megaformer™, and with it, Lagree Fitness, was born.

Pilates

Pilates is a fitness system developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century. Since its inception it has become one of the most popular forms of exercise in the world. Pilates focuses on using deliberate, controlled movements to develop core strength. There are a number of ways to practice Pilates, ranging from simple mat exercises with resistance bands to more complicated moves using a spring tension machine known as a “Reformer”.

The Advantages of Lagree Fitness

  1. Wider range of motion - The Megaformer is highly adjustable. This allows you to perform pulling and pushing exercises in a number of positions and directions, using stable front and back platforms, variable spring tension, and cables.   

  2. High-intensity - A main advantage to Lagree Fitness. This method, if done correctly, can really get your heart pumping in a way that pilates can’t. The key is always slow, controlled movements and continuous tension in the body for the duration of class. There are a number of benefits to high-intensity workouts including more fat loss and lower blood pressure.

  3. More resistance - The Megaformer’s spring tension system offers more springs than a traditional Reformer and are also housed in the middle of the machine, in newer models, for quick release allowing for fast transitions between moves. That means that even super conditioned students can still be challenged.

  4. Exceptional for injuries - Although Lagree is a more intense workout, it’s also highly effective in assisting students with injuries. This is because a much wider variety of moves are available to a user on a Megaformer, allowing you to target specific muscle groups, strengthening tiny muscles surrounding the injury and avoid further straining injured areas.

Lagree Vs Pilates?

Pilates and Lagree Fitness are both excellent forms of exercise. They are both safe and proven ways to improve your core strength, flexibility, balance, and muscle tone. That said, Lagree Fitness simply provides better results when it comes to fat loss, cardiovascular endurance, muscle definition and strength.

In sum, the main differences between Lagree Fitness and Pilates are:

  • the intensity

  • the range of motion

  • the level of resistance

Pilates is NOT:

  • an endurance workout

  • a strength workout

  • a cardio workout

Lagree Fitness is high intensity, low impact training that will change your body and is a safer alternative to crossfit. 

Lagree Fitness IS:

  • muscular endurance training

  • strength training

  • cardio training

In conclusion, Lagree Fitness is a multi-faceted workout that combines resistance training and cardio into one comprehensive, balanced system to strengthen, tighten, and tone the body. Balance is created by applying equal focus to all elements of exercise and never prioritizing one facet over another. Form and proper alignment is paramount and should always prevail over intensity. Varying degrees of spring-based tension allows the Megaformer to adjust to the user during use. This immediate adaptability creates a tailored experience that is unique to the student. Because of this, Lagree is the ideal method for all ages and fitness levels.