Megaformer Workout

Perhaps you’ve heard Lagree referred to as “Pilates Plus” or “Pilates-inspired”. What you may not know is that although there are some similarities, these two workouts are actually quite different.

Sebastien Lagree did garner his inspiration for the Megaformer from the traditional Pilates Reformer; however, Lagree fitness is an exercise all of its own. If you’ve tried Pilates, give Lagree a try and see for yourself how different they are.

Differences Between Pilates and Lagree Fitness

Pi·la·tes  (ˈˌdēz)

noun: a system of exercises using a special apparatus, designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, and posture, and enhance mental awareness.

Pilates was created in the 1930s by Joseph Pilates and quickly became popular among dancers as a method of training and rehabilitation. There’s no denying that Pilates, like nearly all forms of exercise, offers some great health benefits. (Those include core strength and stability, improved posture and balance, flexibility, and the prevention and treatment of back pain.) Pilates transformed the life of fitness guru Sebastien Lagree himself. But it has some major drawbacks too – it lacks several key elements that we humans need to achieve maximum physical fitness. Those key elements include strength, cardio, and muscular endurance training.

The bottom line is that Lagree offers a much more comprehensive workout on a machine that in my opinion is far superior to the Pilates Reformer for delivering fast, transformative, long-lasting results.

The extensive benefits of Lagree include:

  • increased muscular strength and endurance
  • better cardiovascular efficiency
  • increased bone mineral density
  • increased metabolic rate
  • improved body composition
  • enhanced postural alignment and balance
  • balance of extrinsic and intrinsic strength
  • better upper and lower body coordination
  • prevention and delay of muscle loss due to aging
  • weight loss
  • better muscle tone and definition
  • enhanced flexibility
  • more lean muscle mass
  • reduced stress
  • better body image, self-esteem and self-confidence

Reformer vs. Megaformer

Pilates is performed on a machine called the Reformer, while Lagree is performed on the Megaformer.

(Sebastien Lagree’s first machine was the Proformer, which evolved into the Megaformer, followed by the M2, M2S, M3 and now the M3S. The machines are constantly being improved upon to better meet the needs of the diverse population of Lagree students.)

Here are some more differences between the two workouts:

  • The Megaformer has a much broader range of applications than the Reformer. The Megaformer has double the amount of springs than the Reformer, allowing for maximum intensity for even the strongest participant. It allows for hundreds of exercise combinations, making each workout comprehensive and full-body. It also has many more options than the Reformer for adjusting the angle of the movement, targeting different muscle groups.
  • The Megaformer allows for more intensity than the Pilates Reformer, getting the heart rate up and stimulating more calories and fat burned.

Sebastien Lagree recounted the birth of the Megaformer:

At the beginning, I was incorporating weight training and circuit training into my “Pilates” sessions. My clientele wanted fast improvements and that included fat loss. I needed to add intensity to the session without stepping into the weight room…so I brought in the weights and would have my clientele perform interval training with the Stair Master and the Elliptical in between Reformer exercises to keep their heart rate up. I also incorporated the use of weight training equipment with some movements on the Reformer and adapted some basic strength training exercises such as the lunge on the Reformer.”

And thus, the “next evolution in physical fitness” was born. Also affectionately known as “Pilates on crack”. (But it’s not Pilates.)

LAGREE: IT’S NOT PILATES

Whether you’ve tried Pilates or not, we invite you to MEGA BARRE YO to experience for yourself the amazing benefits of Lagree fitness! Megaformer Workout