The Lagree Method has taken over social feeds, celebrity routines and boutique studio waitlists from West Hollywood to Brentwood, with fans like Nicole Kidman<\/strong><\/a> and Gwyneth Paltrow<\/strong><\/a> fueling the hype. But here\u2019s the twist many newcomers miss. Despite the name people use online, Lagree may not actually be Pilates at all. It\u2019s a separate, patented method built for a very specific kind of burn.<\/p>\n The TikTok discourse is already deep on this one. The two workouts look similar, share some equipment DNA and even attract overlapping crowds, yet they\u2019re built on different principles, chase different fitness goals and feel completely different once you\u2019re on the machine. If you\u2019re deciding where to spend your class credits, it\u2019s worth knowing exactly what you\u2019re signing up for.<\/p>\n The grey area between the two methods is real, and it\u2019s where most of the confusion lives. \u201cReformer workouts can be thought of like a Venn diagram, Pilates, Lagree, then everything in between,\u201d said Jos\u00e9 San Miguel<\/strong>, a movement instructor and studio manager at FlowCorps Durham. Regular pilates is often rehabilitation-focused, rooted in the original Joseph Pilates<\/strong> method and designed to build control, mobility and core stability. Lagree, by contrast, was engineered for muscle tightening, toning and visible physical change. Both are low-impact, but they\u2019re built for different purposes.<\/p>\n Lagree founder<\/a>, Sebastien Lagree<\/strong>, created the workouts for a specific type of client list \u2014 and it wasn\u2019t dancers recovering from injury. They were actresses and models already in peak physical condition who wanted to sculpt without bulking up. \u201cI had to really use my knowledge of body sculpting and then create this workout,\u201d Lagree told PureWow<\/a>. That origin story matters because it shapes everything about the class, including the pacing, the time under tension, the emphasis on shaking muscles and the relentless focus on outcomes you can see in the mirror.<\/p>\n Per the Lagree website, it\u2019s a patented exercise method designed to strengthen, tighten and tone muscles efficiently. Lagree created it while training clients in Los Angeles, many of whom were already practicing Pilates but wanted more visible physical change. \u201cWhen I was first introduced to Pilates in 1998, I saw that there was no progressive overloading and no protocol for muscle gain or fat loss. It was never about shaking or sweating. But the body will not change unless it\u2019s stimulated and prompted to change,\u201d Lagree said via Pop Sugar. The idea sparked after he saw a Pilates reformer in a local studio. He added platforms and cables, and the Megaformer, originally called the Proformer, was born. Multiple Megaformer models now exist, and they\u2019re only usable in Lagree-licensed studios.<\/p>\n The Lagree website describes it as intense on muscles, easy on joints, but expect shaking, sweating and next-day soreness. A typical class folds in planks, lunges and push-ups alongside Lagree-specific moves with names like \u201cSuper Lunge\u201d and \u201cScrambled Eggs.\u201d The whole system is built around 10 core principles known as the \u201cMagic 10,\u201d each designed to force physical change rather than simply maintain mobility. If you\u2019ve ever wondered why people stumble out of class glistening and slightly wobbly, that\u2019s the Magic 10 doing its job.<\/p>\n Regular pilates isn\u2019t just mat work. The classic Pilates reformer uses a platform and springs with adjustable tension for resistance, while equipment like the Cadillac or barrel can build greater strength and range of motion. The Pilates world has also expanded into many modern adaptations, such as Pilates sculpt, heated Pilates and other hybrids that stray far from Joseph Pilates\u2019 original method but still deliver a solid workout. Across formats, the benefits include improved posture and pain relief, which is why the discipline still anchors so many recovery and wellness routines.<\/p>\nHow Lagree Differs From Regular Pilates<\/h2>\n
Who Sebastien Lagree Built the Method For<\/h2>\n
What Is the Lagree Method, Exactly<\/h2>\n
What a Lagree Class Actually Feels Like vs. Regular Pilates<\/h2>\n
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