Lagree vs reformer Pilates: This is why one is so much harder than the other
As someone who religiously rotates between barre and hot yoga yet still lacks the graceful balance of a dancer (or really, being able to stay stable on one foot in class), I’ve always eyed reformer Pilates with curiosity. There’s a quiet confidence to people who do reformer — their posture, their body balance, their grace while planking on a moving carriage with springs.
But lately, another workout has been making waves: Lagree. It’s been dubbed ‘Pilates on steroids’ and is a go-to for celebrities who want sculpted abs without the endless burpees. I put them both to the test to figure out which is the better workout.
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What is Lagree?
Let’s get one thing straight: Lagree is not Pilates. While it’s a common misconception, the workouts are totally different. Lagree is a method created by Sebastien Lagree that combines strength, endurance, cardio, balance and flexibility into a 45-minute, sweat-drenched experience on a machine called the Megaformer. It even has its own ‘Lagree language’ for the moves; scrambled eggs, catfish, the bear and the wheelbarrow.
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The movements are slow, but the burn is immediate and intense. There are no breaks, just your instructor counting up and down from 10. And what’s more, there’s no warmup or cool down. You’re thrown straight into the delicious pain of Lagree.
My first Lagree session: a love-hate experience
Walking into the sleek studio, I admit I felt confident. I do planks (grudgingly) and I’m at barre three times a week — how bad can it be?
That smugness didn’t last. Lagree hits fast. Slow, controlled movements that somehow leave you gasping for air. After 15 minutes, I’m red faced, dripping with sweat and begging my lovely instructor Sara to please, make it stop. I look to my left and right: the other girls are moving through each movement like water.
Lagree is all about time under tension. That means holding a lunge for a full minute while your front thigh burns and your back leg shakes like a leaf in a thunderstorm. The music was pumping, the instructor was motivational-yet-merciless, and honestly? I loved it.
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Reformer Pilates: the original slow burn
Reformer Pilates is no walk in the park, either. It’s also about control, alignment and grace, but there’s less cardio, so more time to work on that mind-body connection. The spring-loaded machine forces you to engage your muscles in very precise ways and the pace is slower and more meditative, but that doesn’t mean you’re not exerting yourself. Any Pilates princess knows ‘belly button to spine’ means your abs will be working.
We did slow leg circles with our feet in straps, controlled core work with the magic circle and tiny arm pulses that nipped. The ache the next day was more subtle than post-Lagree: my inner thighs and deep core muscles felt like they were humming.
Lagree for fitness
“The Lagree method is constantly evolving,” says Lorraine Jenkins, qualified Lagree and pilates instructor and founder of Love Lagree. “As is the equipment we use. There’s a new version of the Megaformer recently launched, so the workout never becomes boring and you’ll never plateau.
“You benefit from all components of fitness. Strength, endurance, cardio, core, balance and flexibility — all in one workout. Clients often comment that this is the nearest experience to a PT. You benefit from a challenging full body workout, with the added advantage of close attention to detail from the instructor.”
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So, which is better: Lagree vs Pilates
Ok, I know this might be annoying to hear, but — it depends on your fitness goals.
If you want to build strength, tone fast and get your heart rate up in a short amount of time, Lagree delivers. It’s intense, time-efficient and leaves you with that satisfying tiredness that screams ‘I worked out today’. Going straight in with no warmup or cool down means you’re maximising your workout time, but if you’re new to Lagree I’d recommend stretching afterwards to avoid too much of an ache the next day.
However, if your goals are more about longevity and mobility, reformer Pilates is the winner. It’s kinder on the body and offers deep, targeted engagement without the adrenaline surge.
The verdict
For me, it’s not about choosing — it’s about balance. What surprised me most was how different they felt, even though they share a machine-based format and slow movement principles. Both left me stronger, sore and surprisingly addicted. So, I guess that’s two classes I’ll be adding to my weekly roster.
Feature image: Pexels
