Journal · Lagree

What is Lagree? A plain-English guide to the Megaformer

By Sacred Studios · August 18, 2026 · 6 min read

Lagree Megaformer reformer machines in the Sacred Studios room in Roseville, CA

If you've walked past our Lagree room and wondered what those long, spring-loaded machines are — you're not alone. The Megaformer is the most-asked-about thing in the studio, and the workout it delivers is unlike anything else we teach. This is the plain-English version: what Lagree is, what a class feels like, and why people get quietly obsessed with it.

Lagree in one sentence

Lagree is slow, low-impact, high-intensity strength training performed on a machine called the Megaformer — every movement done under constant tension, at a pace deliberately too slow for momentum to help you.

That last part is the whole secret. In most workouts, speed is your friend — you swing, you bounce, you let physics carry a rep. Lagree takes that away. Four counts out, four counts back, no resting at the top, no resting at the bottom. Your muscles never get a moment off, and somewhere around the ninety-second mark of a lunge you understand why the room is so quiet.

So what is a Megaformer?

Picture a long carriage that glides along a rail between two stable platforms, with adjustable spring tension underneath and handles and straps at every corner. You push, pull, plank, lunge and pike on it — sometimes facing forward, sometimes sideways, often with one foot on a platform and one on the moving carriage.

The springs work in both directions. Heavier springs make some moves harder and — counterintuitively — make others easier, because the tension stabilizes the carriage. Part of learning Lagree is learning which is which. Your instructor calls the spring changes; you just follow.

What a class actually feels like

45 minutes, roughly 10–12 exercises, each held for a long, slow set — plus a few 30-minute express formats.
Low impact: no jumping, no pounding. Your joints are spared even while your muscles are absolutely not.
The shake is the point. When your legs tremble mid-lunge, that's deep muscle fibers reaching fatigue — instructors will tell you to welcome it.
It's quiet. No dropped weights, no chaos — just breath, spring changes, and the occasional disbelieving laugh.

Slow is not easier. Slow is honest.

Who Lagree is for

Almost everyone, honestly. Because it's low-impact, Lagree suits people rehabbing from years of running or lifting, and because intensity comes from tension and time rather than load, it scales from first-timer to athlete on the same machine — the springs and your pace do the adjusting. If you're brand new, tell your instructor. They'll set your springs, watch your form, and give you every modification you need.

If you're comparing it to pilates — a fair question, since the machines look related — we wrote a whole guide on that: Lagree vs. pilates: what's actually different.

Try it in Roseville

Sacred Studios runs Lagree reformer classes daily in our Bali-inspired room on Blue Oaks Blvd — alongside hot yoga, hot pilates, and a lymphatic recovery lounge. New students get two weeks of unlimited classes for $89, credited toward your first month.

Book your first Lagree class

Common Questions

Is Lagree good for beginners?

Yes. The Megaformer scales through spring tension and pace, so beginners and athletes train side by side. Arrive ten minutes early for your first class and the instructor will walk you through the machine.

Is Lagree cardio or strength?

Primarily strength — slow resistance training under constant tension — but the lack of rest keeps your heart rate elevated, so most people find it covers meaningful cardio ground too.

How often should I do Lagree?

Most students land at 3–4 sessions a week with recovery days between. Because it's low-impact, it pairs well with yoga or a recovery-lounge session on off days.