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Tag: Lagree

Information and details on the Lagree Method and how it is applied to fitness at Higher Terrain.

Get Ski Fit with Lagree

Winter is in the air, and the ski lifts are about to open in Aspen. “Lagree is one of the best ways to strengthen your lower body, and work on functional strength and endurance,”says studio owner and physical therapist Jen Metcalf. “Keeping your quads, hamstrings, and gluts strong will help protect your joints, and reduce wear and tear during your outdoor sport activities, whether skiing, skinning, or hitting the nordic trails.”

Lagree Exercise | Runners Lunge

Lagree’s Runners Lunge is a great way to work the endurance of your quads in preparation for carving ski turns, and pushing through powder. Be sure to keep the front knee aligned directly over the ankle, and the back knee behind your hip.

Pro Tip: Place your fingertips on the high bars of your Megaformer™ to maintain the depth of the bend in your front knee. Join us for a Lagree class in Aspen

Lagree Exercise Break Down : Single Leg Squat

Form and alignment is key when you’re in a Lagree class at Higher Terrain. Follow these tips to get the most out of your workout on the Megaformer™!

The Single Leg Squat is a Lagree move that targets the gluts, hamstrings, and quads of the moving leg. It can be performed on the front or back of the Megaformer™.

Form Check:

  1. Be sure to sit your hips back to keep your knee stacked right over the ankle of the moving leg.
  2. Keep your chest lifted, and take a full pause at the bottom of the squat.
  3. Focus on pressing down through your heel to fire up those gluts.
  4. Point the toes of foot that’s on the carriage to remind yourself to stay light on the foot.
  5. Go slow to maximize muscle recruitment and get more out of each repetition.

See you soon at the studio!

Love, and Planks

Higher Terrain studio

Instructor Spotlight: Jen Metcalf

Higher Terrain studio owner Jen Metcalf, a Miami native, was brought to Aspen as a physical therapist and quickly became addicted to the healthy lifestyle in Colorado. When not in the studios she can be found spending time with her 2 kids, hiking, running, and skinning in the mountains.

 

What inspired you to open Higher Terrain studio?

I wanted to open a Pilates studio that offers workouts that are both challenging, and form focused. Pilates, and Lagree are both amazing methods that can practiced in compliment to all the outdoors sport we do here in Aspen whether you’re looking for a workout, or rehabbing an injury.

 

How many times a week do you get to practice on the Megaformer?

I try to make Pilates or Lagree a part of my weekly exercise regimen. With 2 busy studios, it doesn’t always happen but I try to spend at least 2-3 workouts a week on the Megaformer. It’s such an efficient way to maintain core strength, and you can get an amazing workout in a short amount of time!

 

Where’s your favorite spot to grab a pre/post Pilates snack?

I love to grab a smoothie from Spring Cafe, or a Turmeric shot or protein ball at Jus Cafe!

 

What’s your favorite method to teach, Pilates or Lagree?

Both! I was a personal trainer before being introduced to Pilates, and I find it really inspiring to create contemporary, athletic classes on the Pilates Reformer where you can get a great workout, but have the support of the Pilates equipment. Lagree is equally fun to teach, and is so different to Pilates. Any legit Pilates studio, or certified instructor wouldn’t confuse the two methods. I generally teach Lagree to my clients who are looking for that intense workout, that leaves your muscles shaking that you can only get on the Megaformer!

3 at-home Lagree Moves to Stay Strong

Everyone dreads that first Lagree class after being out of town, and missing your regular Megaformer workouts. Stay Lagree fit while hitting the road this summer with these 3 Lagree Moves you can do anywhere!

Equipment: sliders ( or even a dish towel or paper plates! )

  1. Bear – Get into a plank, with sliders under your feet. Slowly draw your knees under you hips, and extend back into a plank. Perform for 1 minute!
  2. Single Leg Squat – Stand with slider under your right foot. Bend your left leg, and slide the right leg out to the slide keeping that leg straight. Push down through your left leg in order to stand up. Perform for 1 minute !
  3. Single Sided Bear – Get into a plank position, with one slider under both feet, bend your knees and aim them toward one elbow, perform 30 seconds on one side, then switch!

We look forward to seeing you in a Lagree class in Aspen soon!

Love, and Planks!

 

Anatomy of the Megaformer™

You’ll hear the terms carriage, front platform, back platform, as well as others as your Lagree instructor runs you through class, but with the focus on quick transitions in our Lagree classes it can get confusing on where you’re headed on the Megaformer. Follow these tips to be able to breeze through moving from one end of the Megaformer to the other like a pro!

  1. The FRONT platform is on the opposite side of the springs.
  2. The BACK platform faces the springs.
  3. There are 2 sets of cables, RED and BLACK.
  4. The CARRIAGE is the moving part of your Megaformer, and where you make changes to your springs. Tip: It is always easier to transition from the front to the back of your machine while staying on the carriage.
  5. There are 2 sets of RAILS, one on either side of the carriage, and one set on the back platform. Your rails allow you to create a stable grip with a neutral wrist position.
  6. There are 3 sets of GRENADE handles, one on the front, and 2 on the back platform. Your grenades again allow you to create a stable grip with minimal compression on your wrists.

We look forward to seeing you on the Megaformer in Aspen!

Love, and Planks!

Higher Terrain studio

What is the Lagree Method?

The Lagree Method is revolutionizing the world of fitness! It’s a dynamic fitness and training method that combines the benefits of Pilates, functional training, and cardio into one high intensity, low impact workout. It is designed to create overall muscle balance by developing both core strength and by training weaker muscles, resulting in improved tone, balance and fitness.

Similar to Pilates, the Lagree method works to strengthen and lengthen muscles with less stress on the joints and tendons, thereby creating more muscular endurance and strength. The Lagree method uses specialized equipment like the Pilates Reformer and MegaformerTM machines.

Let’s get into the details…

The Lagree Method is a high intensity, low impact, full-body workout method performed on a uniquely effective, spring-loaded, momentum free machine called the Megaformer. The basic design of the Megaformer™ was inspired by the Pilates Reformer but features a few more bells and whistles, allowing for a much more intense workout than in a traditional Pilates class.

The Lagree Method exercises combine strength, cardio, flexibility, and balance into one of the most efficient, and low impact workouts in the fitness industry. Higher Terrain is a licensed Lagree Method studio and is the only studio in Aspen, Colorado offering the Megaformer™ workout.

High-Intensity, Low-Impact Workouts

We use the term ‘high intensity, low impact workouts’ often because this is, fundamentally, the basis for both the Lagree method and traditional Pilates. The Lagree Method, with its use of the megaformer, offers intense exercise with low joint stress by using adjustable resistance and springs that enable users to control their workout while minimizing overall joint pressure.

A Megaformer™ is a machine designed to help you get an intense full-body workout. It utilizes the Lagree Method, a unique and highly effective fitness system developed by Sebastien Lagree. The Megaformer is a low-impact machine and is suitable for virtually any fitness level.

During a Lagree class, you will use your body weight to move through a wide range of exercises and poses. You’ll alternate between short bursts of intense exertion and gentle recovery periods, activating different muscles within the targeted group. Each move is designed to sculpt your body and challenge your stability.

This combination of dynamic and static movements intensifies the effectiveness of your workout to help you achieve optimal results. A typical Lagree Method class will have you move through a sequence of about 30-60 different exercises that are customized to meet your specific fitness goals.

The combination of dynamic exercises, slow and controlled transitions, and isometric holds create a sweat- fueled, intense workout that uses strength training and cardio elements to really burn calories.

The Benefits of the Lagree Method

Engaging in this effective and time-saving workout offers a wide range of benefits. The Lagree Method effectively targets multiple muscle groups simultaneously, making it a highly efficient workout. With each exercise, participants engage their core, arms, legs, and back, working toward improving overall strength and muscle tone, getting a full body workout in one session.

The stretching and lengthening movements incorporated into the workout also help improve overall flexibility, leading to increased range of motion and improved posture, both of which directly impact each individual’s natural biomechanics. The result is greater balance and control, and reduced risk of injury from improper motion or mechanics.

Again, like Pilates, the Lagree method is suitable for beginners and experts alike. For those that are new structured fitness regimes, both offer excellent ways to develop strength and muscle control while placing minimal pressure on the joints.

For this reason, the Lagree method is also very effective as a complementary regime to other forms of exercise that may be more impact related, like running, strength training, skiing, etc.

In both cases, the Lagree method is a great solution for those looking for a balanced, effective workout that provides visible results.

Overall, the Lagree Method and the Megaformer machine offer a great way to get an effective, full-body workout with minimal impact on the joints and muscles.

Try it out and experience the amazing benefits for yourself!

What is the difference between our Pilates and Lagree classes?

Our Lagree Method class is performed on a Megaformer, and is a perfect fit for clients who love Pilates, but wish it was a more challenging workout. A Lagree workout is a high-intensity, full body workout, many of the exercises are performed standing on the Megaformer, and utilize multiple muscle groups within one exercise. Expect to shake, and work hard in a Lagree class!

Our Pilates Reformer | Classic class is a low impact, full body workout that uses deliberate, controlled movements to target core, and postural muscles. This class focuses on smaller muscles, and breathe to provide a workout that will sculpt, and tone, as well as improve flexibility.

Click to learn more about the difference between Lagree and Pilates.