Lagree vs Pilates

lagree vs reformer pilates — what's actually different

if you've found your way here, you're probably already a pilates girlie (or guy) wondering what the lagree fuss is about. or maybe someone told you lagree is just pilates on a different machine and you wanted to check for yourself.

so let's clear it up.

they come from completely different origins

reformer pilates was developed by joseph pilates in the early 20th century, originally to rehabilitate injured soldiers during world war one. the method was built around controlled movement, breath, and restoring function to bodies that had been through a lot. those foundational principles of careful, intentional, therapeutic, remains the classical pilates brand today.

lagree was created decades later by sebastien lagree, a bodybuilder and trainer who wanted to build a method that delivered serious strength results without the inflammation or joint load of traditional weight training.

where pilates rehabilitates, lagree was designed to challenge. the two methods were never trying to do the same thing.

what each one actually does to your body

pilates is low impact, low to medium effort: longer in range of movement, and prioritises flexibility, mobility, and postural alignment. it's the kind of training your body can handle most days of the week as recovery is gentler, and the cumulative effect builds over time.

lagree is strength and endurance training. the megaformer creates constant tension through slow, controlled movements that keep muscles under a greater load for extended periods. with heavier resistance and slower movements, you’ll find delayed onset muscle soreness appears more regularly in your lagree training life - your muscles need more time to recover, which is why two to three classes a week is what you’ll hear called the sweet spot rather than daily sessions.

one is not harder than the other. they're just asking different things of your body.

both methods are still evolving. pilates has transformed culturally, you’ve no doubt seen the classical vs contemporary wars online.

lagree is a live method, actively updated by sebastien lagree as research, practices and new machines are developeed.

curious about adding lagree to the mix?

if you're already doing pilates and want to see what lagree actually feels like, our intro offer is the lowest-pressure way to find out — two classes in woolloongabba to try it properly before you decide anything.

you'll probably be sore, but isn’t that just the best feeling.