We’re sure you’ve heard of it…because this is LA…and in a city of workout enthusiasts, Lagree Fitness is a method not to be missed. Invented by a legendary fitness pro, and founded on the five components of physical fitness: endurance, cardiovascular fitness, body composition, flexibility, and strength, Lagree Fitness is a routine that will push you to the limits and get the results you want. Now it’s going to be even easier for any Angeleno to experience Lagree fitness IRL because LA just opened up Motivate where you can get your major sweat on. We got a sneak peek inside LA’s brand new studio and caught up with Motivate founder & CEO Cereza Richeson before taking one of its transformational classes in Hollywood. She spoke about the Lagree Method, her impressive teaching background, and what’s next for Motivate. Get ready to be inspired to sign up!
SO…What is Lagree Fitness?
Here’s the gist. The official website of Lagree Fitness, says the workout is a “high intensity, low-impact, full body workout that will strengthen, tighten, and tone your muscles quickly and safely.” The method was founded by Sebastien Lagree, and uses a Megaformer machine to perform isometric movements to strengthen muscles. People often compare it to pilates, but we just found out that the two are very different workouts. Cereza explained that “pilates focuses on core strength, while Lagree works multiple muscles to give you a toned, lean look.” The Lagree fitness method doesn’t lie. Just look at the bod of the celebrities who love Lagree. They include Kim Kardashian, Sofia Vergara, Jennifer Aniston, Meghan Markle, and Michelle Obama. So if you decide to give Lagree fitness a try, you’ll be in good company.
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- Motivate founder & CEO Cereza Richeson
Cereza also mentioned that there is less break time between exercises in Lagree than in pilates. Let’s just say we felt the difference. At Motivate – the class we took truly required more endurance than pilates, and we felt our tiny iso muscles feeling the burn. But, most importantly, Motivate’s friendly environment, professional staff, and exhilarating classes will make ya keep coming back. Cereza takes pride in what she does, and she still loves Lagree fitness even after taking it for so many years.
All About Motivate
Cereza told us that she never really exercised before she started Lagree (totally relatable!). She wanted to be able to keep up with her kids after giving birth to her third child, so she tried a Lagree fitness class and fell in love. Here’s where Motivate comes in. Originally, Cereza and her husband were in the construction business, but the recession left her needing to find new work. She loved Lagree fitness so much, and wanted “…a community where everyone could feel welcome and fit in, no matter what fitness level they were at.” Thus, Motivate was born! There are 9 studios here in California – the newest in Highland Park – and 1 in Georgia. And let’s just say if you take a class, you may be sweating next to a star! Yup – celebs love Motivate too! Stars like Finneas, Ali Landry, and Courtney Lopez have tried Motivate.
When asked if she had any words of encouragement for anyone looking to take a Lagree fitness class for the first time, Cereza said that “no matter whether it’s your 5th or 500th workout everyone struggles, and the workouts evolve with you, so don’t get discouraged!” We loved that Cereza also tells her trainers to focus on the health and mental benefits of the workout. Her staff won’t encourage students to “do it for tank top season.” Instead, they’ll remind you to do it for your mind and body, and to feel good. Our instructor Courtney did a great job of this during the class we took. Her positivity kept us going. Cereza also mentioned that there’s no specific amount of times to take class per week – that’s entirely personal. Everyone works out for different reasons, whether it’s to see physical results, or just to get out of the house and feel the mental benefits.
The Class
We took a Lagree fitness class at Motivate ‘s Hollywood location, and we were sold! It was a super intense 45 minutes of class, but our muscles felt the good kind of sore the next morning. Our instructor Courtney was entertaining and encouraging – she made the exercises easy to understand. First timers were well taken care of too! We were shown how to use the Megaformer, and were given extra attention if we needed to get the hang of an exercise. The Megaformer can be so intimidating at first try, but Courtney reminded us to “treat it like a first date,” where you feel it out the first couple times and then get more used to it as you go. The studio and equipment were very clean. And the Hollywood location has parking, which is a huge bonus! Motivate also has a wide range of classes that can fit into mostly anyone’s schedule. Pro-Tip: Bring a ton of water to hydrate before and after class & a towel. The sweat that will be dripping off you is no joke.
We also love that they have a variety of class packages to suit your schedule and budget. First timers score a huge deal – only $18 a class and it includes a pair of grip socks (which are needed for every workout). But if you come back, single classes are $36, but there are also class packs and monthly memberships available for avid students.
We can’t say enough great things about Cereza Richeson and Motivate ! We hope you’ll love Lagree fitness after reading this and maybe want to try a Motivate class just like us. And if ya need a pick-me-up after your workout, here are the best places to grab a smoothie in LA!
