Lagree vs Reformer Pilates: Which Should You Choose?
Lagree and reformer Pilates look similar but train differently. Compare intensity, equipment, and cost, then pick the right workout in North Hollywood.
By Naira Sarkian, owner of Bodies and Pilates · · 3 min read
If you live in the Valley and you are shopping for a machine-based workout, you have probably run into two names: Lagree and reformer Pilates. They look alike from across the room. Springs, a sliding carriage, a workout that leaves your muscles shaking. But they are different methods with different goals, and picking the right one depends on what you want out of your fifty minutes.
This is an honest comparison. Both are legitimate, low-impact workouts, and both have devoted followings for good reason.
What Lagree actually is
Lagree is a high-intensity, low-impact method taught on its own machine. Class length and format vary by studio, but the method is built around slow, continuous muscular endurance work, and the burn builds fast.
People who love Lagree usually describe it the same way: it is the hardest workout they do, and they feel it for days. If your goal is maximum muscular fatigue in minimum time, Lagree is engineered for exactly that.
What reformer Pilates actually is
Reformer Pilates is the equipment-based branch of the Pilates method, created by Joseph Pilates nearly a century ago. Classes at Bodies and Pilates run 50 minutes and combine controlled strength work with mobility, flexibility, and balance training. The emphasis is on form: how you move matters as much as how hard you work.
A reformer class moves through deliberate sequences. You will do strength work, yes, but you will also stretch, stabilize, and practice coordination. The instructor coaches your alignment throughout, which is why our classes are capped at 7. (If you have a medical condition, check with your doctor before starting any new workout.)
How they feel different in practice
The simplest way to put it: Lagree feels like a challenge to survive, reformer Pilates feels like a practice to refine. Lagree keeps the intensity dial turned up for the whole class. Reformer Pilates varies the dial, mixing effort with precision work and active recovery.
Neither is "easier." A well-taught reformer class will humble an athlete. But the experience is different, and most people have a clear preference after trying both.
Cost and commitment
Both methods sit in the boutique fitness price range. At Bodies and Pilates, pricing is published: your first class is $25, a one-week unlimited intro is $105, and memberships start at $130 per month. You can see the full menu before you ever walk in.
Which should you choose?
Choose Lagree if you want the most intense class you can find, you already have a fitness base, and you thrive on being pushed to muscular failure.
Choose reformer Pilates if you are new to machine-based workouts, you want strength plus flexibility and posture work, you are returning to exercise after time off or injury, or you simply prefer coaching on form over pure intensity.
Many people end up doing both at different points. There is no wrong answer, only the workout you will actually keep showing up for.
Trying both before you decide
If you are genuinely torn, do one class of each before committing to anything. Most studios, including ours, offer a first-class deal precisely for this. When you trial, notice three things: which room you wanted to return to, which soreness felt productive rather than punishing, and which instructor made you feel coached rather than herded. Those three signals predict long-term consistency better than any pros-and-cons list.
One practical note: take the beginner option wherever it exists. Both methods have real technique, and a foundations class teaches you the vocabulary the regular classes assume. You will get more out of every session that follows.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between Lagree and reformer Pilates?
- The simplest way to put it: Lagree feels like a challenge to survive, reformer Pilates feels like a practice to refine. Lagree keeps the intensity dial turned up for the whole class. Reformer Pilates varies the dial, mixing effort with precision work and active recovery.
- Should I choose Lagree or reformer Pilates?
- Choose Lagree if you want the most intense class you can find, you already have a fitness base, and you thrive on being pushed to muscular failure. Choose reformer Pilates if you are new to machine-based workouts, you want strength plus flexibility and posture work, you are returning to exercise after time off or injury, or you simply prefer coaching on form over pure intensity.