Updated on July 8, 2026
"Can I keep doing Lagree while pregnant?"
It is one of the most common questions we hear from expecting clients at Lagree Fit 415, and the answer is: yes, in most cases, with the right modifications and your doctor's clearance.
This guide is designed to walk you through what to expect at each stage of pregnancy, how the Megaformer can be adapted to your changing body, and how to return to training safely after delivery. It is not medical advice. Every pregnancy is different, and you should always consult your OB-GYN before continuing or modifying your fitness routine during pregnancy. What we can offer is what we know from years of supporting pregnant and postpartum clients in our studio.
Think of this as a practical, empowering resource, not a set of rules. Your body knows more than any article can tell you. We are here to help you move through pregnancy feeling strong, supported, and confident.
Why Staying Active During Pregnancy Matters
Exercise during pregnancy is not just safe for most women. It is genuinely beneficial for both mother and baby.
Staying active helps maintain muscular strength, which matters more than most people realize during pregnancy. Strong glutes, a stable core, and an open, mobile upper back reduce the strain that a growing belly places on the spine and pelvis. Many clients find that consistent movement significantly reduces back pain and pelvic pressure as their pregnancy progresses.
Beyond the physical, exercise supports mood, energy levels, and sleep quality during a time when all three can feel unpredictable. There is also growing evidence that staying active during pregnancy may support easier labor and contribute to a faster postpartum recovery.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week for women with healthy pregnancies. Lagree, with its low-impact format and fully modifiable structure, fits naturally within those guidelines.
One more reason Lagree is particularly well-suited for pregnancy: the method specifically targets the core, glutes, and stabilizing muscles that are most taxed as the body changes. Maintaining strength in these areas supports posture, reduces discomfort, and builds the physical resilience you will draw on during labor and recovery.
Is Lagree Safe During Pregnancy?
For existing Lagree clients with healthy pregnancies and doctor approval, yes. Lagree can be a safe and effective workout throughout pregnancy when properly modified.
One important distinction: we do not recommend beginning Lagree for the first time during pregnancy. The Megaformer has a learning curve, and adding that complexity to the physical and hormonal changes of pregnancy is unnecessary stress. If you are already a regular Lagree client, you have the body awareness and machine familiarity to modify safely. If you are new to Lagree, pregnancy is not the right time to start. We look forward to welcoming you after you have been cleared postpartum.
For current clients, the Megaformer is uniquely adaptable. Spring resistance can be increased or decreased, positions can be shifted, and exercises can be swapped entirely. No two trimesters look the same, and your workouts should evolve with your body.
The single most important thing you can do before every class is tell your instructor you are pregnant. They can monitor your form, suggest modifications in real time, and keep you safe and productive throughout the session. You should never have to figure this out alone on the machine.
As always, consult your physician or other health care professional before continuing Lagree or any fitness program during pregnancy to determine if it is right for your individual situation. Do not practice Lagree if your provider advises against it.
First Trimester: What to Expect
The first trimester often brings fatigue, nausea, and a body that feels unfamiliar even if little has changed on the outside. Attendance may dip, and that is completely appropriate.
From a movement standpoint, most Lagree exercises remain accessible in the first trimester with minimal modification. The bigger adjustments come in how you listen and respond. If something does not feel right, stop. If your energy is low, reduce intensity. If you feel overheated, rest.
A few practical guidelines for the first trimester:
- Avoid letting your heart rate climb too high. You should be able to speak in short sentences throughout class.
- Stay well hydrated before, during, and after class.
- Avoid overheating. Lagree generates internal heat even without feeling drenched, so be attentive.
- Begin building the habit of communicating with your instructor before every session. The earlier you establish that openness, the easier modifications become as your pregnancy progresses.
The first trimester is also a good time to start identifying which exercises feel good and which create pressure or discomfort. That body awareness will serve you well in the months ahead.
Second Trimester: Staying Active as Your Body Changes
For many pregnant clients, the second trimester brings a return of energy and a renewed ability to train consistently. It is often the most active phase of pregnancy.
It is also when modifications become more intentional. As the belly grows, supine positions (lying flat on your back) are no longer recommended after 18 to 20 weeks. When you lie on your back, the uterus can compress the vena cava, the major vein that returns blood to the heart, which can reduce circulation for both you and the baby. Your instructor will help you navigate around these positions.
The focus during the second trimester shifts toward:
- Glutes and posterior chain: Safe to work throughout; essential for back support as the belly pulls the body forward.
- Upper back and posture: Helps counteract the forward rounding that naturally increases during pregnancy.
- Core stability without compression: Deep stabilizing work is appropriate; crunching movements and breath-holding are not.
- Balance support: As your center of gravity begins to shift, use the Megaformer pole for support during standing leg exercises. It is there for exactly this reason.
This is also a good trimester to have a direct conversation with your instructor about your plan for the weeks ahead. Modifications in the third trimester are more significant, and going in with a shared understanding makes the transition smoother.
Third Trimester: Movement with Intention
By the third trimester, your center of gravity has shifted, your joints and ligaments are loosening in preparation for delivery, and certain movements that were manageable earlier may no longer feel right. This is not a setback. It is your body doing exactly what it is designed to do.
Movement in the third trimester is about maintaining what you have built, staying connected to your body, and continuing to prepare for labor and recovery. Intensity takes a back seat to intention.
Exercises to avoid in the third trimester:
- Megaformer crunches: Load the rectus abdominis directly and can increase the risk of diastasis recti, a separation of the abdominal muscles that is harder to recover from postpartum.
- Angel crunches: Similarly stress the front of the abdominal wall in a way that is not appropriate at this stage.
- Leg circles: Involve supine positioning that is not recommended after 18 to 20 weeks.
- Giant wheelbarrows: Place excessive load and compression through the core and are not appropriate during later pregnancy.
- Swimmers: A prone (face-down) position that becomes uncomfortable and potentially harmful as the belly grows.
Beyond avoiding specific exercises, limit your range of motion in lunges and inner thigh work. Relaxin, the hormone that helps the body prepare for birth, is increasing throughout the third trimester and makes joints and ligaments more vulnerable to overstretching. Controlled, conservative ranges of motion protect you.
Megaformer Modifications for Pregnant Clients
The Megaformer is one of the most modifiable pieces of fitness equipment available, and this is one of the most important things to understand about Lagree during pregnancy. You do not have to sit out. You have to adapt.
Here is how we modify for pregnant clients at Lagree Fit 415:
Move to the front of the machine. Exercises at the back of the Megaformer tend to create more instability and load. Shifting exercises to the front of the carriage reduces that demand and keeps your positioning more stable as your belly grows.
Use 2 to 3 yellow springs. Yellow springs provide the lightest resistance on the Megaformer. Using them in combination gives you support without strain, allowing you to move safely and comfortably throughout pregnancy.
Come to your knees. Many plank-based and core exercises can be modified to a kneeling position. This reduces abdominal compression, keeps your spine more neutral, and allows you to stay engaged without overloading the core.
Use the pole for balance. Standing leg exercises become more challenging as your center of gravity shifts. Holding the pole is not a concession. It is a smart modification that keeps the exercise productive and keeps you safe.
Substitute upper body and leg work for abdominal routines. When core exercises are not appropriate, your instructor can guide you toward upper body or lower body movements that keep the session efficient and productive. You do not lose the workout. You redirect it.
Tell your instructor before every class. Modifications change week to week during pregnancy. What worked at 20 weeks may need to be adjusted at 28 weeks. An ongoing, honest conversation with your instructor is the most important modification of all.
Postpartum Return to Lagree
Returning to Lagree after delivery is an exciting milestone, and it deserves the same care and intention you brought to training during pregnancy.
Wait for doctor clearance. For vaginal deliveries, clearance is typically given around 6 weeks postpartum. For cesarean deliveries, recovery takes longer, often 8 to 12 weeks or more. However, the calendar is only part of the picture. Pelvic floor readiness matters as much as, and often more than, the number of weeks since delivery. A pelvic floor physical therapist can assess your readiness in a way that a standard postpartum check may not. If you have the opportunity to work with one before returning to Lagree, we strongly recommend it.
Start gradually. Your first few classes back are not the time to push intensity. Reduce spring resistance, take modifications, and be fully transparent with your instructor about where you are in your recovery. The goal is to rebuild, not to prove anything.
Why Lagree is ideal for postpartum return. The low-impact, spring-based format means you can challenge your muscles without high-impact loading that could strain a recovering pelvic floor. The slow tempo allows you to monitor how your body is responding in real time. And the scalable intensity means you can increase gradually as your strength and stability return.
Approach abdominal work with care. Diastasis recti, a separation of the rectus abdominis muscles, is common after pregnancy and requires thoughtful progression before loading the front of the core directly. Deep abdominal work and breathing-based core activation come first. Your instructor can guide you on when to progress, but this is another area where a pelvic floor specialist's input is invaluable.
For a deeper look at postpartum recovery and returning to fitness, visit our postpartum fitness tips page.
Your Pregnancy Journey at Lagree Fit 415
Lagree can be a safe, effective, and deeply supportive part of your pregnancy for existing clients who have their doctor's clearance and are committed to modifying intelligently. The format, the instructors, and the community at Lagree Fit 415 are well-suited to meeting you where you are, whatever trimester you are in.
You do not have to stop moving. You just have to move differently, and we are here to help you do that well.
Expecting or newly postpartum? Reach out to our team at info@lagreefit415.com or book a class. Our instructors will meet you where you are, every step of the way.
Please consult your physician or other health care professional before continuing Lagree Fitness or any other fitness program during pregnancy to determine if it is right for your individual needs. Do not practice Lagree if your physician or health care provider advises against it during pregnancy.
