Introducing the Lagree Shake — A Shake So Good, It's Unlike Anything You've Felt Before
It only takes one Lagree class to know what we’re talking about when we refer to the “Lagree Shake.” But if you haven’t tried a Lagree class yet, consider this your warning. Don’t worry — the Lagree shake is definitely a good thing. And hopefully, this heads-up takes away a bit of the shock factor for you.
Knowing what to expect, you will not be blindsided during your first class as your body begins to tremble on the Megaformer suddenly.
Now let’s look at why your muscles shake in Lagree and why you should befriend these Lagree shakes. They aren’t the enemy — even though they’re bound to make you feel that way in the moment.
What Is the Lagree Shake?
This unique shake has been deemed the “Lagree Shake” because it’s unlike any shake you have ever experienced. Sure, you’ve experienced muscle fatigue or even shakiness during a workout. But the Lagree Shake is on a whole other level and in a league of its own.
Depending on the particular move being executed, the Lagree Shake is deep quivering of the targeted muscles. It’s almost like an out-of-body experience in that you have no control over it.
This shake isn’t a bad thing — it doesn’t mean you’re weak. The intense trembling of your muscles is a sign that they’re becoming fatigued. According to Jacque Crockford, an exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise, the shake occurs because the muscle contraction is interrupted. This is due to a lack of sufficient energy available to keep your nerves firing uninterrupted signals to your muscles1.
Reasons You Don’t Shake During Other Workouts
The reason you don’t shake during other workouts the way that you do in a Lagree class is due to the nature of the Lagree method. Lagree has a unique approach when it comes to engaging and sculpting your muscles. Other high-intensity workouts, such as spin classes and HIIT bootcamps, for instance, don’t utilize the time-under-tension technique.
With Lagree, your muscles are stretched and contracted for an extended time. The exercises are done in a slow, controlled way, which activates the Type 1 muscle fiber, or your slow-twitch muscle fibers2. These are the muscle fibers ultimately creating that Lagree Shake.
In other workouts, typically, your muscles have time to rest, they are given breaks. Whether it’s 30 seconds or two minutes, your muscles aren’t continuously contracted like they are in a Lagree class. On the Megaformer, your muscles are pushed to their limit, in the best possible way.
While Lagree focuses on slow movements, the transition times are uber-fast, which means no rest periods for your muscles. There aren’t any breaks or rests factored into a Lagree class. Of course, this doesn't mean you can’t or shouldn’t take them when your body signals you to. But keep in mind that the Lagree Shake isn’t your body signaling you to take a break. In fact, it’s the opposite. Whenever physically possible, it’s best to work through the shake and the burn.
I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “No pain, no gain.” This is often used in the fitness world to emphasize that you’re not making progress if you’re not experiencing pain. Whether that’s the struggle during your workout or the muscle soreness you experience post-workout. This isn’t an accurate statement, but there is a bit of truth to it.
While you can absolutely benefit from a workout that doesn’t make you feel like you might die or that prevents you from moving about normally the next day with no pain, your benefits aren’t going to be as great. If you don’t challenge your body and your muscles to push past your comfort zone, your results aren’t going to be anywhere near what they could be.
That’s why we urge you to get to the point of the Lagree Shake. And honestly, if you follow the guidance of your certified Lagree instructor and stay in the moves rather than resorting to taking rests and breaks constantly, the Lagree Shake is going to be pretty much inevitable.
Why You Should Embrace the Shake
We want to remind you not to fear the shake, but embrace it. Welcome it with open arms! If you experience the Lagree Shake, and you definitely will, at least when you’re starting your Lagree journey, that means you are doing something right.
Pushing through the shake while maintaining proper form is vital in creating effective changes in your body. Embrace the shake and push through the burn because this will create the change you’re aiming for. Whether you want to build muscle, lose inches off your waistline, lose weight, increase your muscular endurance, or whatever your fitness goal may be, embracing the Lagree Shake will assist you in achieving it much more quickly.
According to Sebastien Lagree, the creator of Lagree, the longer you’re able to stay in the effective muscle stimulation phase, the more micro tears will occur in the muscle, which is what helps you strengthen and tone those muscles.
Think about the Lagree Shake like this — the more you often shake, the more progress you make.
Make this your goal. Make your muscles work so hard to the point that the Lagree shake cannot be avoided.
The awesome thing about the shake is that even the most advanced Lagree-goers still experience it. But as you become more skilled and experienced with the Lagree method, there is a chance the intensity of your shake will start dwindling. We challenge you always to continue to aim for the Lagree Shake during your workout.
Here are five things you can do to find the Lagree Shake:
- Slow down — move at an even slower pace
- Get lower — try going deeper and dropping down another inch in that lunge
- Focus on targeting the muscle you’re working and squeeze it tighter
- Check your form — often take a glance at the mirror during class
- Add or remove a spring — adjust the resistance levels
Time to Hop on the Lagree Megaformer and Make Your Muscles Shake
After all this talk about the Lagree Shake, you simply must go experience it for yourself now. If you’ve been looking for a highly-effective, dynamic workout that will transform your body, you’ve arrived at your destination. Get ready to shake and sign up for your first Lagree Fit 415 class!
Sources:
1 Why Those Micro-Movements in Barre and Pilates Classes Burn Like Hell
