Conquering the Reformer Machine at Core40 {Workout Review}

I was shaking like a leaf, watching beads of sweat drip off my forehead and onto the floor below me as I attempted to hold my last plank move of the class and finish my workout strong. It was a spinning + strength training combo workout at Core40 in nearby Solana Beach, and boy, was it a tough one.

My friends, say hello to the Lagree “Superformer” machine, and the latest workout to kick my ass.

I was first introduced to Core40 studios when my friend Tiffany became certified in the Lagree method earlier this year. She gave birth to an adorable little boy this past March, and when I asked her how her body had not only bounced back from pregnancy, but looked even more toned than before, she told me that Lagree was one of the major reasons. Tiffany and I have done a variety of workouts together, and she’s into healthy living too. When she talked about Lagree, she would describe it as being really challenging…. and about 5 minutes into my first class, I was experiencing exactly what she meant.

Developed by Sebastein Lagree, the fitness method is described as a “fusion of many of the core-focused fundamentals of traditional Pilates, blended with circuit training, strength training and cardio, all performed on revolutionary, state-of-the-art equipment.” Core40 is all about time efficient and total body workouts. The classes focus on slow, controlled exercises and constant movement – meaning there are no water breaks involved, and no time to rest your muscles during the classes unless you really need to. The lack of breaks is part of what makes it such a challenge workout.

After enjoying (well….it’s definitely a love/hate thing) several community classes of Tiffany’s as she began teaching, I noticed that Core40 was participating in ClassPass. I did an intro blog post on ClassPass here and will be doing a full recap of my experience with it over the past month, but Core40 has definitely been one of my favorite participating studios.

(via Core40’s website)

Not only do you do a million reps of lunges, cable arm exercises, and plank exercises, but one of the techniques used in Lagree is to hold the move at the end, as well as pulse it out – which is when you really want to scream out in glorious, muscle throbbing pain.

Now having taken classes with several different instructors, what I’ve found is that while all of the workouts have been total-body working, each instructor gives it their own spin. Some instructors focus more on legs than others. Some do more planks than others. But no matter who the teacher or what the style of the class, all of them have been great workouts.

 

After the first class my obliques were killing me, after the second my shoulders and back were sore. After my most recent class, which the owner Dean taught and was the class that I found to be the most challenging, I surprisingly wasn’t sore at all. While my form still needs some practice, maybe my body is getting the hang of Core40 workouts.

So I feel that maybe this post title is somewhat misleading, as I’m not sure that I’ve exactly ‘conquered’ the Lagree Superformer during my time at Core40, but I’m sure as hell trying to – one crazy plank move at a time.

Full Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post, and I was not in any way compensated for this review. I just wanted to share my Core40 experience with you guys! 

*PS – The winner of my Puritan’s Pride giveaway has been chosen & emailed. Thanks to everyone who entered!*