Lagree has become known for its slow, controlled movements, deep muscle engagement and challenging workouts, but for the members at NOTION Lagree in Lee’s Summit, the experience goes far beyond what happens on the Megaformer.
The Lagree Method is a high-intensity, low-impact workout designed to build strength, muscular endurance, balance and stability. Unlike traditional Pilates, which developed from a rehabilitation background, Lagree was created with strength and weight training in mind. The method uses a specialized machine called a Megaformer, which features a moving carriage, adjustable springs and stable platforms to create resistance and instability.
At NOTION, classes are approximately 45 to 50 minutes and provide a full-body workout, with movements designed to challenge the lower body, upper body and core. The slow pace does not mean the workout is easy. Instead, continuous muscle tension, resistance and limited rest keep the body working throughout class.
For members, that challenge is part of the appeal.
When Brooke Cuddy heard that NOTION was opening in Lee’s Summit, she was excited to return to a workout she had enjoyed at another Lagree studio. The previous location had been too far from home, but she already knew she loved the method.
“I was ready for the challenge on the Mega and I was hoping for a body transformation like everyone on the internet was saying,” Cuddy says. “And boy did I get that!”
Cuddy joined as a founding member and quickly found that the experience was about more than physical results. She says she is more toned than she has ever been, but one of her favorite parts of NOTION is that she actually looks forward to exercising.
“I actually get excited to go workout,” she says. “It’s more than just a place to come workout at. It’s become a community for me and I’ve made true friendships there.”
That sense of community is something NOTION emphasizes. While the Megaformer is central to the workout, instructors guide members through movements and modifications so people with different fitness levels can participate in the same class. Spring resistance, positioning and exercise variations can make movements more accessible to a beginner or more challenging for an experienced member.
For Mary Wells, that adaptability was especially important when she first walked through the doors. She was experiencing knee pain after previous workouts and was looking for something that would not aggravate her knees.
“Turns out, it was the best decision ever!” Wells says. “I was so excited after my first Lagree class that my knees did not hurt at all!”
Wells continued attending classes at least three times a week and says she has seen significant improvements in her strength, flexibility and overall health. She has also lost more than 65 pounds, which she credits in large part to her consistency with the classes. After about two months, she began noticing changes in her physical abilities.
“I noticed my core, arms and legs were becoming much stronger and more toned,” she says. “I was able to do planks on my toes rather than on my knees, and I was able to do deeper squats.”
Core strength and stability are central to Lagree because the body is constantly working to stabilize itself on the moving carriage. Rather than isolating one muscle group, many movements require the core, hips and other muscles to work together to maintain control.
That intentional approach is what initially drew Laura Walker to NOTION. After several friends recommended the studio, she tried a free class hoping to improve her core strength and build more muscle tone.
“I fell in love with the method!” Walker says.
For Walker, the biggest surprise was how much the workout changed her relationship with movement. She had experience with traditional strength training, but found Lagree different because of the emphasis on slowing down and paying attention to every movement.
“It’s not about rushing through a workout or being the first person finished,” she says. “It’s about slowing down, focusing on your form, and creating that mind-body connection.”
Walker says she has noticed a major difference in her overall strength, particularly in her core, but the changes have not stopped there. She says she feels stronger physically and more confident mentally.
The focused nature of Lagree can also create a mental reset. With attention directed toward breathing, positioning, balance, tempo and muscle engagement, the workout requires members to stay present rather than simply move through a list of exercises.
For Walker, that mindset has carried into everyday life.
“I’ve found myself slowing down and being more intentional not only with fitness, but also with my work and personal life,” she says. “NOTION has helped me slow down and enjoy fitness, and just life in general!”
Cuddy has experienced a similar shift in confidence. She says the challenging workouts, along with encouragement from instructors and other members, have helped her feel better about herself.
“Not only because the workouts are challenging and fulfilling, but also because the instructors and members make you feel good about yourself too,” she says. “They are constantly uplifting you and helping you become the best version of yourself.”
For Wells, the social side of the studio has also become an unexpected benefit. She says her energy and social interactions have increased, thanks in part to the welcoming instructors and small class environment.
Walker agrees.
“There’s such a positive, uplifting energy at Notion that I’ve never experienced at another gym,” she says. “It feels personal, welcoming, and encouraging.”
That combination of physical challenge, intentional movement and community may be what keeps members coming back. The goal is not simply to complete a difficult workout, but to become stronger, more confident and more connected to the way the body moves.
For someone who has never tried Lagree, Wells has simple advice: “I would encourage them to try a class or 2.”
Walker puts it another way: “Come take a class, and you’ll get hooked.”
And for Cuddy, the recommendation is just as enthusiastic.
“Yes, it can be challenging, but the more you do it, the more addicting it becomes,” she says. “It’s such a great workout, and I can promise you that you’ll always feel better walking out of that place!”
For these members, that feeling is ultimately what NOTION is about. It is a place to move, challenge yourself, build strength and, perhaps most importantly, find a community that makes you want to keep showing up.