Jan 20, 2015 >> #5MinutesWith Sebastien Lagree
In honor of our Healthy Beauty Issue, G&F’s contributing fashion editor—and total health nut!—Helen Berkun gets #5MinutesWith fitness innovator Sebastien Lagree. We love the blonde bombshell’s philosophy of being the best you can be from the inside out. Sebastien often describes his empire of workouts, patented machines and studios as a lifestyle brand, not just a fitness brand. The Lagree Method extends well beyond a workout—helping restore the body’s natural balance to create a lithe and powerful body, resistant to the everyday stresses of work and life. Inspired by Pilates, Lagree invented “The Megaformer”, a system of resistance and counter resistance used to place muscles under constant tension and work them to failure point. The no impact program features targeted exercises performed at a slow and controlled pace with a combination of a core-burning workout that blends Pilates, cardio and strength training. Basically: it’s bad ass. Celebs are even hooked: Sofia Vergara bought “The Megaformer” for her house.
Read on to learn some expert secrets as Helen works out with the man himself! Lagree gives pointers on getting the best out of your workouts and gaining happiness through health, from the inside out. Oh, and who’s butt he’d love to have.
G&F’s Helen Berkun snaps a pre-workout selfie with Sebastien Lagree
Helen: What is your favorite part of the Lagree workout?
Sebastien: My favorite part is that it’s constantly evolving. If you look at the lineage of the equipment, the first equipment came out in 2005. So it was just 10 years ago. In December of 2005, that’s when I had the first Proformers and commercial views. Since then, I’ve moved onto The Megaformers and there are all different versions of those
What are 5 tips to start getting your body ready for a workout regime?
First of all, you have to pick something that you like doing. I think that you should look for something that has some kind of a community to it. If you can do it with friends, you are more likely to stay with it. Pick something that is challenging. You should be able to progress with your workout. I feel a lot of the workouts are always the same thing—it’s either too hard or too easy from the start and there’s not really a progression with it. Try to do something that is out of the ordinary.
You have a huge celeb following. Build a perfect body with your favorite celeb parts.
I would say, just for fun, that I would have Jennifer Aniston’s butt. I would have Sofia Vergara’s waist and trunk. Then, Charlize Theron’s legs, and for arms, Halle Berry.
She does have good arms. What are your guilty pleasures?
Sweets. I love chocolate. I love chocolate and peanut butter.
That sounds delish! Our current issue is all about juicing. I just named a juice after myself and I called it “Helen’s Emerald Potion.” What would be your juice?
I love smoothies. I would have a mega boost and it would have tons of antioxidants as well as honey, bananas, chocolate, peanut butter, and protein powder!
Studio Lagree, 1123 W. Armitage, Chicago. Visit StudioLagree.com for more information + classes.