Lagree or weight training: which one to build strength?

Two ways of working the muscle

In weight training, resistance comes from a load: dumbbells, barbells, guided machines. Training is organised in sets of a few repetitions, separated by rest periods, and progress usually comes from increasing the loads. The work is often done muscle by muscle, or on a few big basic movements.

The Lagree method is practised on a variable-resistance machine designed for this discipline. At RYTHM, it is the Micro Pro: a carriage on rails, held by springs, with platforms and handles. Resistance is set machine by machine, and each exercise engages several muscle groups at once, with the core active from start to finish. The article on the method tells its origin and principles.

Continuous tension, or sets and rest

This is the core difference. In weight training, effort is split up: a set, a break, another set. The muscle works hard, then recovers. In Lagree, the pace is slow and continuous, with no rest between exercises. Each movement is performed without jerks, and concentric, eccentric and isometric contractions follow one another: the muscle stays under tension, without any release, until fatigue.

The aim is not speed or the number of repetitions, but the intensity of the effort at every moment. This prolonged tension supports deep strengthening and muscular endurance. It also explains why a slow class raises your heart rate: the large muscle groups stay engaged from one exercise to the next. A Lagree class therefore combines strength, endurance, balance and cardiovascular work.

Joints, technique and coaching

Lagree is practised with no impact: no jumping, no shock on the joints. Resistance comes from the springs and can be finely adjusted, which makes it possible to adapt each exercise to each person’s level. In weight training, good technique matters all the more as loads increase: a badly learned movement is repeated with every set.

In both cases, precision makes the difference. In Lagree, it is part of the method: body alignment, joint angles and the path of the movement are respected to target the right muscle and avoid compensations. At RYTHM, a class takes six people at most, one per machine, and the coach corrects every position, one by one.

What to choose according to your goal

This is not about naming a better method: the right one depends on what you are looking for. A few landmarks to place yourself.

One word of caution, whatever you choose: if you are pregnant, recently injured or have a medical condition, ask a health professional before starting, and tell the coach when you arrive.

• You mainly want muscle size, or maximum loads on a few lifts: weight training with progressive loads remains the most direct tool.
• You want all-round strength, with core, posture, balance and muscular endurance, while protecting your joints: Lagree answers exactly that need.
• You are getting back into exercise or starting out: Lagree needs no sporting background, resistance is set on the machine and the coach adapts every exercise. Starting without being sporty covers this in detail.
• You are short on time: a Lagree class lasts 50 minutes and works the whole body, with no rest periods.

Combining Lagree and weight training

The two practices are not opposed. Someone who lifts finds in Lagree core, stability and muscular endurance work, at a slow pace and with no impact, which complements training split into sets. Conversely, someone who practises Lagree can add weight training if they have a load or size goal.

If you combine both, give the same muscle groups time to recover between two intense sessions, and talk to the coach: he can tell you which exercises to push or ease. For how many classes to plan, the article on results gives some landmarks.

Trying Lagree in Carmes

The simplest way to compare is to try. RYTHM Lagree Studio runs its Lagree classes in Toulouse at JBM Sports, 32 rue du Languedoc, 100 metres from Carmes metro station, on six Micro Pro machines. Each class lasts 50 minutes, with six people at most, and it can be taught in English on request.

The trial class costs €30, with no commitment. It is booked online from the site, or in the Xplor Active app with the studio code Rythmlagree. Class packs are detailed in the Prices section of the home page.