If you’re a frequent HIP attendee then chances are you’ve taken one of Anna’s classes. She’s fun, quirky, plays great music and she will make your legs shake! This month we are putting the spotlight on our #mega instructor before she moves to Austin. We will miss you Anna!

Here is a peak into our convo with Anna on all things Lagree and health:

Where and how did you first begin practicing the Lagree method?

I started doing Lagree five years ago, when I was living in New York. Brooklyn Bodyburn had just opened, and I stepped in having no idea what I was in for. I was about 35lbs heavier. After each ab exercise was done, I would collapse with my stomach on the back platform. The owner would call out another exercise, and I’d be thinking, “You want me to do what now?!”

What about the workout got you hooked?

Every class at Bodyburn kicked my butt. There wasn’t a class where I didn’t think, “Why do I do this to myself?” usually followed by, “This is what you get for eating that giant bag of m&m’s!” (Or pint of ice cream or whatever terrible treats I subsisted on. Subsisted—I say that like that’s past tense, as if I’m not eating hazelnut cookies right now. haha) I would always be wiped at the end of every class, and have to wobble my way out the door, but a few minutes later, the endorphins would kick in. That feeling knowing that I was able to get through all that, knowing that I had that in me, was incredible. 

My first worry about moving to Houston was that I might not get my Lagree fix. I was so relieved to see that HIP had just opened.

What is your go-to healthy snack?

Apples, because I can just grab-and-go. If I have time, I’ll make some juice. There’s usually apples, kale, and a cucumber or some other less disgusting vegetable. I guess it’s not really a snack, more like something gross I consume to justify the baked goods I consume. 

grossly healthy + grossly unhealthy = not doing that bad

What is your favorite body part(s) to work on the Megaformer? 

I love working the butt. I will never have a Kardashian butt, but I can at least escape my genetics, which wants to doom me to a pancake butt. Also, when your butt’s sore (cue the dirty jokes), you feel it deep in your butt (…), and, when it hurts to sit and walk, you know you got worked so good—I mean, you worked so hard.

Why should everyone try HIP? 

It’s a full-body workout. Classes are structured where you hit every muscle group, and, if you’re doing it right, your abs are engaged when you’re working you legs and upper body. It’s also just a really well-rounded workout. You’re strengthening your muscles, of course, but your heart rate gets elevated during, so there’s that cardio element. 

There’s also this mindfulness aspect, because you have to focus on going slowly and on having the right form. I’m not that big on yoga (except when there’s some candles and hip hop playing, and the instructor’s trying to get us to do our best Cirque du Soleil impression—not saying I’m that flexible, just saying I like to pretend), but I get my block-shit-out-and-focus-on-yourself fix from doing Lagree. 

Advice for a first-timer?

The whole idea behind the method is total muscle failure, so if you feel like it’s hard, that’s okay! That’s the whole point. You are not alone in feeling like this and you are not failing at this. 

All the time, first-timers will come up to me after class, and say, “Sorry, I wasn’t even doing it.” Guys. GUYS. I LITERALLY saw you moving for most of class. (All-caps, because I‘m saying this with the conviction and emphasis of Chris Traeger of Parks and Rec: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgnxlpSQgqg.) 

Lagree is not like filling out your medical history at the doctor’s office (Yes Drinking or No Drinking?). Stopping once, or multiple times, does not invalidate everything you do. Unless you were chilling in the bathroom for 15 minutes, you were doing it. You were doing it!

Message for clients

Thank you for letting me do unspeakable things to you, and then deciding you liked it and letting me do more terrible things to you. (Is this like the plot of Fifty Shades? idk, maybe someone hit me up and let me know?)

But seriously, I’ve had an amazing time getting to know all of you and make you stronger. My favorite part of teaching is seeing you all, after you’ve already been busting your butts and feel like you’re near death (I say near death, because I know you guys LITERALLY think you’re about to die, even if I know you won’t), have that moment where something clicks inside of you, and you go, “Not today, not right now, dammit,” and you keep fighting. 

Thank you thank you thank you. It’s been such a privilege.