Have you ever wondered why your muscles are more likely to shake in your Lagree Fitness class than in any other workout?
At Studio Physique, whether you’re taking your first class or your 500th class, you’re likely to experience what we call “The Lagree Shake”. Instructors love the shake. We LIVE for the shake! In fact, our goal is to get the entire class to wobble by the end of the workout because we know all of the amazing benefits that come with it.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by S T U D I O P H Y S I Q U E (@studiophysiquesp) on
Self.com interviewed an exercise psychologist, Jacque Crockcord, and asked him to explain the “The Lagree Shake”.
“Many of us may have also started to shake or tremble on the Megaformer. That’s not necessarily a bad thing—it’s just a sign your body is becoming fatigued”, Crockford says. “Essentially what’s happening is that the muscle contraction is being interrupted because there isn’t enough energy available to keep your nerves firing properly and sending uninterrupted signals to your muscles.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by S T U D I O P H Y S I Q U E (@studiophysiquesp) on
It’s so important to push through the shake (with proper form of course), even though your muscles may be burning. This extra push is when you’ll start seeing your body change. The shakiness leads to muscle breakdown.
After a few weeks of classes, you’ll notice that your muscles are being rebuilt stronger, longer and leaner. Basically, the more frequent the shake, the more progress you’re making!
Unlike many other forms of exercises such as HIIT or cycling, Lagree Fitness classes at Studio Physique work by stretching and contracting each muscle for an extended period of time (usually a few minutes per muscle). The constant tension and contraction on the muscles is what makes these classes so effective and what causes the muscles to quiver.
At Studio Physique our “time under tension” exercises activate a type of muscle fiber called “Type 1”. Also known as slow-twitch muscle fibers, these are the muscle fibers we use all day long to maintain posture, sit, stand, maintain healthy joints and even walk for long distances.
Interval training workouts or cardio based exercises such as running, activate “Type 2” muscle fibers, AKA fast-twitch muscle fibers. These muscles exhaust a lot quicker.
Activating your slow-twitch muscle fibers during your Lagree class can enhance your overall fitness in a number of different ways. Because we do a lot of plank variations and are on top of the machine a lot, there is an aspect of balance that you’re less likely to get from other workouts. Your core is engaged almost the entire time, and you might even feel the “Lagree Shake” around your abdominals.
It’s highly likely that you’ll experience the shake your first several classes. But that doesn’t mean you should stop striving to feel the shake the more advanced you get.
As your body adapts to the new postures and your muscles get stronger, try the challenges SP trainers give you to enter the shake zone and increase intensity.
There are a few things you can always do to make your workout more effective and “find the shake”: