Studio 8: Megaformers Come to Poughkeepsie
Have you heard of a Megaformer? Neither had I. What about the Lagree Method? Doesn’t ring a bell for me either.
This brand new exercise “Craze” that was created on the west coast, has made it’s way to Westchester, New York, and Long Island, found in studio’s called SLT. Now, Sally Torreggiani, one brave and confident 22-year-old young woman is bringing her love for exercise and the Lagree Method Megaformer to the Hudson Valley for the first time ever at her very own, “Studio 8.”
The Lagree method was created in California by pilates enthusiast, Sebastian Lagree. Lagree created a newer, younger, and more developed way to strengthen the core. Using a machine called a Megaformer, which is a moving carriage connected by springs for resistance (like a pilates reformer “on steroids”). The Lagree method integrates muscle strength, endurance, and cardio, using pilates techniques for a slow, low impact, and high intensity, full body workout. Lagree continues to create and evolve his machine models and currently retails an M3, M3s, M3k and Supra. Torreggiani plans to bring six of Lagree’s M3s Machines to her studio space on Main St. in Poughkeepsie.
The 22-year-old entrepreneur was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, “I trained for seventeen years as a gymnast, I’ve always been around fitness. It’s something I’ve always loved and known I’m good at,” Torreggiani explained. “I first got my yoga certification, I wanted to open a yoga studio, that was my dream. So I took marketing and business classes at Marist. I knew I had the space, and that’s what I wanted to do.” As she became more and more experienced in exercise technique and training others, Torreggiani’s dream of opening her own studio grew, “I got my pilates certification, then I wanted a pilates studio, but my mind kept growing, I felt like I needed more cardio, it was never enough, I wanted music I wanted to have fun, I wanted something younger and fresh,” this was the point where Torreggiani found the Lagree method and fell in love.
After a friend suggested she try an SLT class, a studio that specializes in Megaformer workouts choreographed by instructors to music, she was hooked. “I fell in love, I was sore for 3 days, I wanted to teach there, I wanted to work there. I took more classes I learned about the concept of moving slower and feeling my muscles, it changed my body and I’m in the best shape of my life,” Torreggiani explained. From here, she was determined to work at SLT and went through extensive training, multiple auditions and hours of practice. Torreggiani worked in SLT studios in Westchester and New York City, “I fell in love with teaching and watching my clients bodies change. I was really good, but I knew I wasn’t growing there. The commute was really long, I wanted to expand, I knew I wanted a studio, so I looked into bringing my own studio to the hudson valley.” Knowing she had a space on Main Street within her grasp, she decided to part ways with SLT and take the leap of faith in opening Studio 8. “I knew it was a high risk and it scared me, but I wanted to take the risk. I always ask myself what if? If it fails, which I don’t think it will, I have certifications behind me, I have a backup plan,” She is currently working on her personal training certification, she knows if Studio 8 isn’t a success, there is still a future for her in the fitness world.
The passion and determination of Torreggiani is obvious through her words, the way she speaks about her studio, something she created from the ground up, completely on her own, would make anyone desperate to try her workouts. “What newbies can expect, come in workout clothes. You’ll get introduced to the machine and the techniques. Understand that the first class will be hard and will be weird, sometimes you may not feel the full extent of the workout because you may not be doing the correct form.” Because of the precision that goes into this workout, Studio 8 will offer an introduction package, for $30.00 beginners will receive 3 intro classes. With these three classes, $10.00 a piece, newcomers to the Lagree Method can work on technique and precision in order to gain their passion for the workout. The drop in rate for a class will be $27.00 and Studio 8 will also offer student and teacher discounts at 10%, along with other packages, 5 classes 120$ 24$ a class 10 classes 220–22 a class 20 400$- 20 a class.
Whether you’re a fitness guru, or just looking to get in some of the best shape of your life in a fun and exciting new way, Studio 8 will be the spot for you. This upbeat, lengthening and high intensity core workout has proven to be addicting in the best way possible, and is just what the Hudson Valley is missing. Studio 8 is expected to make a grand opening in the space on Main St in May, with a soft opening in early April.
