Celebrity Trainer Tracy Carlinsky brings the Lagree fitness program to Williamsburg and Cobble Hill
by Catherine Gigante-Brown
Lithe, lovely, and strong, Tracy Carlinsky is the perfect workout cheerleader, and one of the most charismatic proselytizers of a fitness method that first took hold among celebrity circles in Hollywood, but has quickly extended eastward. The owner and founder of Brooklyn Bodyburn was quick to point out, first, that her studios are the only locations in the County of Kings where the Legree Fitness Method is available.
Powered by Sebastian Legree’s patented MegaFormer machines, Carlinksy’s Brooklyn Bodyburn routine is low impact, high-intensity, and a full-body workout. Each session boasts 55 minutes of calorie-burning (up to 800), muscle-quivering, shirt-drenching conditioning on the state-of-the-art M3S MegaFormer machine. Early A-list adherents include Sofia Vergara (who bought her own machine), Kim Kardashian, and even First Lady Michelle Obama.
“We do have some high profile clients,” Carlinsky offered with a smile. “They like them because the movements are deliberate and controlled, with fast transitions from one exercise to the next. It keeps an elevated heart rate in the fatburning zone.” When asked what differentiates the Legree approach from the numerous other regimens that emphasize rapid transitions, Carlinsky explained that, “We focus on resistance- based movement, stimulating slow-twitch, fat-burning, endurance muscle fibers. You get the intensity and strength training of CrossFit, the stretch and length from Pilates and yoga, and the cardiovascular element of running—all in one session.” Why is the burn at Brooklyn Bodyburn so effective? “Each and every exercise we do on the machine is full-body, and we focus on muscle synergy,” told Carlinsky. “At times we’re working hundreds of muscles in one single move.”
A native New Yorker, the entrepreneur was quick to stipulate that while celebrity adherents represented good marketing for the method, one doesn’t have to be in the limelight to perfect a Brooklyn bod.
“Our clients are from all walks of life, all ages, and all levels of fitness,” she assured. “They’re fitness professionals, pro athletes, new moms, people recovering from injuries, personal trainers, and everyone else in between. With consistency, you get strong and fit in a short amount of time. Because the method is low impact but extremely intense, it’s for anyone who’s up for a challenge, looking to burn fat, and build a long, lean physique.”
Carlinsky said she became addicted to the workout when she was living in California. When she moved back to New York, it was a no-brainer to take the Legree program with her, and is blessed, she confided, to be able to transform that passion into a successful business venture. Her enthusiasm for her work and workout is palatable. She claims the method has completely changed her life and her body.
Although many have dubbed Brooklyn Bodyburn the hardest workout they’ve ever done, they come back for more. “The exercises are sequenced to achieve effective muscle fatigue,” Carlinksy explained. “We work at a high intensity in a safe, resistance-based environment. No sequence will ever be the same. Trust me, this is unlike anything you’ve done before!”
Carlinsky pointed out, too, that classes are for all fitness levels. “Every instructor is a certified in the Lagree method and aware of all adjustments and modifications,” she added. “However, it’s extreme, and regardless of your level of strength, whether you’re a pro athlete or a new mother, it will be challenging for someone new to this style of training. Be sure to leave your ego at the door!”
Originally from Long Island, Carlinsky was a ballet dancer for 16 years and has been teaching the Legree method for three years. She currently has two Brooklyn studio locations, in Cobble Hill and Williamsburg.
Priced to entice, the workout is hard to resist. A first session is $18, and new clients are encouraged to take advantage of an introductory offer in which there is a 50% reduction in a first five-pack of sessions.
“I have plans, too, to continue the expansion within Brooklyn and potentially outside of New York,” Carlinsky said. “Time will tell, but the possibilities are amazing.”
Brooklyn Bodyburn
296 Court St. & 32 North 6th St. (at The Edge)
718.384.1133 / brooklynbodyburn.com
