“BE HEALTHY AND HAPPY“

In a world which has developed a fetish for fitness, French American inventor and fitness visionary Sebastien Lagree is championing a balanced living. The celebrity fitness guru who has trained stars like Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Kidman believes in respecting the natural limits of the body. As a design enthusiast, he visions tech and innovation as the backbone of the fitness industry. Here’s his life journey, fitness goals, tips and inspirations from edited excerpts of the interview

- PRIYAMVADA RANA

How and when did you develop an interest in fitness?

I inculcated an interest at the age of 13 when I fell in love with someone. I was fat at that time and I wanted to look my best for her. As I started to workout and notice results, I became very passionate about fitness. People started to treat me differently too and that kind of attention was very powerful. Fitness became the only thing I wanted to be involved in. When I moved to the USA at 17, I started bodybuilding.

Your fitness venture is about to reach 100 patents. How did the journey start and what challenges did you face initially?

Yeah, we should be at 100 next month. It is a big milestone, both on a personal and professional level. I never expected to have 100 patents but now, in retrospect, it all makes sense. As a young kid, I used to spend my days sketching cars and muscular bodies. I loved sketching concept cars. It all makes sense now that 30 years later, I am not only designing fitness equipment, but I create fitness by combining my passion for wellness and design. When it comes to challenges, they come in all shapes and sizes but most of my obstacles have come from agreeable places, others are annoying, to say the least. I am being copied right and left, so I don’t know what to say about that!

What are some standout methods you promote?

The Lagree Fitness Method is all about high intensity and low impact and we are the first to conceive it that way.

You’re a father and a successful fitness entrepreneur. How do you maintain balance between professional life and personal sphere?