When Brooke Meek took her first Lagree fitness class in Kansas City, she knew immediately that she wanted to bring the concept to her hometown of St. Louis.
In 2016, she founded the first PLNK (plank) studio, which has since grown to two in the St. Louis area. PLNK utilizes the Lagree Method, using a Megaformer machine to build strong, lean muscles without the harsh impact on joints.
It’s the way supermodels train – Meek said – combining cardio, strength, flexibility and core.
Meek was always a sports enthusiast, participating in things like field hockey and lacrosse, and liked the idea of group fitness. And the Lagree Method is a high-energy, no-impact, 50-minute workout in small groups that can be performed no matter what your current fitness level is – from pro athletes to someone just starting to work out. Even though it feels high-intensity, your joints stay protected, and spinal alignment improves.
As the sole owner of the studios, Meek said she has an unbelievable support team. The classes have become so popular that she decided to expand PLNK to other markets. Set for opening this fall are two additional locations – one in Omaha, Nebraska, the other in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Meek recently took the time to fill Gazelle in about her incredible business and fitness journey.
Were you always into fitness? I love group fitness! From team sports in high school to HIIT (high-intensity interval training), CrossFit, yoga, cycling … I do it all.
How does this type of workout compare to others? Lagree is the only patented workout that exists. PLNK is high intensity and no impact – there is nothing else like it.
Is it for all genders, ages and fitness levels? One of the most incredible things about PLNK is that anyone can do it – older individuals, people who are pregnant, people with injuries. PLNK can be your daily workout, an active recovery day, a strength training — there is a place for Lagree in everyone’s fitness routine. We have had everyone from professional athletes to youth sports teams through our doors.
Have you personally developed the classes at PLNK? Our instructors write every single class they teach. Every instructor at PLNK is Lagree certified, many are advanced Lagree certified.
How have you been navigating your business through COVID? Carefully. We have always been small group fitness and have always operated at less than 20% of capacity. We have always worked out over six feet apart. We now deep-clean between classes and have allotted more time between each session to avoid people coming and going at the same time.
Will the two new locations be similar in size and scope to your existing locations? Yes. Both new locations will have around 14 machines, private bathrooms and a kid’s room, just like our two St. Louis locations.
But Meek isn’t stopping with locations in St. Louis, Omaha and Tulsa. Des Moines, Memphis and northwest Arkansas are part of her boutique brand’s 2021 expansion plans.
Of course, PLNK, like all businesses have been affected by COVID. Fortunately, its mode of operation already accommodated most of the social distancing rules. Opening the new locations were originally planned for the summer, but were put on hold for a while due to Megaformers not being manufactured. But Meek said it gave the company time for further evaluation, and now, they are back on track for this year’s openings.
Meek holds a bachelor’s degrees in women’s studies and political science from the University of Michigan, and earned a master’s in health administration from Indiana University. She is Lagree certified, advanced Lagree certified and Bloom certified. She serves on boards for the Saint Louis Art Museum and Fort Knightly. She is also a committee member for Saint Louis Ballet and COCA.
For more information, visit plnkfitness.com.
