TRUCKEE, Calif. — A new fitness studio is bringing a unique, high-intensity workout to Truckee. Après Club, a Lagree-focused studio founded by Kara Pendl and Lexi Heinze, officially opened in February 2026, marking the brand’s second location after launching in Incline Village last fall.
For those unfamiliar, Lagree is a low-impact, high-intensity workout performed on specialized machines. The method focuses on slow, controlled movements designed to build strength, endurance and stability while minimizing strain on the joints.
For Heinze, the journey to opening the studio started years earlier. A Reno native, she discovered Lagree while living in Southern California and quickly fell in love with the workout. Within a short time, she became a certified instructor and has now been teaching for about a decade.
However, after moving back to the area, Heinze noticed something missing.
“There was no Lagree studio in Truckee-Tahoe,” she said.
She co-founded an online, on-demand Lagree platform to fill the gap, but found it lacked one key element.
“It wasn’t the same as having a studio. There was no sense of community,” Heinze said. “It was the missing piece.”
That changed last summer when she connected with Pendl through social media to teach a pop-up class. Pendl, had also been practicing Lagree for roughly a decade. After meeting in person, the partnership came together quickly.
“Maybe we should start the studio together,” Heinze recalled telling Pendl. “We both shared our goals, and we were like, ‘Yes, let’s do this.’”
The pair opened their first studio in Incline Village in October 2025. Just a few months later, they expanded into Truckee.
From left to right; Lexi Heinzer and Kara Pendl, founder of Après Club. Provided / Après Club
While often compared to Pilates, both founders say Lagree more closely resembles strength training.
“You’re doing lunges, squats, planks and variations,” Heinze said. “Except you’re on a machine, so everything is resistance-based and spring-loaded.”
Those springs can either support movement or increase difficulty by adding resistance, making the workout highly adaptable.
“We will meet you where you are, regardless of level,” Heinze said. “All our instructors have extensive training, and we can modify for injuries, postpartum clients or even if you haven’t worked out in a long time.”
Developed and patented in 2006 by Sebastian Lagree, the workout method is still relatively new in the fitness world, with only a few hundred studios worldwide. Bringing it to a small mountain town like Truckee and Incline Village is something both founders see as special.
Beyond classes, Après Club offers private sessions, group events for local businesses, and a range of membership and drop-in options.
More than anything, Pendl and Heinze hope the space becomes a hub for connection.
“We are a super welcoming community,” Pendl said. “I promise you’ll have a good time.”
