dsmWeekly - July 16, 2025

By Libby Nichols

Des Moines' wellness scene is stepping up its game with the arrival of Motionlab, the city’s first studio dedicated to the Lagree Method, a full-body workout known for building strength and boosting endurance in a uniquely effective way.

Developed by Sebastien Lagree in Los Angeles in the early 2000s, the method offers a more dynamic, low-impact, joint-friendly alternative to traditional strength training and Pilates. It’s performed on a custom-designed machine called the “Megaformer” and emphasizes slow, controlled movement with constant tension, targeting muscles to the point of fatigue without high impact.

While the method has gained a following in big cities like New York, London and Sydney, Motionlab is the first studio to bring Lagree to Iowa. Studio co-founder Ellie Conser, a local pediatrician, said the decision was personal.

“I discovered Lagree years ago when I lived in Los Angeles during my residency. I was hesitant at first but fell in love. I needed a workout that was slow paced after a long shift but still effective,” said Conser (pictured here with her husband and business partner, Matt Cates). “When moving back to Iowa, I called around looking for a Lagree studio, but there wasn’t one, and I wasn’t the only one asking. So we decided to open our own.”

The Motionlab studio at 2700 University Ave. in West Des Moines is designed with calm, minimalist interiors and an emphasis on personal attention and community. Each 45-minute session is finely tuned, with a series of movements that are slow, deliberate and often deeply effective. “Every body is different,” Conser said, “but starting to see results after a few sessions is not uncommon, especially in the abs.”

The small classes enable instructors to pay close attention to individual form and technique, which is essential in a method where intensity comes from precision rather than speed or weight.

If the Megaformer feels a bit intimidating at first, newcomers can start with “Motionlab 101,” an intro class held every Sunday to walk new clients through the machine and the method at a slower pace. It’s a good way to start, especially paired with the studio’s $39 unlimited week trial, which gives new clients a chance to ease in, build confidence and explore the full class schedule.

You can book a class online. Your Megaformer awaits.

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Lanterns like these will be released on Des Moines' north side. (Photo: Water Lantern Festival)

BEST BET

Water lanterns to light up Riverview Park

The Water Lantern Festival is coming to Des Moines. On Saturday night, the festival brings Riverview Park to life with music, food and the sight of thousands of floating lanterns.

Festivalgoers can design lanterns and set them afloat on the small lake as the evening fades into night. Its organizers say it's a time when people can come together to share positive energy, spread love and kindness, and create memories with loved ones.

“This Water Lantern Festival creates a beautiful and unique way to share your hopes, dreams and aspirations,” event director Nate Sorensen said in a prepared statement. “It’s a night that you will never forget.”

The Water Lantern Festival team has produced hundreds of events throughout the world with a combined total of over 1 million attendees. The family-friendly event was recently voted No. 1 by USA Today readers and offers multiple activities, food trucks, music and giveaways. Each standard ticket includes a floating lantern kit, playing cards, conversation cards, entry into a scavenger hunt and more.

The Week Ahead

Shakespeare on the Lawn, 7:30 tonight through Sunday, Salisbury House & Gardens. This year’s show, “A Comedy of Errors,” is the Bard’s shortest play and possibly the funniest, with a pair of long-lost identical twins whose reunion causes all sorts of silly chaos.

Art of Wine, 6 p.m. Thursday, Des Moines Art Center. Sip a flight and see the sights during Winefest’s visit to the art museum. Begin with a guided tour to learn the stories and styles behind four works of art, then take a seat for a four-course culinary experience.

Stars of Tomorrow, 2 p.m. Saturday, Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium. See and hear opera’s next generation when the 40 apprentice artists of the Des Moines Metro Opera step into the spotlight. The concert is free, but registration is required.

Beaverdale Bluegrass Festival, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Tower Park. The free festival showcases local bluegrass bands under the Allen Hazen Water Tower. You can buy food and drinks on site, but it’s BYOLC: Bring your own lawn chair.

Jazz in July, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Hoyt Sherman Place. The free outdoor festival continues with the Seth Rezek Quartet and “Shorter Stories: The Music of Wayne Shorter.” Catch a weekly concert before this year’s series ends on July 29.

Sages Over 70: dsm is proud to announce our 2025 honorees: Greg Edwards, retired CEO of Catch Des Moines; Christine Hensley, former Des Moines City Council member for 24 years; Terry Rich, former president and CEO of the Iowa Lottery and Blank Park Zoo; Bob Stewart, commercial real estate broker for Stanbrough Realty Company; Rick Tollakson, CEO of Hubbell Realty Company; Marcia Wanamaker, a realtor with Iowa Realty. This year’s Sages were chosen for their deep involvement with their communities and commitment to greater Des Moines. We’ll honor them at a special event Nov. 11. Stay tuned for tickets and details.

DMMO in NYT: Apparently, New Yorkers just can’t get enough of the Des Moines Metro Opera. A recent write-up in the New York Times called it “one of the country’s most successful smaller companies doing adventurous repertory in a 467-seat space.” That echoes last summer’s praise from Pulitzer-winner Alex Ross, whose review in The New Yorker called DMMO “one of America’s boldest smaller companies … sending psychic shivers into the hot summer night.” This summer’s shivers continue through Sunday.

By Ryne DeCamp and Montana Upchurch

On the morning of her 50th birthday, Debbie DeCamp stood atop a Hawaiian cliff overlooking the crashing waves. She’s often camera-shy, but the sun’s first rays melted away her hesitation as a photographer captured the moment she shared with her husband, Adam. It marked the dawn of a new decade and sparked a journey up mountains, through valleys and literally from sea to shining sea.

Ever since that October morning in 2023, Debbie and Adam DeCamp — to us, Mom and Dad — have been on an adventure that’s equal parts Travel Channel and Hallmark movie. They set out to share 50 dates in 50 states while at least one of them was 50 years old.

The goal was ambitious, if not slightly insane, and it was fun to follow along as they posted updates in the family group chat. We were often bombarded with photos from the latest leg of their meticulously planned itinerary.

Living in Iowa turned out to be a logistical advantage. From Des Moines, a third of the country is accessible by car in 10 hours or less, making spontaneous dates more feasible.

Maximizing time, distance and resources has meant skipping some destinations that would normally have been on their sightseeing list. Making memories was always their goal. “Sure, there are things I wish we’d done,” Mom said, “but we’ve shared so much, and we did it together. That’s what matters.”
Mom counts among her favorite experiences the trip to Hawaii, the cruise through Alaska, the Christmas tour of the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina and a chilly wade into Lake Michigan to gather Petoskey stones. She’s also a sucker for her favorite coffee, which they found in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas. “Any date where we get Summer Moon is always going to be a bonus,” she said.

They’ve also collected a Christmas ornament from each state — easy to pack, beautiful and as unique as each date. They’re now displayed in their home year-round, souvenirs of small towns and big cities, delicious meals, natural beauty and unforgettable people across the country.

The couple wrapped up their adventure here in their 50th state — Iowa — with a party for their friends, family and a VIP, their new granddaughter. Read the full story in the current issue of dsm.