As a fitness editor, certified personal trainer, and Pilates-instructor-in-training approaching my mid-thirties, my workouts have changed a lot over the years. When I first started working in the fitness and wellness space, I was trying every new workout method and class I could find, and no two weeks looked the same for me when it came to my fitness routine. While I still enjoy trying new fitness studios and discovering new types of workouts, I'm more discerning in my routine now.
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As a NASM-CPT and fitness editor, I've learned all about the core parts of a balanced fitness routine: i.e. strength, cardio, and mobility/flexibility training. I've also discovered what types of movement make me feel my best mentally and physically, so I naturally prioritize those things. Outside of those core pillars, I've started to lean towards workouts that are more functional in nature. Functional training simply means that the movement is similar to activities or movement patterns that you may do in everyday life. Think: reaching overhead to lift something, turning or rotating your body side to side, squatting down to pick something up (you get the idea!). Enter Pvolve, a low-impact functional fitness method. Although not a new fitness concept, Pvolve had a surge in popularity when Jennifer Aniston joined the brand in 2023 as an advisor. According to a press release from the brand, Aniston found Pvolve in 2021 after experiencing a back injury. Aniston's friend recommended it after experiencing great results with the method. So Aniston tried it while recovering and continued with the workout even after recovering from her injury. So, what is Pvolve all about? Keep reading for my full review and hear from one of the brand's expert trainers.
At the Pvolve studio in NYC.What Is Pvolve?
Pvolve is a functional fitness method that offers sculpt, strength training, and cardio-based classes, in addition to mobility/stretching-focused content. Classes are available IRL at studios across the country and online, via their virtual streaming platform. The virtual platform features on-demand and live classes, in addition to specialized programs. The virtual streaming platform costs $19.99 a month ($14.99 if billed annually) and the in-studio membership costs vary by city.Pvolve's Chief Training Officer, Antoinetta Vicario describes Pvolve as a functional movement method. "Functional movements are movement patterns that you do in your everyday [life]. So if you think sit to stand or if you're reaching and rotating to grab something from a cabinet, movement patterns that you do every day, but bringing more of an emphasis on proper movement mechanics, so how to do the things that you're doing in your daily life," says Vicario. "Then we add resistance-based equipment, so adding load to the body so that we're building strength. And there's also a huge focus on stability and mobility," adds Vicario.
The different types of Pvolve classes include:
Strength and Sculpt: low-impact class focused on building strength, mobility, and stability. Progressive Weight Training: strength-focused class using heavier weights and functional movementSculpt and Burn: similar to the strength and sculpt class format, but with cardio intervalsMat Definition: mat-based sculpt classExclusive to the online studio: Recover and Stretch, Meditation, and Movement Therapy My at-home Pvolve setup.One of the first things you notice in a Pvolve class is the unique equipment. Many of the pieces of equipment used in Pvolve classes are propriety and specially developed for the method. One of the most common pieces of equipment you use is called the P.ball, which is essentially a Pilates ball with special straps that allow the ball to be placed between the legs while standing. You'll also use the band on the ball as a resistance band in some moves. Btw, you don't need all of the equipment to get started, but having some basic equipment like an exercise mat and weights will help. One of my favorite pieces of equipment is the Precision Mat. It's not a padded exercise mat, but a thin, non-slip, gridded mat that helps you get into the exact foot placement and angles correctly. This will come in handy if you're new to Pvolve because the foot placements and angles that you turn your body are so unique, it's really helpful to have the mat as a guide to ensure you're in the right place (the trainers will cue you based on this).
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How Pvolve Is Filling Gaps for Women In the Movement Space
As a fitness writer and editor, I've spent a ton of time diving into fitness research studies and scientific journals over the years. Early on in my career, I learned about the gap in fitness research—and the fact that women haven't been studied that much when it comes to exercise science and sports research. Women are only the subject of studies in 6% of all research on exercise science and sports.
"Our focus is really on women's health because it's just underrepresented in the market," says Vicario, citing the gap in sports science and exercise science research. Pvolve decided to help close this gap by conducting a study with Exeter University on menopause and exercise— the study specifically looked at how hormones affect exercise performance in women over 40. Pvolve also has a clinical advisory board of MDs, physical therapists, and other experts who consult with the brand on their programs and classes.
What makes them stand out in the broader fitness landscape? Pvolve is one of the few brands that are meeting several unmet needs that are in demand in the fitness space. Think: exercise programs with expert guidance on movement that is safe for menopause, fertility treatments (in partnership with Spring Fertility), prenatal programming by trimester, postnatal programming, pelvic floor dysfunction (in partnership with a pelvic floor physical therapist), menstrual cycle support, and there's a program for endometriosis. "We are trying to address different life stages and say those fitness routines that are saying, 'if you just do this, this is your fountain of youth,' that's a little smoke and mirrors fitness needs to be more dynamic based on your changing physiology," says Vicario.
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I started Pvolve about a year ago and attended classes at the brand's Soho, NYC studio several times a week when I lived in New York. Before that, I attended the occasional class for press events or on ClassPass. Now, I've moved away from the city, and I've been streaming the classes via their online platform ever since. I've dealt with tight, achy hips for a long as I can remember, but started experiencing more intense pain in my right hip in the past several years. Even though I was doing physical therapy once a week when I was attending Pvolve classes IRL, I think that the Pvolve method helped me tremendously with my chronic, achy hip pain. Pvolve incorporates lots of hip mobility movements and my tight hips always felt relieved after I took the Sculpt and Strength classes several times a week. Every class felt like a physical therapy session, except I also got a full-body workout while I was there.My Pvolve routine now looks a bit different than it did when I lived in New York. When I went to classes in person, I mainly did the Strength and Sculpt class and also did a few of the cardio classes. Since streaming at home, I do more of the Progressive Weight Training classes now, since I've wanted to incorporate more heavy strength training into my life. Pvolves PWT classes are challenging, yet incorporate the functional and mobility work that keeps my body from hurting. I've taken plenty of HIIT and strength and conditioning classes over the years that would feel good in the moment, but afterward I was often hurting more than I'd like - sometimes I was even left sidelined by neck or back pain that left me sidelined from my workouts for a week or more. I also love the stretching and mobility videos in the on-demand library. I find myself cueing these up in the evening to help me unwind and relax or release tension (I highly recommend the 7-Day Hip Release Series!).
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Final Takeaway
Pvolve will continue to have a place in my fitness routine—no matter what other workouts I do, I love that's there's always something in their repertoire that meets my needs—whether that's working on building strength and muscle in a progressive weight training program, or finding a video that helps my hips feel happy and loose. I can always depend on this workout to make me feel strong and better in my body by the end of it, not broken down or achy. And I'll always look forward to working out at the studios IRL when I find myself in a city with a studio.
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Antoinetta Vicario, Pvolve's chief training officer Read More Details
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