Online platforms connect thousands
kids and less time to hit up their favourite boutique classes. They were hardly the only ones. “People used to buy stationary bikes or treadmills or indoor skiing machines, and they just didn’t work,” says Foley. “It was lonely in your basement. There was no instructor, there was no community, there was no software, content or music.” And so, the idea was born.
“We thought, ‘Could you build a technology platform so that you could consume those classes at home on your schedule, at your location, at your convenience?’ ” says Foley, of the beginning. “Whether it’s boot camp, indoor cycling, any style of instructor-led group class, the things that make it fun weren’t available in the home offering — until Peloton.” Peloton bikes are the only at-home bike designed to stream live classes produced by Emmy Award-winning NBC sports producers favoured by Ellen DeGeneres to Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman, that effectively turns your space into a live spin studio. “This generation is time crunched, and we still want great fitness, but we want it in a more efficient manner,” says Foley of Peloton, which officially launches in Canada on Wednesday.
But as for that religious-like experience of being part of something bigger than ourselves ter Kuile says we’re seek- ing, that’s seemingly more difficult to build. To do so would require somehow building a strong social connection — and virtually. “People say, ‘You’re at home, you’re missing out on the energy of the other people,’ ” says Foley. “It’s actually the opposite.” We bring in the energy and the motivation of thousands of people doing the class at the same time with you. You can see them, interact with them, high-five them, video chat with them, you can race against them,” he says. “You don’t feel alone in your basement.”
Instructors also play a key part in engaging riders. In addition to calling out individual riders’ successes during class, the instructors also set the tone for making the classes feel like a safe space. “As an instructor, I allow myself to be vulnerable enough to share my story of struggle and success,” Cody Rigsby says. “The visibility allows our members to see that they are not alone. As they become more comfortable, they start to share their journey and find support along with accountability in one another by connecting through social media,” he says.
While Peloton may be the hottest digital workout on the market right now, it’s hardly the only one. Trainerize, which has been likened to the Tinder of the fitness world, is an online platform that connects trainers with clients. “I feel like it’s the new wave for online coaching,” says trainer Jon Vlahogiannakos. “Instead of just giving people a PDF or an excel sheet, Trainerize covers all the bases with calendars, scheduling, video and a messaging portal,” he says.
Vlahogiannakos, who has 36 clients currently using Trainerize, stays in regular contact with all through the app. “If anyone ever has questions, I’m always available through the messaging portal. For those who have a tough time with their own schedules, I’ll input the workouts into their calendars for them.” The company has its own ideas for building community. “Trainerize has introduced a group section,” Vlahogiannakos says. “People can feed off each other,” he says of the new space that allows users to swap tips and recipes and encourage each other on.
It comes as no surprise then that as the options for great fitness online have become more efficient, so has the ability to track and share goals, results and health data. Devices such as the Apple Watch provide holistic overviews of your health, and the latest Series 4 has the ability to monitor heart rate and even take an ECG.
“As a trainer, for me it’s more than just a workout, I’m coaching and empowering my clients to manage their health to live their best life,” says Barry’s boot camp and Nike master trainer Eva Redpath. “From activity sharing competitions, autoworkout detection, advanced running features, the watch helps my clients stay connected, be more active and manage their health in powerful new ways.”
The goal, Redpath says, is to close daily activity rings, specifically tailored to users’ activities. “Now I can actually see and track clients’ work as opposed to their interpretation of what they actually did. This information helps me truly customize their training program, and modify based on their progress and goals,” she explains.
“I love that I get notifications in real time that they’ve completed a workout, so that I can cheer them on or push them harder,” Redpath says. “We’re on a health and fitness journey together every step of the way,” she says. “It’s not a quick fix; it’s a long-term tool.”