While any way you move your body is better than no movement at all, it can be a difficult feat to find a workout — or workout program — that works specifically for you and your fitness goals.
Personally, I’ve been there, and while I’m not looking to crash diet or lose a certain number of pounds, I feel at ease when (1) there’s consistency in my routine, (2) the workout isn’t too intense and (3) I feel good both during and after movin’ and groovin’.
Though I’ve been using the Pvolve platform for less than a month (so far), it has already changed the way I work out for the better. It makes me excited to workout, excited to tone my body and excited to improve.
Not to mention, Pvolve is the fitness platform Jennifer Aniston swears by, in large part because she has previously felt “burnt out” and “broke” her body with intense cardio (in fact, the actress says she’s in “better shape than [she] was in her twenties,” per a Page Six feature.
Impressively, Pvolve offers a holistic, individualized approach that differs from competing workout plans.
Pros of Pvolve:
- Thousands of live and on-demand classes to choose from
- User-friendly platform with an excellent focus on form and body function
- Motivating instructors who are skilled in their teaching
- Focuses on small, intentional movements and adaptations for beginners
Cons of Pvolve:
- Not as effective without the precision mat, which is an extra cost
- Doesn’t typically incorporate much music into the workouts, though not a dealbreaker
- Not as much of an emphasis on stretching within its catalog of classes (aside from its standalone stretching class offerings, of course)
As a former dancer and lover of anything cardio, HIIT and pilates, I’ve always been focused on mobility-focused workouts and ones where I would tone, maybe do some lightweight training and see results over time. For my preference, I’ve never been into nonstop 40-minute workouts where I would end up exhausted, fatigued and sore the next day.
I’ve been using Pvolve for one year now, though I’ve really been consistent with the platform for about four months.
What is Pvolve? How does it work?
Pvolve is an online fitness program — which also has an in-person studio in NYC — that combines low-impact, functional movement and specially designed fitness equipment to effectively tone, sculpt and strengthen.
“Unlike so much of our competition, we really prioritize the body’s function alongside the physical results you might see,” Rachel Katzman, founder at Pvolve, told the New York Post. “Our workout method is designed with the female body in mind, and that means we can truly support them at all stages of their life – because women’s bodies are constantly changing and in need of different things.”
If you’re looking for a more lifted booty, more sculpted arms and more defined abs, Pvolve is the picture-perfect platform for you. How it works? Once on the platform, you can select plans or take classes independently.
“Pvolve is on a mission to change the conversation around fitness. For so long, women have been taught a pain equals gain mentality, and that looking good comes at the expense of feeling good. I started Pvolve to help teach women at all stages of their life that this isn’t the case, and that they can get the physical results they’ve dreamed of and feel good too. “
Rachel Katzman, founder of P.volve
The fitness classes go hand in hand with the equipment, and Pvolve offers several à la carte options and bundles. I’ve been using the Essentials Kit and adore all of what it comes with.
Pvolve Signature Bundle
The Pvolve Signature Bundle includes the P.ball to help sculpt your thighs, glutes and core (it’s a combined ball and heavy resistance band). The P.band helps tone your arms, back and shoulder muscles in every direction.
Also included is the Precision Mat to help ensure good form, based on its allotted for angles and foot placement. And, of course, the included Membership allows you to enjoy one month of free streaming classes. Access includes:
- Live Virtual Studio: Daily, two-way live classes for a boutique fitness feel right at home
- On-Demand Classes: Hundreds of workouts including sculpting, weight-training, cardio and more
- Trainer Consultation: A complimentary check-in to personalize your fitness plan
How much is Pvolve? Pricing, memberships and more
Pvolve offers a monthly or annual membership, with the annual pricing being the best option which comes out to $8 monthly. Its curated equipment kits come with a three-month digital membership as well.
“All memberships include access to our robust on-demand library, live classes powered via Zoom and a free consultation with a trainer,” Katzman adds. “We also have memberships at our studios, where members have unlimited hybrid access to the Pvolve Method.” This includes unlimited classes at the studio level, access to the brand’s on-demand library and live virtual classes and first access for studio events and launches.
For a program that’ll redefine the way you work out, I believe this is a fair price. It’s like having a personal trainer with you every step of the way, as every online workout is guided and uses the equipment in a way that will work best for you.
Pvolve Benefits
I could go on for hours about the benefits of Pvolve, but boiled down the fitness platform to a few main points.
Pvolve has versatile class options
The bread and butter of what makes the brand unique is its versatile fitness class options: strength & sculpt, cardio burn, progressive weight training and recover & stretch:
- Strength & Sculpt: This is Pvolve’s signature workout, blending controlled sculpting exercises with resistance training to strengthen and tone the entire body. It incorporates both standing and mat work and people will engage every muscle while also improving balance and mobility, leaving them feeling stronger and more energized.
- Cardio Burn: This is a low-impact cardio class that increases your heart rate with increased reps, faster pace, and planks and jumps throughout. After understanding the foundation of Strength & Sculpt, people will master the proper form as they move through these faster-paced classes.
- Progressive Weight Training: This is one of Pvolve’s newest class offerings, launched in the last year. It’s a full-body strength-training class designed to overload muscles as you utilize heavier weights to build lean muscle and avoid plateauing. It’s so important to incorporate heavy weights, especially as a woman, as women naturally lose muscle mass and bone density as they age. Heavyweights also increase metabolism and are great to be incorporated if weight loss is a goal.
- Recover & Stretch: Pvolve’s methodology prioritizes proper recovery to make sure the muscles are not overworked. Recovery is so important to achieve the best results. These classes are designed to relax the muscles and relieve stress in the body using restorative techniques and stretching exercises. They increase mobility and help lengthen the muscles, as well as bring a sense of calm to the mind and body.
Additionally, Pvolve offers a category of programs called Movement Therapy, which are tailored to physiology, age and goals. They include the brand’s women’s health-focused workouts and target specific needs — like back strengthening and hip release — to feel good.
Pvolve prioritizes human function and the woman’s body
Unique to Pvolve, the brand has a woman-leaning focus which is super important to me. Since I’ve never had a personal trainer, something I’ve always been curious about is how to work out effectively during my time of the month (TMI, but it’s a question we all inevitably have at some point).
What’s more, Pvolve has developed programs to support all these stages from the pelvic floor, endometriosis, menstrual cycle, fertility treatment, pre-and post-natal and menopause. “Additionally, we have programs that can help with certain pain points someone may experience, like back, hip, ankle, wrist pain and more,” she adds.
The equipment is purposefully crafted to aide your workout
Sure, you can pick up a pair of dumbbells and resistance bands on Amazon but Pvolve’s equipment — specifically, its Signature Bundle, is unmatched when paired with the brand’s mission-minded classes.
“Like our methodology, our equipment is also purposefully created to give women the results they’ve always been after,” Katzman notes. “We have three pieces of patented equipment, our P.ball, P.band and P.3 Trainer, that are unlike anything that you’ve ever seen in the market. They are all designed with such precision to activate muscles (both the major ones and the smaller), supporting muscles that other pieces of equipment and workouts don’t engage.”
Pvolve Review
My first experience with Pvolve to steer me into my membership was a 45-minute personal training session with Maeve McEwen at Pvolve. Not only were all the movements strength and mobility-focused but she corrected my form during our lower-body workout and explained to me how workouts focusing on the human form are beneficial for the array of Pvolve offerings.
While I didn’t have my Signature Bundle at the time of this session, I noticed a huge difference when my kit came in the mail and I started taking online fitness classes. All of the pieces are made of great quality and I felt them toning and strengthening my body throughout the class!
As for my favorite classes, I thoroughly have been enjoying the Standing Full Body Sculpt, Full Body Mobility and Hip & Lower Back Opener (the latter being especially beneficial to my ‘dancer’s hip’ which, if not taken into account, can lead to injury. The fact that Pvolve has classes catered to specific biological and personal needs is extraordinary.
I’m also a big fan of Pvolve’s Progressive Weight Training catalog. I’ve been taking both the upper and lower body workouts regularly as it adds a bit more elevation to day-to-day sculpting.
Since my one-on-one class with McEwan, I’ve also enjoyed the 27-Minute Standing Full Body Sculpt with Kimmie Prokurat. Her philosophy of integrating “small, intentional movements” seems to speak volumes about the overarching mission of Pvolve, which I noticed was a core value from class to class, instructor to instructor.
Surprisingly, the movements of Pvolve don’t seem like much at face value (compared to other platforms like Alo Moves and obé Fitness, where you may find more “traditional” movements, like push-ups and squats). However, you will sweat with Pvolve. Even better, you’ll feel good.
What’s wonderful about Pvolve — especially as someone who’s always wondering if my form is correct — is how much each instructor values proper form. Many times, I’ve noticed instructors turning to the side, which allowed me to see exactly where the feet and arms were placed, and how to cater my body movement to mimic the proper move.
While Pvolve didn’t focus as much on stretching as I would have liked — compared to other online fitness platforms I’ve used — this wasn’t a dealbreaker for me. I typically opt to stretch before an online workout anyway, but I wasn’t expecting to, quite literally, hop right into the exercise.
Interestingly enough, its classes are simple to integrate into your schedule — even if it’s busy. At 10:30 a.m. on Christmas morning, I did a 13-Minute Mat Upper Body Stretch with Celestine Atalie (after a not-so-good night’s rest after Christmas Eve) and it was exactly what my body needed.
The Bottom Line
Overall, Pvolve is my current favorite fitness platform of choice. For transparency, I have tried others, but none is more intentional and effective than Pvolve. Not to mention, the movements seem “small” but they’re nothing short of “intentional.” In other words — you’ll feel good.
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