Even Jay-Z and Beyoncé Have Hopped on the Virtual-Fitness Bandwagon
Jay-Z and Beyoncé Have Hopped on the Virtual-Fitness Bandwagon
Yesterday, billionaire rapper Jay-Z and tennis legend Novak Djokovic announced a new business venture, an investment in the at-home fitness equipment brand CLMBR. The deal makes perfect sense, given that since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, the way people work out has been forced to change. In an interview with Forbes this summer, the vice president of research and product marketing at Mindbody reported that the platform had seen a 56% jump in the use of video workouts and a 78% increase in the use of livestreamed classes compared to 2019. In October, Fast Company interviewed the CEOs of trendy gyms and fitness services including Barry’s, Tracy Anderson, and Orangetheory, who all reported an increase in use of their virtual offerings as well.
As this industry explodes, celebrities are, of course, getting in on a piece of the pie, as investors, collaborators, and even simply as users. Below, AD rounds up the workout programs which not only allow you to sweat it out in the privacy of your own home, but which also come complete with an A-list stamp of approval. Plus, as an added bonus, these stylish people tend to select or develop products with sleek design, which, if we’re being brutally honest, is more important to us than burning calories.
CLMBR
This vowel-less brand backed by Jay-Z and Djokovic will launch two at-home vertical climbing machines in 2021. While the machines are somewhat large—it is unlikely you’d put it in a living room—they’re no clunky treadmill either. “We wanted to ensure the most important quality of the machine was not a single attribute but instead a subtle balance between a natural aesthetic beauty and visual simplicity with pure functional efficiency,” the company’s chief design officer Nat Carruthers tells AD. “This drove us to ensure we created a machine that was an honest and authentic expression of its intended use while being simple and elegant to fit seamlessly into your home and daily routine.” It is certainly innovative, and according to Djokovic, it’s great for your body. “Vertical climbing has been known to be an incredibly efficient total body workout without impact,” he said in a release. “In addition, it puts your body in a neutral spine alignment, which is important for me as an athlete.”
Peloton
The virtual at-home exercise bicycle and treadmill Peloton has been trending for a while now, but the brand recently got the rare and highly coveted Beyoncé stamp of approval. Earlier this month, Peloton announced a collaboration with the singer, which encompasses not only exercise and music, but also a charity initiative. Together they gave two-year memberships to students at HBCUs across the country. “Peloton and I both believe that the power of music can help uplift, motivate, and inspire those on their fitness journeys,” said Beyoncé, who also revealed she’s been a member for several years. (Perhaps that’s what inspired Jay-Z to enter the sphere.) “I’m proud to celebrate the students at HBCUs with this donation, to encourage them to find and embrace their own wellness regimens,” she said.
Obé
This one, founded by former talent agents Mark Mullett and Ashley Mills, requires no equipment. Users simply follow along with workouts taught from the Obé set, which is a colorful neon-illuminated room inspired by the work of James Turrell and Dan Flavin. Kate Hudson recently sang Obé’s praises in an interview, and other celebrity fans include Drew Barrymore, Elsa Hosk, Kelly Ripa, and more.
Forme
Design-world A-lister Yves Béhar’s foray into fitness is the sleekest of them all. Launched in April, Forme is a fitness machine that doubles as a mirror, with handles that hide away when not in use so it doesn’t even look like a piece of equipment. “It seamlessly blends into your home,” Béhar previously told AD. “It’s delivering something into the home that becomes your health body and mind station. So this is what makes it different. The other products in the market are solving the issue of cardio in the home, or weight training, or yoga. But we are the only ones bringing the solution for both body and mind.”
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