Gear

CITYROW announced it will begin to broadcast its online classes live from a new, state-of-the-art production studio in New York City.  A boutique, rowing-based gym, CITYROW is located across the country, including right here in South Florida in Boca Raton.

CITYROW has emerged as a major player in the connected fitness category with its CITYROW GO smart rowers and digital content platform, which offers a variety of rowing-based classes, performance metrics, and goal tracking for an immersive workout experience from home.

Live classes allow users to enjoy the same workouts, instructors, and benefits members have come to expect from CITYROW's 20-, 30-, and 50-minute sessions. Within the live format, members can receive real-time feedback and shout-outs from their instructors. All live classes are available on-demand the next day to give users the convenience of working out on their own time.

Using the CITYROW GO platform, members can access live classes in a virtual environment, as well as see and share their performance metrics in real-time. To enhance the experience, instructors will be able to coach members in classes as they're able to track participants' efforts throughout sessions.

"In today's virtual world, we are now able to bring the unique feel of in-person CITYROW classes into consumers' homes with live classes that enable direct engagement between our dynamic instructors and our community," said Helaine Knapp, founder and CEO, CITYROW. "With the move to live content production, we can now provide additional classes, enhanced interactivity, and immersive engagement via the live class format."

CITYROW is the first fitness concept to stream live classes filmed on an indoor rowing machine, also known as an erg. CITYROW offers a variety of rowing-based classes including its Signature class, which combines rowing with strength training, Endurance rows, HIIT rows, and Strength classes. In addition, the platform also offers off-rower classes like Yoga and Pilates to provide subscribers with a complete fitness solution. While the majority of its subscribers have purchased and are joining classes from a CITYROW GO smart rower, the CITYROW GO mobile app is also compatible with several other popular erg models.

South Floridians can have an in-person experience at CITYROW in West Boca, located at 8198 Glades Road. Learn more about CITYROW GO at go.cityrow.com.

WHOOP, the human performance company, introduced the next generation of its proprietary technology, WHOOP 4.0, a personalized 24/7 digital fitness and health coach. The new technology leverages an upgraded sensor configuration for optimal accuracy and includes WHOOP Body featuring Any-Wear™ Technology, a first-of-its-kind line of smart apparel which enables members to wear their WHOOP 4.0 on multiple locations across the body.

The WHOOP membership is unique in that hardware is included as a fundamental benefit. WHOOP members will receive first access to upgrade to WHOOP 4.0 free of charge. WHOOP 4.0 will also be available for purchase for new healthcare, government, business, and athletics customers.

"I've been thinking about this technology for more than a decade, and I can promise you that this is the most innovative product we have ever released," said Will Ahmed, WHOOP Founder & CEO. "We've always aspired to develop wearable technology that is either cool or invisible. With the launch of WHOOP 4.0 and WHOOP Body, we have accomplished both."

WHOOP 4.0 features include:

• Upgraded Sensor Configuration: The active sensor area now contains 5 LEDs (three green, one red, and one infrared), 4 photodiodes, and advanced algorithms to provide even more accurate heart rate measurements
• 33% Smaller Size: WHOOP 4.0 is 33% smaller than WHOOP 3.0 with a five-day battery life
• New Feature - Sleep Coach with Haptic Alerts: WHOOP 4.0 is engineered with haptic alerts that members can set to wake them up through gentle vibrations at the optimal time based on their sleep needs and cycles
• New Feature - Pulse Oximeter: The upgraded hardware is equipped to calculate blood oxygen levels (SPO2) to help members unlock additional daily health insights
• New Feature - Skin Temperature Sensor: WHOOP 4.0 measures skin temperature to provide members another layer of knowledge about their bodies
• New Feature - Health Monitor: Members can track live heart rate, skin temperature, blood oxygen saturation, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, and respiratory rate in one view. The Health Monitor also allows members to easily download and export 30-day or 180-day trends of these metrics into a report that can be shared with a coach, trainer, PT, or physician
• WHOOP Battery Pack 4.0: The upgraded battery pack built for on-the-go charging is now waterproof and lets members double tap to view battery level
• Next Generation Battery Technology: WHOOP 4.0 is the first product in the world powered with Sila's silicon anode battery materials. Engineered with cell configuration improvements and long cycle life, the new battery delivers 17% higher energy density than WHOOP 3.0, facilitating a reimagined industrial design that also unlocks WHOOP Body

WHOOP Body featuring Any-Wear™ Technology enables WHOOP 4.0 to collect accurate data from areas including the torso, waist, and calf. This new collection of apparel is the first of its kind in the wearables industry and allows members to wear WHOOP 4.0 off of their wrist. In addition to apparel, WHOOP has developed new accessories and designs, including:

• Fast Link™ Slider: WHOOP 4.0 is built with a new Fast Link™ slider that makes it easier than ever to swap WHOOP 4.0 between a variety of colorful bands and all-new WHOOP Body sensor-enhanced technical apparel
• SuperKnit & HydroKnit Bands: WHOOP 4.0 includes a new SuperKnit band which comes pre-threaded and is constructed for ultimate comfort and durability. WHOOP will also release a HydroKnit band that is fast drying and optimized for water sports and activities
• Any-Wear™ Detection: A novel location detection technology identifies when and where WHOOP 4.0 is on the body

WHOOP Body featuring Any-Wear™ Technology is available in two collections with prices ranging from $54 to $109. The Training Collection includes sports bras, compression tops, leggings, shorts, and athletic boxers. The Intimates Collection includes bralettes and everyday boxers. WHOOP Body and SuperKnit Bands are only available in combination with WHOOP 4.0.

Interested? Visit WHOOP.com and get a WHOOP membership that includes WHOOP 4.0 for free with access to the app for as low as $18 per month.

Even the simplest yoga pose can require your brain to go into overdrive: How should you position your hands and feet? Where should you look? What’s the right way to balance?

On Tuesday, Lululemon launches a new yoga mat designed to cut down on these mental calculations and help you better focus on your practice. The $118 mat is covered with a pattern of 3D ripples, each of which has been positioned to guide you through the most common yoga poses. The idea is that users will develop muscle memory about where to position their bodies, rather than looking for visual cues around them.

Lululemon has a long history of catering to the yoga community since it launched more than two decades ago. For this mat, the designers spent two years conducting focus groups with customers and ambassadors, many of whom are top yoga instructors. “We discovered that what people wanted was to feel grounded in their practice,” says Chantelle Murnaghan, director of Whitespace, Lululemon’s in-house innovation and R&D lab. “When we dug into what this meant, it came down to not being distracted, so they could better focus on their practice.”

In their research, they found that yoga practitioners at all levels—even experts—are constantly using visual cues to get into the right poses, whether it’s looking at other people or looking at themselves in the mirror. Stephen Morris, a senior designer at Lululemon who led the design of this mat, wanted to create something that would allow people to find the cues on their mat instead. “We explored what it might be like for someone to simply feel their way through their practice,” Morris says. “Could they just develop the muscle memory to flow through practice without having to look around them?”

There hasn’t been much innovation in the yoga mat market over the last few decades. A few brands have created mats with lines on them, along with instructions about how to use them. But customers told Morris these could be distracting and were sometimes hard to see in a darkened room.

Lululemon took all of this feedback into consideration. They positioned ripples across the mat and used several techniques to decide on their placement. They looked at customers’ old, well-worn yoga mats to see where the indentations were, since these spots were clearly heavily used. And they polled yogis about the most challenging poses to master, which turned out to be downward dog, side angle, warrior II, and warrior III.

In the end, Morris’s team created a pattern of 3D ripples on the mat that can be used in a wide range of poses. “The ripples are meant to be gestural, not prescriptive,” Morris says. “And importantly, you can feel out where the ripples are, so you don’t need to search for them.”

The point of the mat is not to overthink the ripples. Users should just practice as they normally would, and over time they’ll find that their hands and feet naturally feel more comfortable in specific circles. The idea is that eventually this positioning will become second nature.

The mat comes out of a broader design philosophy at Lululemon called “the science of feel,” which looks at how people feel while they’re active, instead of focusing on the action itself. This can be tricky, since feelings are subjective, and there tends to be a range of responses to a particular activity. With clothes, for instance, they’ve found that some consumers enjoy the feeling of sweat, while others hate it; some women like feeling movement in their sports bras, while others like feeling compressed.

With this mat, Morris wanted to create room for diversity and variation. “A person’s yoga practice is so personal,” says Morris. “This mat is designed to support a wide range of experiences.”

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This story was originally published on Fast Company by Elizabeth Segran and can be found here.

Peloton and adidas joined forces and launched a new apparel line on Thursday, March 25 motivated by "shared values of well-being, inclusivity and community," according to a joint statement. Designed in partnership with Peloton instructors Robin Arzón, Ally Love and Cody Rigsby, the 11-piece collection marks the start of an ongoing collaboration between the two brands.

The two companies teamed up to "further foster a sense of community and acceptance, while empowering  people to be the best version of themselves." With a nod to inclusivity, the apparel sizing extends to 2XL, and the collection also includes unisex pieces.

In an increasingly crowded and noisy fitness apparel sector, this partnership highlights how important it is for brands to be nurturing and engaging their communities. In particular, it shows how collaborations such as these are strategically important for brands wanting to not only offer something unique for their biggest fans, but also extend their reach by partnering with other brands with engaged communities.

Aimee Arana, General Manager, Global Training at adidas alluded to this importance in the joint statement, stating that “we have an incredible opportunity to help grow connected communities and  continue to support people as they build their new fitness journeys at home."

In teaming up with Peloton, adidas is tapping into a growing community of at-home fitness enthusiasts. Peloton has shown significant growth during the pandemic, and and now boasts 4.4 million members worldwide.

Peloton and adidas are not the only fitness brands turning their attention to a more size inclusive range. Many other companies such as fitness retailer Athleta and Target's TGT +4.3% in-house fitness brand All In Motion have extended their size ranges and featured a wider diversity of body shapes in their marketing and in-store mannequins. Fitness brand Superfit Hero even extends sizing up to 7X.

When asked about the driving force behind the addition of more inclusive sizing, a Peloton spokesperson, speaking via email, emphasized that both Peloton and adidas have "inclusivity and community at the heart".

"It was inspired by the vibrancy and diversity of the adidas and Peloton global fitness communities" they added.

As Cody Rigsby, Peloton instructor and one of the co-creators of the apparel range said: "We...wanted pieces of this clothing to represent what we stand for. For me, that's not conforming to what "normal" is."

This story was originally published on Forbes by Catherine Erdly and can be found here.

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One can never have too much athletic wear, especially when it’s seamless, sustainably made,  hugs the body in just the right way, and is universally flattering on different body shapes and sizes. That’s why we’re so excited to hear about Phat Buddah’s newest collection, which not only checks all those boxes but is also inspired by Miami. We were lucky enough to catch up with Phat Buddah Founder and recent Miami resident, Alissa Benishai, who gave us some insight into her new collection and her life. 

For those that don’t know Phat Buddha, can you give us a little background on your line of activewear?

Phat Buddha is a globally loved active fashion brand, specializing in seamless and sustainable technology. We created a product that bridges the gap between activewear and everyday fashion. The purpose of developing this brand was to allow myself and others to “get out of our own way.”  

As women, our bodies are ever-changing based on stress, post/pre-pregnancy, sleep, exercising, etc. We created seamless fabrication that molds to the body. Phat Buddha is about feeling good from the inside out, not about conforming into a garment.  NO MATTER HER MOVEMENT, #wemovewithyou.

We read that you did a 3-month Bikram intensive training, do you still practice? 

Yes, I practice every day. Due to the pandemic restrictions, I started self-practice and incorporated some moves after my streaming Tracy Anderson Method.

You’ve done collaborations with some big fitness industry names like Tracy Anderson. Who is another dream collaborator you would love to work with? 

Currently, I am grateful for all my exclusive partnerships because they are in line with Phat Buddha’s mission and have some MAJOR surprises coming up in 2021 extending our range and pushing the athleisure marketplace envelope. I would love to work with Drake. Not only is he reputable, and an inspirational artist, he is a true philanthropist to the Miami community. Expansion and collaboration into Men's wear through OVO would be a dream, and music has always inspired me to move. 

You recently moved to Miami and your newest collection is inspired by the Magic City, tell us more about the vibe of "Back To Basics, Miami Edition”?

My new collection is called “Back to Basics, Miami Edition”. The focus is on real women with real bodies, with an affordable price point. On February 8th, 2021, we launched Back to Basics, Miami Edition. The collection is seamless driven, sustainable, price-conscious, and size-inclusive. The collection features simple silhouettes with a fashion-forward flare that embraces YOUR BODY, YOUR MOVEMENT because #WEMOVEWITHYOU. We are spreading our NYC love to the streets of Miami. As was our philosophy in New York, we have named each garment after a street in Miami. We are very thankful to the Miami community for welcoming us with open arms and look forward to what new adventures tomorrow will bring.

A portion of proceeds from online sales is donated to charity. Can you share which ones and how you chose those?

During the last ten months, while working from my family home in Miami, we were able to touch the lives of those that needed a “feel good” moment, be it in their clothing, workouts, IGTV, REELS, videos, podcasts, etc.

Through my contact with my “Phat Buddha” community, I determined that the two biggest challenges brought about by the Pandemic were mental health and food. It was this realization that stirred me to draft a plan, reaching out to influencers, friends, CEO’s in our community and beyond to repost about Feeding America and supporting the JED Foundation. 

Phat Buddha, as a result, created a movement with the sole purpose of building a brand dedicated to “giving back.” Feeding America because when I walked to the kitchen my father asked me one morning what “kind” of milk I wanted, I had a selection. I had options, thousands of people did not have food. Hundreds of thousands of people were hungry, out of work and schools were closed so lunches were not served to children. The Jed Foundation, because I personally have struggled with mental health challenges that the world was facing at a high rate due to the pandemic.

Where can StayFit305 readers find PhatBuddha?

@phatbuddhawear,  www.phatbuddhawear.com 

Quick Fire Questions:

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Coffee or tea? 

Coffee Coffee Coffee, Cafe Bustello to be exact, and then Kombucha

Beach or pool? 

Do I have to choose? Beach

South Beach or Brickell? 

Brickell

Bal Harbour or Design District? 

Bal Harbour all the way

Early bird or night owl? 

Trick question, I don’t sleep. Prefer the mornings when everything is quiet and serene. And I get my best work done on Sundays.

Netflix or book? 

Neither (don’t tell my parents) I read news articles and listen to music

Favorite place to sweat in Miami? 

Beach

Favorite place to pamper in Miami? 

The Standard, Gee Beauty and Lymphatic/Fascia services.

Most looking forward to in 2021….

Balance. Investment. Growth. Giving back more to the community

Show your love for the 305 with our new STAY FIT 305 Original Women's Crop Tee. Made with breathable and lightweight fabric, the STAY FIT 305 Original Women's Crop Tee is perfect to rock at your next sweat or out and about in the Magic City. For a snugger fit, we recommend the small/medium, and the large for a more loose fit. SHOP NOW

January - March, Quarantine, December. Somehow we made it through 2020, and what a year it’s been. Many of us used the slow down to focus on our fitness, while others, well, might want to refocus on health in 2021. No matter which camp you, your friends, and loved ones fall into, these fitness-focused and splurge-worthy holiday gifts are sure to help make fitness a priority and more fun. 

No space to create an at home-gym? No problem, FORME Life solves space issues with its home-studio concept that brings a sleek designed, full-length mirror that not only provides killer workouts, but also upgrades home decor as well. Set fitness preferences, choose a  trainer, and let the AI mirror with two stereoscopic cameras with 12 megapixels that use advanced technology in human-centric computer vision, provide accurate guidance on form and technique. There are live and on-demand classes with many different types of disciplines including barre, cardio dance, cardio HIIT, high heels dances, free weight strength training, kids & adults meditation, mat pilates, Kundalini yoga, yoga sculpt, and kids “PE” classes. Available as The Studio ($2,495, $65/month for 36 months) and The Studio Lift ($4,495, $125/month for 36 months), the latter features enhancements for a true full-body experience with free FORME handles, premium rope handle, short bar, ankle straps. https://formelife.com, @thisisformelife‍

What better way to start off January than with a subscription to 54D ON, a comprehensive online program designed by former pro athlete Rodrigo Garduño, Founder of 54D. In just nine-weeks, this online virtual training alternative, which replicates the nearly $4,000 nine-week, in-studio, celebrity-favorite experience, can transform lives. The results-based method that helps people break mental and physical barriers offers access to an extensive video-library featuring high intensity training sessions, nutritional programs and recovery tips, and is optimized for all devices. https://54d-on.com, @54d.us‍

We know we have some Dolphins fans here, but there is no denying that Tom Brady has his wellness and fitness on point. Now you can give the MVP experience with TB12, Tom’s health and wellness brand he co-founded with longtime body coach Alex Guerrero. WIth various gifting options like the, Looped At-Home Band Kit ($95), Mini Vibrating Pliability Sphere ($109), Vibrating Pliability Foam Roller ($160) or The TB12 Method: How to Do What You Love Better and For Longer ($20), Tom Brady’s #1 New York Times bestseller, these will help jumpstart a 2021 fitness journey. https://tb12sports.com, @tb12sports‍

All that working out requires some recovery and there is no better tool for that than Hyperice Hypervolt massage gun. If you’ve never tried a massage gun, you are missing out as these hand-held devices can take you from sore to soothed in just minutes. Hypervolt is designed to help warmup and recovery, improve range of motion and flexibility, and reduce muscle soreness and stiffness. Hypervolt comes with 5 interchangeable head attachments to target different muscles and body parts and features Bluetooth® to connect to the Hyperice App. $349, current on sale for $299. https://hyperice.com, @hyperice

Find your new favorite pair of jeans with Revtown. Meant to feel as comfortable as your sweatpants, these jeans guarantee your perfect fit.

After 20 years of designing technical athletic and training apparel, the Revtown founders headed off to Milan, Italy where they combined the science of performance fabrics with the art of high fashion.

Revtown jeans are made with premium Italian denim infused with a flexible athletic yarn so the jeans have no squeeze and just enough stretch to move with you and stay in place.

The trademarked fabric fits perfect from day one and won't lose shape during the course of a day. Although they look and feel designer, there are no complicated wash instructions - the shape and color will stay throughout all your wears and washes. 

Sustainability is an important part of Revtown's production. 100% of all waste is recycled into denim yarn or insulation for local housing. Their fabric is also sustainably sourced, using BCI-certified cotton. This ensures water is used efficiently, that the cotton’s soil meets high health standards, and also protects rights for farmers.

Revtown’s denim is sustainably dyed using indigo, shrimp shells, orange peels, and nut shells. This process uses 30% less energy, 50% less water and 70% less chemicals than traditional dying techniques across the industry.

The athletic stretch denim comes in a variety of washes and styles for all sizes. Prices start at $79 with free shipping and free returns within 30 days. Find your perfect fit at revtownusa.com.

MIRROR is at-home fitness technology that can bring the boutique studio experience to your home at a time when virtual workouts reign supreme. Now available at lululemon Aventura, I got a chance to demo MIRROR and experience the technology for myself.

MIRROR is, quite literally, a computerized mirror, showing the trainer and your metrics on it's screen while also allowing you to check your form (or take a selfie!) in the reflection. When not in use, MIRROR is a tasteful decoration against your wall. It connects to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth, which is where you can scroll through the extensive library and choose your workout through its companion app.

MIRROR has more than 50 different types of workouts and thousands of classes to choose from. There are also weekly live classes, and 1-on-1 personal training is available, giving you extra accountability to complete your workout if you need it. A camera at the top of MIRROR can also be turned on, allowing your video to display to the trainer for additional feedback and motivation during live classes.

Workouts can be filtered to include what you have on hand, whether that be dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, or even just bodyweight. Whether you are looking for a 5-minute class or a 60-minute class, a class for beginners or something more advanced, you are sure to find the perfect workout for you.

The strength workout I chose was very easy to follow along, and had me breaking a sweat just a few minutes in. I appreciated the timeline along the bottom of the screen that showed me where I was at in the class and how much longer I had in a specific movement. There are so many other classes I would have loved to try - like kickboxing.

MIRROR costs $1,495 with payment plans available, and also requires a $39 monthly membership that gives unlimited access for up to six members.

To learn more and book your own demo at lululemon Aventura, click here.

SQUAT | PERFECT, a set of patent-pending height-adjustable squat wedges was first conceived of by Dwayne Douglas, a Fort Lauderdale-based fitness entrepreneur and former studio gym owner of HUNGER 4 FITNESS. Douglas found many of his female clients struggled with maintaining an ideal form that would allow them to maximize the benefits of their workout. While most of his clients were eager to tone their glutes and legs, they were struggling with back strain and finding items to raise their heels comfortably when performing a squat, deadlift, or lunge. He came up with a unique, lightweight, and compact solution for training your lower body.

“Most of my clients have one goal in mind, apart from wanting to be trim and healthy, they wanted to work on shaping and sculpting their glutes and legs in the most efficient and effective way possible,” explains Douglas. “I would be in the gym with my clients and we’d try to use a foam block, but they were clumsy or unstable. Instead of helping the workout, it would make the workout dangerous. We’d try towels but couldn’t get the angle right or get them high enough. We even tried a weight plate, which often slid or left the arch of their feet unsupported. Nothing we tried was doing the job efficiently. I thought about the challenge for a few years and in 2019, I finally perfected SQUAT | PERFECT.”

SQUAT | PERFECT allows the user to maximize the benefits of squats with half the effort while providing a total lower body transformation system that targets quads, glutes, and hamstrings during the workout. The wedges are made from high-quality rubber. The surface had a tread in order to offer maximum grip, high adherence, and prevent slippage. The high-density rubber prevents compression under load, even when working out with heavy weights. In fact, the wedges can withstand thousands of pounds without compressing. SQUAT | PERFECT is height adjustable from 30 mm to 60 mm, measures 9” long by 7” wide and weighs just under 2.9 pounds making it ultra-portable.

SQUAT | PERFECT is the ultimate at-home workout system. The height-adjustable wedges are easy to use, take up little space, and make a variety of positions and workouts more efficient, leading to faster and more dramatic results. Pop the SQUAT | PERFECT height-adjustable wedges into a workout bag and bring the ultra-efficient system with you to the gym or workout classes.

For more information, or to purchase SQUAT | PERFECT online, visit their website at www.squatperfect.com. To connect with SQUAT | PERFECT on social media and get the latest workout tips, follow @squatperfectofficial on Instagram.

In the sea of skincare and wellness, finding the right fit for your own beauty and health goals can sometimes be overwhelming. Not anymore. More and more brands are offering customizable options for bespoke products that are just for you. Here are four of our favorites. 

Vitamins

We stumbled upon Nourished when doing research for another story, but as we read more about this brand of vitamins that you can totally customize, we had to place it here. Nourished is the first-ever, 3D-printed, sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, gummy vitamin with 7 vitamins and nutrients included in one delicious chewable 3D-printed “stack.” Once on their site, you can choose from a plethora of vitamins and superfoods, 28 to be exact, to build your own. Not sure what to choose? Each ingredient has an explanation of its health benefits. We added antioxidant Milk Thistle extract for liver health, Silica for collagen boosting, and Ashwagandha to reduce cortisol, along with 4 other energy-boosting ingredients. They arrive in individually sealed plastic-free, compostable packs that have your name on them. As for the vitamins, they are deliciously good and we’ve been feeling great. get-nourished.com, @get_nourished

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Skincare

With so many skincare products on the market, it’s easy to get confused about what is best for you. That’s why we turned to Annie Graham, facialist and formulator behind XO Treatment Room to get a totally customized serum. Via her Satellite X virtual consultation, a quick Facetime call with Annie, we showed our bare skin up close and personal with her, and discussed skincare concerns, goals, likes and dislikes. In just under two weeks, our very own personalized skin serum arrived. Annie creates these customized formulas on her on-site lab and ships worldwide. xotreatmentroom.com, @xotreatmentroom

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Makeup 

Ever struggle to find just the right shade or makeup to match your skintone? Elina Organics offers custom shades of their tinted moisturizer, Sun Shelter at no extra charge. Sun Shelter is a 100% organic, guilt-free tinted moisturizer with lightweight and natural coverage, sun protection, and anti-aging benefits. Infused with natural coloring made from Zinc Oxide, Spirulina, Sea Buckthorn, SunFlower Phospholipid, Sea Water Pearl, Chamomile, and Black Willow Bark, it protects and nourishes. While they do offer Light, Medium and Dark shades, if you don’t see your match, email elina@elinaorganics.com and they will customize a shade just for you. elinaorganicsskincare.com, @elinaorganics.

Another option for choosing the perfect hues can be achieved with Makeup Geek’s Build Your Own Palette. This cruelty-free line of highly pigmented products, created by beauty entrepreneur, Marlena Stell, allows you to mix and match your own pans so that you’re not stuck purchasing a palette that only has a few shades that you’ll use. And the best part about Makeup Geek’s palettes is that the magnetic pans are easy to swap out. So if you use up one shade quicker than the other, you can just replace that one shade. Or if you decide to change it up, you don’t need to buy an entirely new palette, just the pan. Makeupgeek.com, @makeupgeekcosmetics

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This morning, Peloton officially launched their Bike bootcamp classes. We first saw rumors about this in the leadup to the Bike+ launch, and Peloton confirmed they would be coming as part of the Bike+ announcement.

The initial Bike+ classes are taught by Jess Sims, Cody Rigsby, and Robin Arzon. To find them, you need to browse to the cycling section of the on-demand library – not the Bootcamp section as you might otherwise think! Peloton has now added a new “Bike Bootcamp” class type filter within the Cycling section, making them easier to find. The initial launch has just 4 Bike bootcamp classes available to take – we’re sure the pace of how often new ones are added will be determined based on how popular the classes end up being with members.

At this time, there are no live bike bootcamp classes scheduled for the next week or two, however, this will likely change in the future.

Prior to launch, Peloton hosted a Facebook live event with Robin, Jess, and Cody to go over what to expect and look forward to with the new classes.

It’s worth clarifying that although these new Bike bootcamp workouts are launching in coordination with the new Bike+ being released, they are available to all members – including those with the original bike and Peloton digital. There isn’t a requirement to use the new Bike+ for them – although Peloton expects it might be easier with the new rotating screen.

The classes are designed with enough time for you to change out of your cycling shoes into whatever shoes you feel most comfortable doing the strength/floor part of the workout with. Peloton has a blog post up with some tips on how to set up your room for the classes.

*This article was originally published on Pelo Buddy by Chris L and can be found here.

One of the new features coming to the Apple Watch this year is a tool for measuring your blood oxygen level. The Apple Watch Series 6 features a new sensor on the underside of the wearable’s casing that uses both red and infrared light to measure the oxygen in your red blood cells in about 15 seconds. It can also do background readings while you sleep.

Apple said it’s partnering with health networks across North America, including researchers at UC Irvine and the University of Toronto, to leverage the new feature to study the effects of COVID-19 on a person’s respiratory system.

Besides blood oxygen monitoring, watchOS 7 will include an improved framework for measuring VO2 max, which can give you a good idea of your cardiovascular health. Other new features coming to watchOS 7 include a handwashing feature and sleep tracking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kS-UAofYYI

*This article was originally published on Engadget by Igor Bonifacic and can be found here.

Online fitness services such as Peloton and Daily Burn have become very popular, and now Apple wants in on the business. They will soon offer Apple Fitness+, the latest service for Apple users. Fitness+ combines your Apple devices, videos, and collected exercise data to allow you to have satisfying workouts.

This article will tell you all you need to know about Apple Fitness+. We’ll update it whenever there are new developments.

What is Apple Fitness+?

Internet-based fitness services and apps that work on your iPhone has been around for a while from companies like Aaptiv, Daily Burn, and YogaGlo. They saw a huge growth in popularity thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic.

With the Apple Watch, Apple has a device that’s perfectly made to help people get the most out of their workouts. The new Apple Watch Series 6 includes new blood oxygen monitoring and an ECG app to go along with the heart-rate monitor that’s been with the Apple Watch from the beginning. Even before the Series 6 was released, the Apple Watch’s use in fitness has been on a steady growth path. And you don’t need a Series 6 watch to use Apple Fitness+.

With so many Apple Watch users using it as an exercise tool, Apple decided to create the Apple Fitness+ service. Fitness+ features a series of workout videos that users can play on an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. Data is collected by the Apple Watch and displayed with the workout video, so you can track stats such as workout time, heart rate, and calories burned.

How does Apple Fitness+ work?

To do Apple Fitness+, you need an Apple Watch. The Watch is used to track your data as you work out.

You then need another device for the videos: an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. Apple Fitness+ will be in the iPhone’s Fitness app. Apple will be releasing a Fitness app for the iPad and Apple TV.

Apple will have a catalog of workout videos for you to use. When you are ready to work out and start a video, your Apple Watch is automatically triggered to record your data. As you do the video, your fitness data appears on the video screen. You’ll also get notifications when you reach fitness goals.

When you finish a workout, you see a data summary screen, and there’s a “Burn Bar” that allows you to compare stats with other people who have done the same workout.

All that data that’s collected—will my privacy be protected?

Apple says that the workout recommendations are “powered using on-device intelligence,” so it’s not collected online. The calories burned and the trainers you choose are not stored with your Apple ID.

What types of workouts does Apple Fitness+ have?

Apple will offer 10 different workout types at launch:

• Core
• Cycling
• Dance
• High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
• Rowing
• Treadmill run
• Treadmill walk
• Strength
• Yoga
• Mindful cooldowns

New workouts will be added weekly, so you don’t get bored doing the same workouts over and over.

Apple Fitness+ can make workout recommendations based on your past activity data collected by the Apple Watch. Filtering tools for workout type, trainers, duration, and music are provided so you can exercise the way you want.

Do I need workout equipment for Apple Fitness+?

You can use your own equipment, so for example, if you want to do a Cycling workout, you can use your own exercise bike. You don’t need to buy special equipment. Apple says that many of the workouts don’t require equipment at all.

If you have a gym membership, you can do Apple Fitness+ there. You can play the videos on an iPhone or iPad and use your gym’s equipment or workout rooms.

I’m new to working out, or I’m coming back to it after an absence. Would Apple Fitness+ work for me?

Apple Fitness+ has an “Absolute Beginner” program for users who are just getting started or are returning to regular workouts. The program teaches the body movements often used in the workouts, so you can feel comfortable while you find your groove.

Can I play music while I work out?

The workouts play music, and Apple Fitness+ works with Apple Music so you can save the songs played and use them for future workouts, or listen to them at your leisure. This requires an Apple Music subscription.

What devices do I need for Apple Fitness+?

Apple Fitness+ requires:

• Apple Watch Series 3 or later paired with an iPhone 6s or later, or an iPhone SE
• If you want to use an iPad, you must have and iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation or later), iPad mini 4 or later, iPad Air 2, or iPad Air (3rd generation)
• Apple Fitness+ can be used on the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD

How much does Apple Fitness+ cost?

Apple Fitness+ is a subscription service that is free for the first month. After that, you pay $9.99 per month, or $79.99 a year. A subscription can be shared with up to five other people though Family Sharing. An Apple Music subscription is not required.

Apple Fitness+ is part of the new Apple One service bundle, where you can sign up for serveral Apple services, such as Apple Music, Apple TV+, and iCloud in addition to Apple Fitness+ for a special price.

Can I try Apple Fitness+ for free before I sign up?

You can. There are a few trials plans available, but they may expire so check for their availability.

• Anyone who buys a new Apple Watch Series 3 or later after September 15, 2020, will get a free 3-month Apple Fitness+ trial.
• Best Buy deal: If you buy an Apple Watch Series 3 or later from Best Buy, you get six months of Apple Fitness+ for free. If you are a My Best Buy member and already have an Apple Watch Series 3 or later, you get two months of Apple Fitness+ free.
• CVS Health deal: Select Aetna commercial and Caremark members, CVS Pharmacy ExtraCare retail customers, and CVS Health employees can get “special access” to Apple Fitness+.

Where is Apple Fitness+ available?

It will be available in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S.

When will Apple Fitness+ be available?

Apple has not announced a specific date. They’ve only said, “Later this year [2020].”

*This article was originally published on MacWorld by Roman Loyola and can be found here.

Swiss footwear maker On thinks that it’s high time that running sneakers were lighter and better for the environment than before. That’s why the company is launching its first completely-recyclable shoe as part of a service that’ll rent, rather than sell, you a new pair of trainers. Both the shoe and the service are dubbed Cyclon, and it’s a project whereby you’ll be able to send your kicks back when they’re worn out. And, when those shoes reach the end of their life, they’ll be ground down to make new ones.

The Cyclon shoe weighs in under seven ounces and is designed to be worn in “elite level competition” with high levels of energy return and cushioning. The upper is made from a material derived from castor beans, while the sole is made from an Evonik polymer that’s part of the same family as the upper. When returned, the shoes are shredded, ground down and re-used in their entirety to make sole parts. Specifically, the recycled material will be turned into speedboards, the custom plate that sits between the midsole and upper to cushion the blow when your foot strikes the ground. 

In order to grab a Cyclon, you’ll need to sign up to, er, Cyclon, putting down a deposit for $30 that’ll get you the first batch of Cyclon shoes when they land in the back half of 2021. When they arrive, you’ll be locked in paying $30 a month for a minimum commitment of six months. The general idea being that you’ll swap them every six months in order to make sure you never wear out your shoes enough to risk injury. Not to mention that you can get a new pair without the usual environmental guilt associated with buying a new pair of kicks.

*This article was originally published on Engadget by Daniel Cooper and can be found here.

Peloton Interactive Inc. is preparing to launch a cheaper treadmill and a new high-end bike, while cutting the price of its existing bike to stoke demand as many gyms remain closed, according to people familiar with the matter.

The new treadmill, called Tread, will cost less than $3,000, compared with $4,295 for the current model. It will also be smaller and have a cheaper belt design like most other treadmills on the market versus the current model’s slat design. The existing Peloton treadmill will continue to be sold as the company’s high-end offering and will be renamed the “Tread+,” the people said. They asked not to be identified discussing private product plans.

The new stationary bike will be a premium offering called Bike+, and will likely cost more than the current $2,245 version. Peloton will then drop the price of the existing machine to less than $1,900, the people said. The shares fell almost 4% to $79.05 in early trading in New York.

One of the new features of the cheaper Tread and higher-end bike will be a more adjustable tablet screen. This will help users do different workouts near the machine, not just on it, expanding the variety of classes. Peloton is also preparing bootcamp training classes for its bikes, which are strength training video workouts currently available on the Tread and the Peloton mobile app, according to the people familiar with the matter.

The New York-based fitness and technology company could announce the new products as early as next week, ahead of quarterly results scheduled for Sept. 10, one of the people said. A Peloton spokeswoman declined to comment.

The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted demand for Peloton’s products and services as consumers look for new ways to work out at home. Many gyms across the U.S. remain closed, giving the company a rare opportunity to lure new customers and subscribers. The stock has surged 178% this year.

However, the outbreak has also limited the company’s ability to produce new products and has paused deliveries of the treadmill in most U.S. markets. In May, Peloton Chief Executive Officer John Foley said Covid-19 forced the company to rethink its product launch timing. He also noted a significant backlog of future devices and said eventually releasing a cheaper treadmill was a high priority.

The cheaper treadmill is likely to go on sale later than the new Bike+, according to one of the people familiar with the matter.

Bloomberg News previously reported on Peloton’s plans for a cheaper treadmill. The company is also working on a rowing machine, but that is not expected to be announced until later.

*This article was originally published on Bloomberg by Mark Gurman and can be found here.

Earlier, we learned that Apple may be preparing “Apple One” subscription bundles that combine its existing services like Apple TV and Apple Music. However, it might also enter an all-new arena. The company is reportedly working on virtual fitness classes that would compete against offerings from Nike and Peloton, via an app for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, according to Bloomberg.

Codenamed “Seymour,” the fitness subscriptions would be available as part of a higher-end bundle with other Apple services. It would offer classes that rival Nike’s Class Pass and Peloton, Bloomberg reported, so presumably, that would include guided live and on-demand sessions. Apple isn’t likely to sell a bike (though you never know), so it might be closer to Class Pass with aerobic, yoga, kettlebells, and other classes that have limited equipment requirements.

The service makes sense for Apple, as products like the Watch and iPhone are already widely used for fitness and health tracking. On top of that, Apple Music would be a good fit by giving users workout tunes, while participants could be follow along on Apple TV.

There are a lot of other possibilities — Apple might even figure out a way to incorporate the Watch into exercise sessions using heart-rate, accelerometers, and other sensors. None of this is confirmed yet, however, so take it all with some serious skepticism.

*This article was originally published on Engadget by Steve Dent and can be found here.

In the first month of COVID-19 lockdowns alone, Americans increased their spending on online workouts by 125%, according to Cardlytics ad platform that partners with banks to track consumer spending. And purchases of at-home fitness equipment were 130% higher than they were the year prior, according to the NPD Group, one of the world's largest market research companies.

"With big box gyms being closed around the world, home gyms are becoming more of the norm," says certified personal trainer Jumha Aburezeq, founder of StoopidFit lifestyle coaching platform. He explains that it's not just longtime gym-goers who are investing in at-home fitness equipment; many people are entering into exercise for the first time as they try to get more movement and manage their mental health in spite of social isolation.

"Before filling up your online cart with all the best equipment on the market, though, there will be a few things you need to consider," he says. After all, what constitutes the ideal at-home gym is going to be different for everyone.

Here are six questions to help you create an at-home gym that works for you.

What Are My Goals?

It sounds pretty basic, but a lot of people don't take the time to ensure that the equipment they buy is truly consistent with their goals and workout preferences, Aburezeq says.

So ask yourself, do you want to add strength and muscle? Then looking into free weights, resistance bands, a suspension system like TRX, or even a weight-lifting station or cable machine should be your first move, he says.

If you're training for a race, enjoy cardio, or do your best exercise while watching TV or reading a book, then a treadmill, elliptical or stationary bike might be the way to go. If you love total-body high-intensity interval training workouts, a rower is worth considering.

And if you're just wanting to feel generally healthier, a combination of any of these could work, based on what you actually like to do, of course.

What Would I Use at the Gym?

When your goal is to not work out at the gym, this might seem like an odd question to ask yourself. But if you're unlikely to use any given cardio machine or free weight when you're at the gym, you're also unlikely to use it at home, Aburezeq says.

Plus, it's worth considering if your at-home equipment is a temporary solution to help you train until you can make it back into a public gym or if you plan to work out at home from now on.

"This will give you an idea of how big of a budget you should commit to as well as the size of the equipment you'll be using," he says. "If you plan for this to be temporary, then smaller, more versatile equipment will be key, otherwise you'll be stuck with a bench press station that'll be used as a coat rack eight months from now." 

RELATED 5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Home Workouts

What's My Budget?

Once you get a rough idea of the types of fitness equipment you want, it can be helpful to determine your budget before starting your search.

That way, you reduce the risk of browsing out-of-budget options that you might want but can't have. It also makes it less likely that you'll end up spending more money than is wise for your current financial situation.

Consider both your budget for your entire gym and how much of that you're open to devoting to any one item. If you're interested in buying multiple pieces of equipment, deciding all of your purchases before hitting that order button can help you stay on budget.

Where Will I Put Everything?

An immediate concern when investing in at-home fitness equipment is space – with the answer having a large impact on what and how much equipment you're able to house.

"Walk through your home and map out an ideal space that you can see yourself training regularly," Aburezeq says. "I always suggest underestimating how much space you actually plan to use to give you room for error." When considering rooms, also take into account ceiling height: If you are interested in overload lifting, at least a 9.5-foot-high ceiling will likely be a must, he says.

Flooring is another factor to take into account, explains certified personal trainer Joey Thurman, master trainer with kuudose online fitness platform. First, consider strength. Current U.S. building codes specify most residential floors withstand 40 pounds per square foot, with bedrooms dropping to 30 and garages requiring 50. Most heavy equipment will be safe even on second floors, but if you have an older home, look into its specifications before loading your second floor with barbells and weight plates.

Whatever room you're in, it's worth investing in exercise-friendly flooring: "It is very important for safety as well as shock absorption," Thurman says. "There are lots of premade gym floors that simply snap together like puzzle pieces where they can be laid on the ground."

How Easy Will It Be to Access and Use?

This depends on both the space you use and the equipment you fill it with.

"Finding a happy medium between 'can be put away' and 'still easy to get out' is critical for adherence and consistency in a workout program, especially when working out from home," explains certified personal trainer Mecayla Froerer, director of at-home personal training community iFit.

If you plan to store cardio equipment in a multi-purpose room, choosing lighter-weight options can be the way to go. Look through the specs on any equipment options you're considering to determine what's user-friendly for your workout schedule and lifestyle, she says.

RELATED 3 Miami Instructors Share Tips for Making the Most of Your At-Home Workouts

How Techy Am I?

For many people, online-based workouts and classes are a big draw, increasing workout enjoyment, interest and motivation. If that's you, choosing smart machines that play expert-led on-demand classes may be a good fit, Froerer says.

No matter how cool a machine's functionality is, though, be honest with yourself about how many tech features you'll really take advantage of. If you have a good feeling that you won't use all of the bells and whistles, look for a scaled-down option.

This story was originally published on US News by K. Aleisha Fetters and can be found here.