Fancy a session with one of the world’s best PTs? Trade in
your gym membership and log on to your laptop
I‘m in my usual weekly exercise class with my instructor and
classmates. I can see them, they can see me - nothing unusual there. Except I
haven’t had to venture to the gym or pay an expensive membership. Instead, I’ve
rocked up to my living room with just my yoga mat, a chair and water bottle for
my Sleek Technique Interactive Live Class.
Intrigued? The process is simple - I booked the session,
clicked on a confirmation email and there she is online, in her living room,
welcoming me to the class. Flik advises me where to place my laptop so she can
see me clearly and, as we chat, other members of the class sign in. I can see
them on my screen, too, and we say hi to each other, just as we would in a
regular class at a gym.
Before we begin, Flik tells me to click on an icon at the
top of my screen so I only see her and not the rest of the class, then I turn
up the volume so I can hear clearly and we’re off. Flik runs the session like a
normal class - cueing us, counting us in and correcting us individually, as and
when needed. Throughout the session, you can ask as many questions as you like,
but her cues are so good, that’s not really needed. She also reminds us to
drink enough water and can see immediately if there’s a problem such as
incorrect form or an injury. It feels very personal, and it’s easy to imagine
you’re having a private training session - complete with warm-up, main class,
cool-down and stretch.
I can see them on
my screen, too, and we say hi to each other, just as we would in a regular
class at a gym.
Sleek Technique launched in April and now runs more than 20
live classes a week, with women logging on all over the UK and US. It’s just
one of many online brands now offering everything from live classes to
on-demand, bespoke programs via email or live one-to- ones. And they’re proving
very popular.
A virtual world
So are virtual workouts the way forward for the exercise
industry?
‘People are busier than ever before and they want much more
control over how and when they exercise,’ says Luke Walker, founder of
instructorlive.com, which runs 15 live online classes a week. ‘Many of our members
are mums with young children at home, so they need the flexibility and
convenience of taking part in a class in the few moments they get to
themselves,’ he says. ‘Online fitness gives everyone the best chance of
reaching their fitness goals. You can now take a live class with one of the
world’s best instructors, no matter where you live.’
And you don’t have to be tech savvy to join the online
revolution. ‘To set yourself up for virtual training, all you need is a
computer with an in-built webcam and internet connection,’ says Agatha Chang,
founder of online training site Powhow.com. ‘You can even view the class
through your TV.’
Online fitness
gives everyone the best chance of reaching their fitness goals.
Train with the best
Thanks to the virtual revolution, you really can work out
with some of the top trainers in the world at the touch of a button. These
include Kim Kardashian’s trainer Gunnar Peterson, who, for US$30 a week, will
email you a bespoke nutrition and fitness plan to get you in ‘Hollywood’ shape
in eight weeks.
Andrea Orbeck, trainer to Heidi Klum, offers free workout
videos online. ‘Why go to the gym,’ says Orbeck, ‘when you can maximize your
workout with 25 minutes of high-intensity intervals in your home?’
Mary Helen Bowers, who trained Yatalie Portman for her role
in The Black Swan, also offers live classes and streaming videos for just US$10
a class.
Meanwhile, top trainer Tracy Anderson (PT to Gwyneth
Paltrow) has posted more than 9,000 free workout ‘webisodes’ on YouTube.
Flex-appeal
The primary appeal of online fitness is its flexibility.
One-to-one sessions and classes are easier to schedule because both the trainer
and the client can do them from anywhere. Trainers are not limited by studio
costs or travel so it’s more affordable than in-person training and, in winter,
a virtual class in your living room is a welcome alternative to venturing out
on a cold, dark morning.
And there’s no compromise on teaching either, In classes
such as Sleek Technique, each class member is positioned carefully on the
instructors screen, so they can be corrected, inspired and motivated when
required.
‘It’s essential that we have a friendly, but keen eye for
helping people achieve correct form during the exercises,’ says Swan. ‘We like
to have no more than six to eight students in each class, so we can see them
really clearly on our screen and give them the attention they deserve.’
One-to-one
sessions and classes are easier to schedule because both the trainer and the
client can do them from anywhere.
Other virtual training sessions offer more privacy, for
those who want it. ‘I came up with the concept for InstructorLive after
realizing there must be millions of people who don’t want to exercise in front
of others,’ says Walker. ‘Our instructors are trained to provide very clear
demonstrations and excellent verbal cues to ensure the correct form is
followed. Our instructors can’t see the class participants, so members remain
private. They can ask questions or make comments during the classes, though, which
our instructors respond to in real-time.’
Virtual vs. gym
So could online classes eventually replace real-life
exercise classes? We think not. ‘Standard online training programs will never
be as good as an actual trainer,’ says celebrity PT Dan Roberts
(danrobertstraining.com). ‘That’s because trainers get results by building a
relationship with clients and supporting them.’
If you’re with your PT at the gym, you can’t skip the moves
you don’t like or not give 100 per cent if you’re having an off day. Plus,
there are also lots of distractions at home to derail your good intentions,
such as phones and kids.
So could online
classes eventually replace real-life exercise classes?
That said, there’s definitely a time and place for online
training sessions. Variety is key to keeping your motivation levels high and
your body challenged, and with thousands of classes available at the click of a
button, it’s good to know you can now train with the crème de la crème for just
a fraction of the cost.
