REVOLUTIONIZING THE TREADMILL

It is safe to say that we all have a fitness nemesis, something we know that is good for us but also despises at the same time. For most of us, it is the treadmill, a bulky solitary machine with a conveyor belt that offers endless & monotonous dread.

Treadmills are the most common, most available, as well as best selling fitness equipment to date. People are more likely to own a treadmill than an elliptical or stationary bike. From apartment building gyms to hotels, to even at the most humble places of lodging, you are guaranteed to find the offerings of a treadmill.

As an activity used in the pursuit of physical fitness, running and especially treadmill running can be seen as a solitary chore, even if the screen in front of us is showing our favorite movie or show. The secluded monotony is unappealing. Even the most seasoned of runners willingly admit that slugging away on the treadmill point blank just sucks. Boutique fitness studios like Barry’s Boot Camp and Mile High Club offer group treadmill classes, but often availability is limited and its cost of $25-30 per 45-minute class is not cheap.  

The seclusion and dread of running on the treadmill are precisely what inspired the inception of STUDIO, an app that has completely revolutionized the workout of treadmill running.  Studio takes away the boredom of treadmill running by offering an interactive and gamified experience through socialized audio based boutique-style treadmill classes. Through a subscription-based model of $8.99 a month, classes can be taken live and on-demand by anyone with access to a treadmill.

Designed for both marathon runners and those who have never run a mile before, Studio’s class offerings range from beginner, intermediate, advanced and can be paired with lengths of 20, 30, or 45 minutes. Running coaches also offer class sets such as the New Year, New You program, which consists of 3 classes per week, all 30 min beginner classes. These class sets aim to help runners set healthy habits, follow goals, be accountable, and stay on track. Classes can also be chosen based on whether they emphasize instruction or a particular genre of music. Studio’s New York City-based instructors each bring their unique style of coaching so every class is entirely different. You can choose a class whose coach who talks you through everything from technical instruction to breathwork and encouragement, or one who lets the music just flow. The interactive app also boasts a variety of walking classes to help those who are just starting to explore their journey into running.

Only needing access to a treadmill and your smartphone, these group fitness classes have a gamified and social component. For each class, you can compete asynchronously in real time against anyone who has ever taken the class. Runners can access the class’ asynchronous leaderboard through their phone or Apple Watch to earn FITCOIN, Studio’s digital currency that is redeemable for real-world goods and personalized features. The leaderboard helps to spur competition and enhance performance. For Studio, it’s not about being the best or winning the leaderboard, it is more taking the steps to a better version of yourself every day. Taking a class (whether you walk, run or jog) on the leaderboard reminds you that you are not alone despite your physical location and that every class is an opportunity to push yourself to be a little bit more than before.

The interactive nature of the classes is meant to foster encouragement and solidarity. On the leaderboard screen, you have the option of hitting the “Cheer Button” to show love to your class. If you like a song that has come on, you can hit the “Cheer Button” to give a high-five to the coach who designed the playlist or if you just crushed a sprint, tapping the “Cheers Button” allows you to send out a virtual high-five to your class. Studio runners also have the option of reaching out to coaches via social media as well as sharing their experience with other runners by posting on Studio’s Facebook page.

The studio strives to keep their runners motivated through coach-runner dialogue and making shout-outs and acknowledgments of members who achieved a personal best improvement through their weekly newsletter and social media channels. Studio is also intent on building a community of runners who not only race each other on the leaderboard but also in real time and space. As the warmer months approach, Studio plans to host outdoor meetups with coaches for their New York City members.

Driven by a deep sense of empathy and a call to serve and foster community, Studio superbly endeavors to the counter our common hangups to running. Studio helps to make running an enjoyable and consistent activity for the rest of us because it is not about being the fastest, but being part of a community who chooses to show up and encourage one another no matter where you are in your fitness journey. No longer in solitary, but in solidarity.
http://credit-n.ru/zaymyi-next.html
http://credit-n.ru/zaymyi-next.html
http://credit-n.ru/zaymyi-next.html
http://credit-n.ru/zaymyi-next.html