Fitness

Peloton teases new rower at Homecoming event

Published

3 years ago

May 14, 2022

Peloton teases new rower at Homecoming event

Peloton’s annual Homecoming occasion is for the followers. It’s the place the health tech firm teases new merchandise, in addition to drops new options and content material. It’s additionally an opportunity for followers to take reside lessons taught by their favourite instructors and attend particular panel discussions. This 12 months, the large tease is that Peloton formally confirmed a related rower is coming.

Peloton’s reveal is extra of a teaser and official affirmation than the rest. We don’t know the specs or when it’ll launch — simply that it’s “coming quickly.” When it comes to design, the rower itself seems to have an analogous vibe to the Peloton Tread — smooth, with a minimalist profile and a show to look at lessons on. Rumors in regards to the rower have been floating round since 2018, when Bloomberg reported that Peloton had plans to launch it in 2020. Clearly, 2020 got here and went, and no rower was to be seen.

Forward of Peloton’s Homecoming announcement, I obtained to talk with co-founder and chief product officer Tom Cortese in regards to the determination, in addition to Peloton’s different Homecoming bulletins.

“We’re getting into the rowing class, which is long-awaited and feels just like the worst-kept secret on Earth, so may as effectively simply speak about it,” Cortese instructed me over Zoom.

Homecoming is an annual occasion for followers the place Peloton declares new options and teases new merchandise.

Picture: Peloton

For an at-home fitness center, treadmills and bikes make sense. Within the health tech world, loads of tools makers cater to runners and cyclists as a result of they’re common actions. However rowing has historically been a bit extra area of interest. A part of that’s the area it takes up in your house, and most of the people don’t develop up rowing. You instinctively know methods to run, and studying to trip a motorbike is usually a fond childhood reminiscence. There’s a definite type that accompanies rowing that you simply wouldn’t know except somebody taught you. And whereas rowers have been accessible at gyms for many years, the game it is based mostly on has a rep for being elitist and exclusionary.

That stated, indoor rowing has more and more change into common throughout the previous couple of years, because of boutique and related health lessons. Hydrow made its identify because the “Peloton of rowers,” and there are many different Hydrow-esque companies on the market proper now. Apple included rowing as a class in Health Plus. OrangeTheory is one other stylish boutique health studio that closely options rowing.

“In a comparatively brief interval on the rower, like a ten or 15-minute class, you may truly interact 86 p.c of the muscle tissues in your physique,” Cortese says. “The issue with rowing has been it’s type of inaccessible as a result of the typical particular person like me appears at a rower, and I don’t know what to do.”

This video has a tiny tease of the rower. Blink, and also you may miss it.

The concept is that Peloton needs to leverage its tech, bullpen of common instructors, and {hardware} design sensibilities to de-mystify rowing. It additionally dovetails with one other Peloton initiative to broaden its power coaching choices. Cortese famous that Peloton goes to steadily improve its power coaching content material. At Homecoming, the corporate introduced a brand new four-week program hosted by coach Tunde Oyeneyin specializing in arms and shoulders that’ll first be a Peloton Information unique. The Information, a camera-based system that allows you to examine your type on a TV as you comply with alongside together with your instructors, is Peloton’s first foray into power coaching {hardware} — and the rower, a mixture of cardio and power, might be its second.

That is all consistent with Peloton’s total strategy by means of the years. Nevertheless, sticking to a recreation plan is unlikely to assuage antsy traders fixating on Peloton’s inventory worth, particularly because the {hardware} itself is usually what analysts maintain underneath the microscope.

Earlier this week, the corporate posted larger-than-expected losses for its Q3 earnings. In the course of the name, new CEO Barry McCarthy repeatedly instructed analysts from big-name banks that whereas Peloton was good at {hardware}, “being good at {hardware} is just not practically adequate.” And whereas McCarthy continues to be new to the job, he’s been constant since taking the helm about subscriptions being on the entrance and middle of his technique. Chief Monetary Officer Jill Woodworth defined that its overstocked stock was costing the corporate. However, but once more, Peloton is launching new {hardware}.

When requested about how the rower matches into Peloton’s new software-first technique, Cortese says that the corporate “has all the time been and can all the time be a subscription enterprise.” That in flip means protecting the fanbase pleased with an ever-growing library of content material and options. The objective is to hook customers into the neighborhood and ensure they by no means wish to give up the Peloton ecosystem.

*Invite Members is without doubt one of the new options introduced at Homecoming that permits you to schedule neighborhood exercises from the Bike.*

Thus far, the corporate’s been remarkably profitable at that. Quarter after quarter, the corporate’s month-to-month churn fee — the share of Peloton customers who cancel their membership — stays underneath one p.c. On this most up-to-date quarter, even with a rise in subscription cancellations following information of a worth hike, the churn fee truly improved to 0.75 p.c. The query is whether or not that’ll change.

“Our enterprise incentive is to maintain you as a subscriber eternally,” Cortese says. “We consider there’s a lot that we are able to do on a day by day and weekly foundation to proceed to vary and evolve the bike expertise, the tread expertise, and now the rowing expertise.”

That explains the technique behind a number of of the brand new options introduced at Homecoming. For example, Cortese says the corporate has seen {that a} rising variety of customers are taking yoga lessons, and lo, Peloton declares it’s including a second installment in its Yoga sequence “The Method.” To enchantment to hardcore Bike customers, Peloton beforehand launched its Energy Zone Coaching Program. At Homecoming, that too is getting a brand new eight-week program known as “Peak Your Energy Zones.”

*Simply Exercise provides customers much less incentive to depart the app to report their different exercises.*

Peloton can also be making it simpler for present customers to work together with one another. Members can now instantly schedule exercises from the Bike with a brand new “Invite Mates” characteristic. Likewise, it’s additionally introducing a “Simply exercise” characteristic — that means that any uninstructed exercise will be recorded inside the Peloton app. In the meantime, the corporate is including TalkBack — an accessibility characteristic to assist blind and low-vision customers — to the Tread. The characteristic talks these customers by means of the Tread’s UI. It’s a savvy transfer, as a number of research have discovered this neighborhood is massively underserved by present train tools and health services. In keeping with the American Basis for the Blind, ideally, treadmills would have tactile surfaces, braille labels for controls, and speech output. So whereas Peloton might do extra sooner or later alongside these tips, that is at the least a step in the fitting route. It additionally makes Peloton a extra palatable possibility for these communities and throws down the gauntlet for Peloton’s military of copycats to do the identical.

However maybe the one that may make Peloton diehards most excited is that the corporate is reopening its Peloton Studios. The Studios is the place Peloton movies and broadcasts its content material, and earlier than the pandemic, it was a spot the place many Peloton followers visiting New York Metropolis would pop in and get some face time with their favourite instructors. The unique Studio was positioned on twenty third St however has since been moved to a shiny new facility close to Hudson Yards. As a result of pandemic, the brand new Studio has by no means been open to the general public. There are not any particulars on timing, nonetheless.

All of those bulletins are a method of reaching new customers, protecting these customers engaged within the Peloton platform — and giving them fewer and fewer causes to depart. And in case you’re a Peloton fan, I’d say they’re fairly efficient. However loyalty has by no means been an issue for Peloton. The issue is the disconnect between an organization that makes an industry-leading product and its inventory worth.

When requested in regards to the detrimental press and the infinite hypothesis about Peloton’s future, Cortese was unfazed.

“It’s a blip. It’s a second in time. So long as we keep targeted on doing what we do effectively and proceed to drive real worth into an area the place there’s a real want by an actual client — I’m prepared to do that for one more 10 years.”

If Peloton sticks round for a very long time, then sure. This can be a blip in the identical method Apple had its “misplaced years.” There’s a method ahead for the corporate if its restructuring plan is profitable — although it’s not going that it’ll return to its peak pandemic valuation anytime quickly. Within the earnings name, Peloton’s management staff talked about its restructuring targets persevering with into 2023 and possibly 2024. However as long as the followers stick by means of the ups and downs, Peloton can carry on rowing.

Fitness

I’m A Fitness Expert – These Are The Best Exercises To Do By Age

Published

5 hours ago

January 8, 2025

Press Room

I’m A Fitness Expert – These Are The Best Exercises To Do By Age

Everything changes with age, it seems – from your blood pressure and exercise recovery time, to how many times it’s “normal” to get up and pee at night.

And now, Mark Harris, a fitness expert at Mirafit, has told HuffPost UK the best exercises he thinks people of different ages should do.

After all, YouGov data says exercising more is the second-most popular New Year’s resolution in 2025, after saving money.

“For beginners, it can quickly become overwhelming with so many workout routines out there,” Mark said.

“That’s why I’ve highlighted the best exercises for different generations.”

What’s the best exercise for each age group?

Before we list these, remember that any activity is far better than none ― and if you’ve found a sport or workout that suits you, don’t let us discourage you.

With that said, Harris recommended trying the following if you’re not sure where to begin:

1. Teens

Teens should “prioritise workouts that focus on aspects such as strength and endurance ― aiming to build up muscle and improve general fitness and stamina,” Harris says.

That can take the form of football and rugby, which is social and mentally stimulating, or bodyweight workouts like squats (that don’t require costly equipment).

“Over time, teenagers can also incorporate resistance bands into workouts,” Harris adds.

“At this age group, it’s all about establishing a healthy relationship with fitness.”

2. Young adults

Though all fitness goals are great at this age, Mark suggests the focus should remain on improving strength and endurance.

Cardio like running, swimming and cycling can boost your stamina while also strengthening your body, while yoga can help with all-important balance and flexibility.

“I also advise that young adults incorporate strength training into their fitness routines, exercises such as deadlifts and bench presses are useful for improving bone density, toning figures and maintaining a healthy weight,” the expert continued.

3) Middle-aged adults

This is a good time to focus on joint and cardiovascular health as Harris suggested “at this age, it’s all about maintenance and trying to prevent any unnecessary injuries”.

Low-impact cardio, like walking, cycling, and swimming, is easier on joints; yoga and other flexibility routines can prevent muscle stiffness.

“Furthermore, for middle-aged individuals, I suggest involving some sort of strength training exercises in routines,” Harris commented.

“This is essential as it can protect against muscle loss, ensuring the body maintains all the strength it needs to function healthily.”

4. Older adults

The fitness pro said that while exercising is important for all ages, it’s especially vital for older adults, “helping maintain agility, balance and general wellbeing”.

With that said, he thinks routines for older adults can be “lower intensity” and still effective. Their main focus should be on boosting movement ― short walks, water aerobics and yoga are all great options.

“Falls can be catastrophic for people of this age and that’s why it’s vital to take routines slowly, focusing on the form rather than the speed,” Harris said.

Of course, these are just guidelines. If you feel overwhelmed by where to start ― no matter what age you are – you should aim to reach the NHS’ fitness goals (150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of intense workouts) a week if you can.

Fitness

Exercise prior to cancer diagnosis reduces disease progression and mortality risk

Published

13 hours ago

January 8, 2025

Press Room

Exercise prior to cancer diagnosis reduces disease progression and mortality risk

Regular physical activity before a cancer diagnosis may lower the risks of both disease progression and death, suggests research published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

And even relatively low levels of physical activity may be advantageous, the findings indicate.

There is compelling evidence that physical activity has a key part to play in lowering the risk of death from cancer, but the evidence isn’t as conclusive for its role in disease progression, explain the researchers.

To explore this further, they analysed anonymised data from the Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS), linked to the Vitality health promotion programme. The DHMS is the largest open medical plan in South Africa, covering approximately 2.8 million beneficiaries.

All Vitality programme participants are rewarded for adopting healthy lifestyle behaviours, earning points for physical activity, recorded by activity trackers, logged gym attendance, or registered participation in organised fitness activities.

Activity type, frequency, duration and intensity are recorded and translated into weekly minutes of exercise.

In all, 28,248 Vitality programme members with stage 1 cancers, and comprehensive physical activity data for the year preceding diagnosis, were included in the study, which spanned the period 2007 to 2022.

Breast and prostate cancers were the most common cancers, comprising 44% of the study total.

The length of time between initial diagnosis and disease progression, death, or exit from the study ranged from 1 month to nearly 13 years.

Cancer didn’t progress in nearly two thirds of the total sample (65.5%), but in just over a third (34.5%) it did. And while 81% survived, 19% died before the end of the study. The average time to death was 20 months and the average time to progression was 7 months.

Levels of physical activity in the year before diagnosis were categorised as none recorded (17,457; 62% of participants); low, equal to 60 or fewer weekly minutes (3722;13%); and moderate to high, equal to 60 or more weekly minutes of moderate intensity physical activity (7069; 25%).

After accounting for potentially influential factors, including age at diagnosis, sex, economic and social position, and co-existing conditions, rates of cancer progression and death from any cause were lower among those who were physically active in the year preceding their diagnosis.

The odds of disease progression were 16% lower for those who had engaged in low levels of physical activity in the preceding year than among those who hadn’t recorded any physical activity, while the odds for those who had engaged in moderate to high levels were 27% lower.

Similarly, the odds of death from any cause were 33% lower among those who had engaged in low levels of physical activity compared with those who hadn’t recorded any, and 47% lower for those who had managed moderate to high levels.

Two years on from diagnosis, the likelihood of no disease progression among those with no recorded physical activity in the year before diagnosis was 74%, compared with 78% and 80%, respectively, for those achieving low and moderate to high levels of physical activity.

While the likelihood of disease progression increased as time went on, it was still lower for those who had clocked up some level of physical activity in the year preceding their diagnosis.

After 3 years, the likelihood of no disease progression was 71%, 75%, and 78%, respectively, for none, low, and moderate to high levels of physical activity. And after 5 years, it was 66%, 70%, and 73%, respectively.

Similar patterns were evident for death from any cause. Two years after diagnosis, the probability of survival among those with no documented physical activity in the year preceding diagnosis was 91% compared with 94% and 95%, respectively, among those who had recorded low and moderate to high levels.

The equivalent probabilities of survival 3 years after diagnosis were 88%, 92%, and 94%, respectively, and 84%, 90%, and 91%, respectively, after 5 years.

This is an observational study, and as such, can’t establish cause and effect. And the researchers acknowledge that they weren’t able to account for other potentially influential factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, while the data on weight (BMI) were incomplete.

But there are several plausible biological explanations for the findings, they suggest, chief among which is the way in which physical activity strengthens immunity by increasing numbers of natural killer cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils.

Physical activity may also lower the progression risk of hormone sensitive cancers, such as breast and prostate cancers, by regulating oestrogen and testosterone levels, they add.

“Physical activity may be considered to confer substantial benefits in terms of progression and overall mortality to those diagnosed with cancer,” they write.

“In a world where cancer continues to be a significant public health burden, the promotion of physical activity can yield important benefits regarding the progression of cancer as well as its prevention and management,” they conclude.

Source:

Journal reference:

Mabena, N., et al. (2025). Association between recorded physical activity and cancer progression or mortality in individuals diagnosed with cancer in South Africa. British Journal of Sports Medicine. doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108813.

Fitness

The new Start TODAY app is a personal trainer and dietitian in your back pocket

Published

21 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

The new Start TODAY app is a personal trainer and dietitian in your back pocket

Fitness challenges, meal plans, daily inspiration — the new Start TODAY app has it all!

The app, which launched on Dec. 26, 2024, was inspired by our Start TODAY community, which came together during the pandemic as a way to improve physical and mental health.

The app’s “Chief Motivation Officer” is a man who has inspired TODAY fans for decades — Al Roker. He’s joined by Stephanie Mansour, TODAY Fitness Contributor, and a team of best-in-class personal trainers and dietitians to help you make your health goals a reality with step-by-step routines and workouts, meal plans, expert advice and more.

There are three main pillars in the app:

Fitness
Nutrition
Inspiration

Here’s what to know, plus how to sign up and get started!

Fitness in the Start TODAY app

Our fitness experts have created 7-day, 14-day and month-long challenges across 12 disciplines to fit any type of lifestyle and schedule.

“Over the last eight years, we’ve been creating workout challenges with TODAY.com and the TODAY show and using a fine-toothed comb to see what our viewers love and what they want more of,” Mansour said. “Our viewers and Start TODAY members have told us that they love walking, walking workouts, accessible strength training routines, workouts with modifications, stretch routines to help reduce pain and increase flexibility, as well as using simple equipment like a yoga mat, dumbbells, or resistance bands.”

The Start TODAY app customizes the categories to match your interests, whether you’re a beginner or more advanced. They also are tailored so that they do not require a ton of space — you can do them at the gym, at home or even outside.

You can jump right in with our January indoor walking challenge, which can help make exercise a habit in just 13 minutes a day.

“The January workout challenge is a walking challenge to get you moving anywhere, anytime, even when it’s freezing outside!” Mansour said. “Because our walking workout challenges have been so popular among our Start TODAY community and on TODAY.com, we’ve stepped it up with daily workout videos that you can follow along with directly in the app.”

In this month’s challenge, Mansour leads Al Roker through moves like forward kicks and hammer curls — and features two popular Start TODAY members demonstrating modifications and adjustments so you can get the most out of your workout.

A big focus is to take the guesswork out of your daily workout and avoid boredom to keep you on track for your fitness goals. Many of the challenges include guided audio walking workouts with Al, Stephanie and other trainers.

The fitness workouts and challenges on the app are across all the following categories:

Yoga
Meditation
Mobility
Walking
Barre
Dance cardio
Strength
Resistance bands
Core
Flexibility
Cardio
HIIT

Personal trainer Lacee Green, known as The Curvy Girl Trainer on social media, gave a glimpse at some of the workouts on TODAY on Jan. 2. She shared her special brand of enthusiasm and inspiration that will help get you moving in 2025.

“It’s all about fitness for everybody and every body,” Green said. “Finding the joy and dropping the judgment. It’s just starting where you are, loving who you are right where you are as you work on who you’re becoming.

“When you think about 10 years from now, you’re not going to be thinking about a number on a scale or a pant size,” she continued. “You’re going to be thinking about, ‘I’m so grateful that I put the habits in place to lead a happy and healthy lifestyle with movement that feels good.’ Whenever fitness is fun, that means you’re doing it right.”

Meal plans on the Start TODAY app

Led by registered dietitian and TODAY nutrition editor Natalie Rizzo, the Start TODAY app takes the frustration out of healthy eating by doing the work for you.

Proper nutrition is key to reaching your health goals. “Fitness is a crucial part of a health journey, but it’s impossible to reach all your health goals without a well-balanced diet full of healthy foods. As a matter of fact, nutrition plays a pivotal role in your fitness journey. Food supplies energy for exercise and help the muscles recover and grow stronger after a workout,” Rizzo explains.

The meal plans are broken down into five categories based on individual goals:

Budget-friendly
Heart-healthy
Quick and easy
Mediterranean diet
Weight loss

Each week, Rizzo analyzes hundreds of recipes to bring you the ones that will best fit your plan and take the guesswork out of healthy eating.

“For example, for the heart-healthy plan, as a dietitian I know that you want to look for things high in fiber, high in omega-3s and ingredients like potassium, so I go through the recipes to find those types of ingredients.”

The meals in the quick and easy plan can be on the table in 30-minutes or less, while the budget-friendly plans may include potatoes, ground beef or canned beans that are relatively inexpensive.

Each week’s plan includes three breakfasts, four lunches, and seven dinners to give you variety while keeping things manageable. Additionally, each recipe comes with a brief explanation of why it’s included and the health benefits it provides. Each weekly meal plan comes with a shopping list to make healthy eating even easier.

“My nutrition knowledge is put into these meal plans so people don’t have to do this research themselves,” Rizzo said.

Inspiration on the Start TODAY app

Of course, you might need some words of wisdom to help you fit that workout in or eat that healthy meal on a day when everything feels like a struggle.

Our inspiring personal trainers, meditation experts and dietitians will share some ways to get up and moving when you’re stuck in a rut. And Al Roker has you covered with daily inspiration and advice about how he’s stayed on track during tough times.

Another important component of the app is helping you build healthy habits with daily prompts to take small actions that can add up to big improvements over time.

Whether it’s taking a deep, cleansing breath, starting the day with a smoothie or drinking more water, these simple goals can give your day a boost.

To join the Start TODAY community and get walking workouts and podcasts with Al Roker, download the Start TODAY App! Subscribe for $65.99 + tax per year (or $9.99 + tax per month) auto-charged until canceled. But if you subscribe to an annual plan today, you’ll automatically get 30% off the first year. That’s less than $5 per month for the first year! Terms apply. Offer ends 1/12/25. After the discount ends, you will be automatically charged $65.99 (plus tax)/year for an annual subscription or $9.99 (plus tax)/month for a monthly subscription until you cancel. Cancel anytime through Apple under Profile Settings.