Home Gym

Flexibility has become a coveted employment perk, with many workers now seeking out telecommuting opportunities that afford them the ability to bypass cubicle life in favor of mobility. Technology has kept pace with these shifting priorities, and now some digital tools used in the corporate world are being applied to the fitness sector. It’s unlikely that they'll replace the gym entirely, but live streaming exercise classes are gaining in popularity.

EMG Live Fitness: When Joyce Wells, a self-proclaimed fitness groupie, moved to the suburbs from NYC, she was frustrated with the lack of variety of exercise classes that had been available to her in the city. Not content to settle for an impersonal “big box gym,” she leveraged her technology background to launch EMG Live Fitness as a way for those living in remote places to receive instruction in their favorite niche workouts. All classes are streamed live, maintaining the community element that motivates participants to sweat harder than they do with static DVDs or telecasts. Among EMG’s diverse offerings are kickboxing, barre, and spinning.

Wello: Gen Ys want what they want when they want it, and their access to on-demand content goes beyond entertainment. For one, Wello is a live streaming fitness class website that offers couch potatoes a way to go from marathon viewing to marathon training. Members are matched with personal trainers whose styles are as varied as the workouts offered. One might sign up for Martial Arts with a Drill Sergeant or Pilates with an instructor who’s Fun and Friendly. Sessions, at an average of $40, are available in 25, 45, and 55 minute increments. Those who spend more time in front of the tube than in their sneakers have several beginners’ options.

Ballet Beautiful: Ballet-inspired workouts have become a favorite among women seeking the lean, sculpted muscle tone earned through yoga, without the hippie philosophy. But unless one resides in a major metropolitan city, classes for students who long ago outgrew their tutus and pointe shoes are scarce. Enter Ballet Beautiful, a fitness method created by Mary Helen Bowers, a former New York City Ballet dancer (and the woman responsible for training Natalie Portman for her Oscar-winning Black Swan role). Bowers offers the would-be exclusive workouts to anyone in the world via regularly scheduled streaming classes designed to shape muscles, improve posture, and enhance flexibility.