I was a die-hard Die-Hard Barre… until I tried P.volve
when I received an invitation to try out a gym that has helped top celebrities and models to become fit, I began to mentally prepare for the most difficult exercise in my life. My exercise program at the time included an empty class at least twice a week (three or four if I was really good). I also throw a few punching classes here and there when I have time. I felt that at least I could finish the class without embarrassing myself. But what I did learn was that none of the high schools I spent years with were important. P.volve, an effective fitness approach that redefines how we treat exercise, is about focusing on impactful, healthy exercise that works your body internally and externally. How can low-impact exercise create a strong, sturdy body with minimal pain? I have gained expertise in everything you need to know about this unique and flexible dynamic approach by reaching out to P.volve coaches Dani Coleman and Zach Morris. Next, find out all you need to know about the P.volve gym and how it differs from barre.
What is a P.volve?
P.volve is a unique fitness tracker that connects body to mind, which can be done at any age, anytime, anywhere. It trains you to "move carefully, create better movement patterns, and engage consciously," explains Coleman. "It's very powerful, but it has a small impact, and it's designed to strengthen, paint, and energize the whole body without causing pain or injury," Morris said.
A method based on active movement combined with resistance training, P.volve reduces pain and alters physical activity in daily life. Compared to conventional fitness methods, P.volve provides integrated movement and muscle activity that creates stronger and stronger muscles. Be prepared to leave any P.volve category "extended feeling, strengthened, and strong," Coleman sings.
The best way to activate hip movements is small movements and low tension, as opposed to high tights — like those deadly pulses where you strike as if you were sitting in a chair with your tips, arms outstretched and holding on to a ballet bar, pressing for an EDM remix of your favorite Top-40 song three minutes straight. By the end of it, your thighs will be hot, and you may have difficulty walking up the stairs next week or not. The burn I thought meant the exercise worked, apparently giving me temporary results.
"The thing with a high level of running is that you run everything. You skip what usually happens," P.volve founder Stephen Pasterino previously shared with Byrdie. "Unless you are a top athlete, I can only say that most people push their limbs and their condition disappears. So it means nothing and hell is passing through your body."
He explained that if you use your limbs to move, then you are pressing your knees and ankles, and that in turn will cause swelling and inflammation.1
How is the P.Volve Class?
"P.volve is based on physical therapy and active health," Morris explained. "Our classes incorporate straight, controlled movements with a variety of unique mechanisms to emphasize the expansion and strengthening of muscles in ways that protect the joints, increase range of motion, and relieve pain," he continues.
As Coleman explains, in general, there are a few P.volve formats to choose from. Each trainer has his or her own teaching style and has your own mix of both standing exercises and mats. Exercising using different P.volve tools will leave you feeling energized and happy. “Throughout our classes, you will travel as differently on different routes and flights as you do in everyday life,” Coleman said. Here are some P.volve classes to consider:
Foundation
- Power and Recording
- Cardio Burn
- Live and Stretch
- Benefits of P.Volve
"In addition to looking good, you will feel good about working," Coleman said. "Personally, it has redefined my relationship with the movement and I have never looked forward to more 'performance'." See below for a list of Morris's benefits of P.volve:
Extra power
- Increased mobility
- Additional controls
- Improved balance
- Improved posture
P.Volve vs. Barre
The basis of P.volve in physical therapy and the focus on mind and muscle communication is very different from Barre. Also, instead of focusing on mass mobility, P.volve focuses on quality. Paying attention to pelvic mobility is also a completely different P.volve method. Even though I've been in the dance and music theater for 20 years, I never did move my body the way I did in the P.volve class, ”said Morris.
"[Barre Classes] are missing out on important steps," Pastorino said. "You can't even open your inner thigh and most of your hips if you can't walk on your hips." After receiving physical therapy for a football-related injury and studying at the Grey Institute for 15 years, Pasterino established his own fitness classes. It was in those cases that he realized that the key to getting the tone was about the hip movement.
"If you do not have mobility in your waist - internal rotation, external rotation, abduction, and extension - and you do not have all those bases covered, you are not always working to make your buttocks really improve, and I also cannot make the thighs thin," explains Pastorino. Morris adds an important element of balance to the mix, noting that without "movement on your hips ... you will not begin to build balance in your body and deepen glutes and thighs."
Ekhaya vs. In-Studio
Unlike most fitness classes, P.volve is accessible to anyone and everyone with its new operating system. No matter where you are, as long as you have the app, you can learn from the amazing team of P.volve coaches. As Coleman explains, the P.volve app library has hundreds of videos ranging from format, trainer, and gym length. If, however, you prefer a class setting, you can check out a class in one of their studios in Los Angeles, New York, or Chicago.
Looking for a workout more interactive than an app but something still accessible from the comfort of your own home? Many trainers, including Coleman, offer virtual workouts. Pasterino spoke with Byrdie about his virtual classes and told us, "I made it so it doesn't matter what your fitness level is. I talk through the entire thing nonstop, trying to make it a one-on-one training session. I'm trying to build it like a program," he said. If you tune in for one of these virtual studio classes, you’ll be able to interact with the instructor and the rest of the class, adding a whole other level to your P.volve experience.
What to Wear During a P.Volve Class
Both Coleman and Morris say it's important to be comfortable when doing P.volve, so make sure to wear something that you can easily move around in. Coleman recommends wearing sneakers that have extra support in the frame around the foot, which will help with the stability focused exercises.
Safety Considerations
P.volve describes itself as an accessible fitness method, offering modifications to suit varying needs. "Due to our physical therapy foundation, we truly believe there is an aspect of the method to be enjoyed by everyone no matter your experience, We are constantly evolving and finding ways to hear and help our clients daily," Coleman notes.