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These days, we’re all about staying at home and doing things on our own terms (especially after the height of COVID in 2020). And, fitness programs have been on our radar ever since.
Turning on your smart TV, grabbing a yoga mat and trying one of the thousands of virtual workout programs from your bedroom has become a regular habit for me for almost four years now. (Related: Pvolve review)
Enter obé Fitness — the premium digital fitness platform with a “focus on bringing entertainment, pop culture and design to fitness,” Ashley Mills and Mark Mullett, co-founders and co-CEOs, told the New York Post.
I had the pleasure of using obé Fitness for years now and have been implementing new classes into my schedule at least three times a week. From movin’ and groovin’ with Dua Lipa’s discography in dance cardio classes to bopping to The Weeknd’s great beats in strength classes, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start my mornings or unwind after work.
What is obé Fitness?
The platform truly is one that works for everyone.
“We call it ‘fitness and enter-TRAIN-ment,’” Spencer Jones, an obé dance, sculpt and bounce instructor, told The Post. “It has anything you can think of: boxing, sculpt, yoga, HIIT, weight-lifting, power classes, breathing, stretching and more. I can’t imagine someone saying we don’t have something that works for them.”
With obé, you’ll have access to 22 live classes daily, and more than 6,000 on-demand classes to choose from — if your schedule is jam-packed and you really want to squeeze yoga in. There are well-trained instructors, many of whom worked on Broadway and were part of the Rockettes, and an encouraging community — otherwise known as the obé Fam.
“We’re live seven days a week, which is amazing,” Jones said. “If you can’t catch the live classes, they have thousands of on-demand classes they record from live sessions and put in the vault.”
Most importantly, obé is all about feeling good, trying a new routine and having fun.
“It’s a platform without the main focus of losing weight. Sure, you may look better from taking classes often, but showing up for yourself — doing something good for yourself that’s healthy —is most important. And, obé focuses on that.”
Spencer Jones, obé InstructorWhat classes obé Fitness offers
With obé, simply choose from the four class categories — cardio, strength training, yoga and activate/recover — and then select from 15 different class types that range from five to 60 minutes. It’s customizable and catered to your fitness level and preferences.
“For level-up members, they’ll combine instructors to have a dance and HIIT workout instead of only one form,” Jones adds. “They also have weekly challenges. This summer, they had a ‘Hard AF” challenge.”
Not to mention, the platform has personalized programs for kids, seniors, prenatal and pregnant women and even meditation and breathing.
Classes include barre, bounce, cardio boxing, dance, dance HIIT, foam roll, HIIT, pilates, power, sculpt, strength, stretch, yoga sculpt, vinyasa yoga and restorative yoga.
Not only can you filter your workout by class but also by fitness level (beginner, open level, advanced, prenatal, postnatal), class length, body focus (full-body, upper body, lower body, core), impact (low, high, none), instructor and equipment (if any).
How much does obé Fitness cost?
“Obé offers a monthly, quarterly. or annual subscription,” Mills and Mullett told The Post. “A monthly subscription is $27 per month, a quarterly subscription is $65 and an annual subscription is $199 per year.”
Here’s an overview of each obé Fitness membership option:
- Monthly ($27): You’ll have access to 22 live classes every day, more than 6,000 on-demand classes, world-class instructors and specialized training programs
- Quarterly ($65): Special discounts and offers from brand partners (including WW, Whoop and Talkspace), exclusive access to premium Level Up Club classes (the most popular on the platform) and $10 to spend at The obé Shop — in addition to monthly benefits
- Annual ($199): $20 to spend at The obé Shop — in addition to all the quarterly and monthly benefits
Is obé Fitness worth the money?
Yes, it truly is worth every penny.
Think of it this way: if your local gym charges $10 monthly, you can get your hands on a whole suite of personalized fitness classes and programs for a little bit more.
Here’s why I think it’s worth your money. As someone with years of dance classes and recitals under my belt, I’ve missed performing ever since I graduated college. I’ve been on a wild goose chase trying to find the perfect dance class, but the only two options were a local barre class that’s super expensive or online dance cardio workouts.
For a while, those YouTube online dance cardio workouts were great. I had my fitness fix, moved my body and felt great. But, I was missing the community aspect of dance: the people, the personalized encouragement and the variation of moves to try if certain ones are too advanced.
That’s why obé Fitness is truly worth it. Even if the instructors didn’t say, “Come on, Victoria from New Jersey!,” the contagious energy, in-person class feel and customized approach to looking at the week’s class schedule is all worth it.
You don’t have to dance to come to my class. I always say, ‘Can you go to your bathroom, put on Britney Spears’ Gimme More and vibe to it?’ If you can do that, you can come to my class. There’s no judgment; we just have fun and move our bodies.”
The golden question: how did I like the classes? I tried as many different live classes as possible, including a weekend dance cardio class with Spencer (one of my faves), a strength training class with Dorian (one that pushed me to the max) and an upper body power class with Kat E. (teaching me that consistency with reps is key).
Regardless of class type or instructor, I’ve always felt rejuvenated to wake up at 5:00 — yes, that early — to tune into a live class. And, with a paired app to stream directly to your smart TV, you can enjoy the platform virtually anytime, anywhere. It’s compatible with iPhone and Android, too.
Let’s revert to the convenience factor once more. As soon as I log off of work at 5:00, it feels so nice to hop off my desk chair, roll out my mat and move my body to a pilates flow. While in-person classes are great for some people, you’re still achieving that customizable, encouraging atmosphere straight from the obé platform.
Our review
Pros:
- Engaging, well-trained instructors who make each class enjoyable and something you’ll look forward to
- Rich diversity of classes, from dance cardio to HIIT and strength
- Offers both live and on-demand courses
- Automates a custom fitness plan that works for your schedule — including your menstrual cycle (with cycle-synching classes!), if you wish
Cons:
- Unfortunately, you can’t pay per class, so the monthly price point may be unreachable for some
- Must have an HDMI cable to use the obé viewer app on a TV, though not a dealbreaker (just an added cost)
I can’t speak more highly about obé Fitness. Consistency is an aspect many of us — myself included — struggle with, and it’s beyond easy to achieve a personalized plan that works for you. Plus, with obé’s “Strive for Five” goal, you’re even more motivated to add five classes weekly to your schedule.
“Obé recommends five classes per week: three strength and two cardio-based workouts,” Mills and Mullet said. “The secret is just to show up and do your best!”
Additionally, you don’t need to have a pile of equipment and gear to make the most of some of the classes. While I have two sets of dumbbells, a yoga mat and a pack of resistance bands at home, the instructors will provide variations to each move that requires equipment.
The fitness motivation is unmatched, too. While I’m pretty disciplined and tend to follow my to-do lists and jot-it-down planner, it sometimes becomes difficult to pencil in physical activity. But, especially with obé’s schedule where you can see who’s teaching what class on what day, it’s never been more streamlined.
Even better, the classes are extremely engaging. In a 28-minute strength class with instructor David P., I appreciated how there was ample focus on both stretching and good form. He also has a penchant for inspiring — he shared motivational words and stories during the class to make me feel encouraged throughout.
Additionally, I can’t forego a mention of the 28-minute dance cardio class I took with instructor Spencer J. (side note: if you want the energy, his classes are the place to be!) As someone who formerly attended dance classes, I love the combination of going across the mat — similar to “going across the floor”‘ in ballet or jazz class — infused with steps like squats and punches.
Another pro? Nobody can see you. No more having to worry about tiny Zoom screens (that was so 2020, anyway). “You can roll out of bed in your PJs and bring your cat, too, Jones said. “Nobody sees you.”
But, even though you don’t have to worry about impressing someone at the gym, my workouts are more put-together when I’m wearing a matching set. I’ve been loving sporting some pieces from Girlfriend Collective, lululemon and Abercrombie’s active line, YPB.
After all, obé is all about feeling your best!
The bottom line
I am so excited to continue using obé Fitness and trying even more of its live and on-demand classes. I feel stronger, more confident and more energized to get moving. That’s what fitness is all about, right?
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