How the Pvolve Method Has Evolved

It’s still about functional fitness—and a whole lot more 

When Pvolve first launched in 2017, it quickly gained a reputation for being the workout for high-profile models that was especially sculpting the glutes, thanks in part to our first piece of equipment, the innovative p.ball. Built by entrepreneur Rachel Katzman and trainer Stephen Pasterino as the antidote to burpee-laden high-impact HIIT workouts, our method started with a lot of talk about elongating the body while lifting the butt without the boot camp-style “no pain, no gain” attitude.  

The Pvolve of today can still give you a great rear view and all-over definition you won't believe and it's still a favorite with high-profile models and celebs (see: Jennifer Aniston's latest "obsession"). But it looks quite different than it did five years ago.

While our foundation remains the same, our focus has shifted. We pair functional fitness with resistance equipment to sculpt in a way that's efficient and effective, yet gentle on the body. Pvolve now has more class types, a stronger emphasis on wellness, and even more sculpting, shaping, and strengthening benefits.

Here's whyand howit's changed.

Redefining functional  

The catalyst for the changes to Pvolve’s approach was Rachel’s own personal wellness journey. As her needs and priorities shifted over the years, she began asking for more. “I started Pvolve because I knew by moving this way I looked good, and I felt good. But in my early 20s, I wasn’t yet thinking about what the things that were making me feel good— balance, stability, mobility, flexibility—would mean throughout my life.”  

Then when she was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2020, she had another ah-ha moment that deepened her appreciation for what a workout that fuels the body could truly mean. In turn, she explains, “My vision of what we can offer expanded.”  

The heart is still unquestionably functional fitness that moves you through all planes of motion. “When Pvolve started, it was based on sculpting your body with movement that works on strength, stability, and mobility all in one,” says Pvolve VP of Talent and Training Antonietta Vicario. “And it’s brilliant, and it works. It’s smart fitness, and that won’t change.”  

However, as Rachel challenged the team to put even more emphasis on how movement could make you feel, diversified our training staff, and grew our Clinical Advisory Board, an idea began to take shape: that for a workout to be truly functional, it needs to function for you and where you are today. So we took on the mission of offering practical solutions that sculpt (of course) but do it in a way that truly works for the individual. 

"What does a woman need? It is not a one-size-fits-all answer," explains Antonietta. “It can change day to day. And what a woman needs at 45 is different from when she was 25. That's what the science tells us. So we've expanded our programming to be able to use smart fitness to meet members’ goals.” 

Embracing workout variety 

All these revelations spurred the team to expand our workout library. Pvolve started with our signature Strength & Sculpt classes, which feature low-impact functional exercises and incorporate light hand weights and a variety of other equipment. Since then, we’ve added everything from Cardio Burn to Pilates-based mat classes to sessions that incorporate heavy weights called Progressive Weight Training—all with the Pvolve twist of functional movement.  

The variety allows every member to create their ideal workout mix. We still believe everyone can benefit from our signature Strength & Sculpt class (and it’s usually where we suggest you start), but depending on your goals, your week may incorporate other class types. For example, anyone looking to up metabolism may want to try more Cardio Burn and Progressive Weight Training classes. Or someone looking to get back into a routine may want to focus on our slower Flow State series before starting with the rest of our content. And we also offer restorative and meditation classes for a totally holistic approach. 

Lead Trainer & Director of Programming Maeve McEwen explains that diversity can also help you avoid plateaus. “The body adapts to movement, so you want to give people new challenges. We want to help them keep moving and growing,” she explains. As Rachel puts it: “You know it’s not good for your gut to eat the same food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. You need variety. And when it comes to exercise, it’s the same.” 

We’ve also gone a step more with a category called Movement Therapy, created with guidance from members of our Clinical Advisory Board to help you work through sensitive areas like aching shoulders and ankles. We’ve also added Women’s Wellness content to help keep you moving with everything from syncing with your menstrual-cycle to pre- and post-natal workouts. “We’re serving women in ways no other fitness brand ever has,” insists Rachel.  

If all this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. We have series tailored to specific goals and needs to get you started. And we offer 1:1 consultations to every member to find you craft a more personalized plan. (You can schedule one here.) 

Your one and only workout—or not 

Because the original vision for Pvolve was to replace go-harder-more-more-more classes with one unique workout that could get you all the results you want, this led to some talk in the beginning about Pvolve being designed to be your only workout for best results. That’s not our philosophy today.  

Yes, Pvolve has been crafted with enough variety to be your sole fitness approach if you choose, but that doesn’t mean you can’t mix it into your current routine. If you love doing yoga, want to keep up your HIIT habit, or have no intention of ever giving up your barre classes, no problem. In those cases, we encourage you to think of Pvolve as an amazing complement to your current go-tos. Antonietta insists, “Whatever you do that inspires you to move your body, that’s great. I would never tell somebody to give up something that they love doing if it was working for them!” 

And, in fact, Pvolve may even help you up your game in sports or other fitness classes. Explains Maeve, “If you’ve been spinning or running on a treadmill, you may be overusing certain muscles and underusing others. When you start exploring rotations and training in all planes of motion with Pvolve, you can open up a whole new level of possibilities for your body and improve performance.” 

Rachel’s take: “At the end of the day, there’s always room for a workout that strengthens and sculpts your body and makes you feel better than when you started.”  

Oh, and it’ll still give you the booty of your dream while doing it.  

Not a member yet? Start your free trial for access to our library of on-demand classes and start working out with us today.

Arrow icon Arrow icon used for showing forward navigation Back to blog