I Tried Jennifer Aniston’s Pvolve Workout—Here’s My Honest Review

As a recent second-time mom in her 40s—and one clawing her way back to some semblance of a workout routine now that my son is 1—Pvolve piqued my curiosity almost immediately. Yes, it was endorsed glowingly by one of the fittest women in the world, Jennifer Aniston (her image is everywhere in the brand’s NYC location), but it also appeared to check a lot of boxes for my postpartum needs.

First, the functional fitness program is low impact. This doesn’t mean you won’t work up a sweat or that there aren’t high-intensity moments, of course. It’s more that it’s a workout designed to minimize stress and strain on joints (such as the knees or hips or really anywhere you need to go a bit easier on) by utilizing equipment—or other methods—that help soften the blow. Additionally, Pvolve is designed to help you rebuild core strength (which absolutely took a hit during pregnancy) and mimic natural, everyday movements. The instructor in my Soho-based class, for example, continually surfaced analogies— “this is exactly like when you’re shlepping those Trader Joe’s grocery bags!”—that proved motivating and took the intimidation out of the technique.

More than anything, Pvolve clearly prioritizes a balanced approach to fitness—and one that’s both flexible and fun. The best part? You don’t have to live in New York City to take part. Here’s a full breakdown of what to expect.

As I described above, Pvolve is functional fitness program designed to prioritize two important goals: aesthetics and longevity. It prioritizes natural-based movements in combination with resistance-based equipment in order to enhance mobility, strength and stability—but also to bridge the look good-feel great gap that often arises while attempting various workouts. (IMO, it’s not worth it if you can’t have both.)

What’s cool about Pvolve is its intent to sculpt, strengthen and restore. It’s similar to Pilates, but it emphasizes practical, everyday movements as you work to tone your physique. It also comes with equipment—for example, the P.ball, which helps you target your inner thighs and glutes, not to mention improve hip mobility; there’s also the ankle bands (these are my favorite, given the fact that they add constant tension as you carry out exercises designed to focus on your glutes, thighs hips and core). Still, the Precision Mat feels like the most important piece of any Pvolve workout since it quite literally makes the experience feel a bit paint my number. (For anyone who has ever felt lost in a workout course as they oscillate between looking at their own form and that of the teacher, the ability to know exactly where to position your feet is so helpful.)

Last—and this is my favorite part—the workout can be done in person (there are studios in a range of locations across the country), but also virtually (a free trial is available, but after that costs $25/month). I tested both as part of this experience and while, yes, the equipment is an investment (I recommend the $374 Essentials bundle, which also includes three months of complimentary virtual classes), the accessibility—and flexibility in terms of time and place—is priceless.

More About the Range of Classes

Yes, there are in-studio classes—the one I took was called Sculpt, which the brand suggested for beginners since it focuses on the core tenets of Pvolve (strength, mobility and stability). But there’s a full range on offer and based on experience level (equipment is also provided; the main note is that you need to bring clean athletic shoes, but they give you the option to wipe down the soles of the sneakers you have on should you forget).

If you’re going the virtual route, prepare to tap into thousands of available options. There’s a quiz you can take to better target exactly what you’re looking to accomplish via this workout routine, but I’ll admit that I got a hot tip from my in-studio instructor about a post-natal series that seemed perfect for what I was going for in my effort to get back on track with my own fitness and well-being. More on this below, but I’m recovering from diastasis recti and this workout series includes modifications for that—not to mention a true emphasis on gentle yet effective movements as you build back strength. (Also of note: The classes range in length from 10 to 30 minutes, a godsend for busy moms.)

I’ve been testing Pvolve for about a month at home, but wanted to augment my virtual experience with an in-studio class—mainly, to make sure that I’m getting a lot of the fundamentals correct, especially when it comes to the equipment and how to best use it. The class I took was on a weekday at the Soho location, which is a posh area of New York City—i.e. I braced myself to feel a hair intimidated as I walked into the class.

Outside the studio, a couple of women in their 50s approached me to confirm they were at the right address. They were first-timers and excited to experience the workout, too. But that’s what struck me: Even in-person, the range of ages signed up for Pvolve was vast. In fact, it wasn’t intimidating in the slightest. Sure, there was one Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy look-alike and plenty of attendees with Pvolve expertise, but the vibe was welcoming—and encouraging—for beginners. I was immediately drawn to that.

I wiped down the bottom of my sneakers and was given the number of my mat. All the equipment is organized into a small basket next to the precision mat—the course began with the instructor first highlighting the signature movements, so you were familiar before any sequences began. (She also asked about any injuries and helped make accommodations for them.)

From there, the workout began. I immediately noticed how it released the common aches and pains of everyday life. The areas of my hip and inner thighs that felt tight from too much sitting (the P.ball and ankle bands were everything here); also, a low-impact weight-lifting sequence that helped stretch areas that have long been tender from too much typing. (That’s probably why when the instructor referenced those Trader Joe’s bags, I could visualize it so easily; the entire workout felt like it was prioritizing—and strengthening—the long-neglected areas of my bod.)

The experience was challenging, but throughout felt so constructive—overall, it felt like I devoted quality time to improving my range of motion, which is such a critical goal for longevity. More than anything, I felt capable and empowered by the end. (It didn’t hurt that images of Aniston surrounded me—it felt like she was cheering me on.)

Bottom Line

The pros of the workout really are the fact that it’s rooted in longevity and targeting the areas of your body that need the most attention as you age. I’ll admit that the equipment takes some getting used to—if you can take a class in-studio or watch some of the video explainers before you start, it’s worth it to minimize overwhelm. But I’m a huge fan of Pvolve and can’t wait to continue and reap the results.