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Part of the reason I played sports every chance I got in high school was that I truly, deeply hated the off-season. For one, the days spent in the sweat-soaked weight room meant it was time to crank out heavy reps and speed through HIIT bodyweight circuits. For another, a cast of cranky coaches had seen their seasons come and go too soon, and they were eager to make sure that strength-training-heavy workouts would remedy that in the upcoming schedule (cough cough: they made the exercises h-a-r-d).
Fast forward to now, and I look forward to days spent doing burpees at my house. All that’s changed? I got a Tempo machine—an AI console that utilizes a 3D body-monitoring system to provide workouts and form corrections as you go—which has become my personal trainer and source of encouragement, all in one super tech-y machine.
Tempo Studio Starter Package — $2,295.00
What should I know about the Tempo?
At-home exercise options go way back—we’ve long had access to workout tapes from Jane Fonda and P90X, as well as muscle-building equipment like the Bowflex and stripped-down weight benches. “When I talk about this category, I like to remind people that home fitness equipment and home fitness content are not new,” Jon Canarick, managing partner at North Castle Partners, a VC group that invested in the connected bike brand Echelon previously reminded us for our Well+Good 2021 Trends report. “What has changed is bringing those two things together and creating a better experience.”
And when it comes to the experience of strength training with weights and bodyweight exercises, the Tempo is the best option—bar none. Not only does it flawlessly combine equipment and content, but it also incorporates personal training and weight recommendations, making your form and the muscle-building results you see a top priority.
Here’s how it works:
1. The set-up
The Tempo is delivered to you, and experts set it up in your home. From there, you connect it to your Internet and create a profile via a corresponding app or an online profile that also identifies your workout level and goals. It has a touch screen, unlike some of its competitors, so you don’t have to download the app if that’s not your thing. You’ll be prompted to take an intro class with an instructor who walks you through the basics.
2. The console
When you’re ready to do a workout, you simply walk up to the mid-century-modern-looking console and tap the screen. You’re greeted by a welcome display that asks you to select your profile, and from there you land on the workout-selection page. There are daily live classes if that’s your thing, and there’s also a treasure trove of different modalities—HIIT, strength, yoga, cardio boxing, mobility training, and restorative workouts—body part specific training—upper body, core, lower body—as well as challenges and programs.
3. The weights
Part of the genius of the Tempo system is that all of the weights are adjustable. They’re stored underneath the console, and as you progress in different workouts, you’ll be prompted to change out your weights (more on that later).
4. The heart-rate monitor
Tempo has a heart rate monitor integration in its programming, so as you’re going through workouts, you can see your heart rate in different zones. This can be particularly helpful if you’re planning on doing a lot of HIIT and want to spike your efforts; however, the brand recently announced integration with the Apple watch, so if you have one of those, you’re set. And if not, now may be the time.
Apple Watch Nike — $400.00
You can now use your Apple Watch as a heart rate monitor when working out with Tempo.
How much does the Tempo cost?
Good Q. It depends on which package you buy. Here are the details for each of them.
1. The Starter 4-Piece Package, $2,295
The starter package is what I have, and it works great for me. Unless you really want to work out with a weight bench or see yourself frequently using a barbell, this is your best bet because you can utilize the floor to do so many different movements. It comes with the following items:
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