Future App Review: The Future of Personal Training
Subscription price: $150/mo
Coronavirus and 2020 as a whole has transformed how we live. Wellness has always been something I’ve been passionate about but the pandemic completely altered my gym schedule and work routine. Combine that with other life changes that come with being an adult, and I finally decided in 2021 it was time to figure out how to dedicate more time for self care. Although fitness isn’t something we usually discuss here at The Sypnotix, I recently downloaded an app that has merged technology and health together effortlessly and has altered the way I look at wellness.
A Quick Introduction
Future originally caught my attention through a Facebook ad and despite not being able to find too much information online (other than attractive social media ads and a well designed website), I was intrigued with what they were advertising. It was essentially 1-on-1 remote personal training for $5 a day. The concept seemed simple enough: connect with a personal trainer via an app who would tailor a fitness plan to your goals and needs. You can message them anytime and get nutrition and wellness advice as well. On top of that, the coaches employed by Future come from diverse portfolios, some from the top gyms in the country, have even worked for professional sports leagues like the NBA and MLB.
I’ll preface my review with some additional background on myself and previous fitness level. In no way would I consider myself a “gym junkie” or health expert. However, I loved trying different workouts and visited numerous boutique studios and gyms prior to the pandemic. I did everything from being a regular at my local Pilates studios to the occasional SoulCycle class and even picked up muay thai at a local boxing gym. I even had an Equinox membership for a short stint and was also an avid ClassPass member which gives you access via credits to different types of studios in your city. I wouldn’t say I’m new to the fitness scene, but my biggest problem has always been accountability. When COVID happened, it became challenging for me to find motivation to exercise when I was working, eating and sleeping all within the confines of my home. I struggled to find ways to motivate myself to get back into shape without the exterior environments I used to be apart of.
A Seamless Experience
I decided to give Future a try and was honestly so thrilled to see how technology and fitness can merge together. First off, the onboarding experience that Future provides is impressive and I hope other companies take inspiration from Future. After signing up, you’re given a series of questions to answer that will connect you with the best fit coach to align with your goals. They’ll then send you a welcome kit which includes a handwritten card from your coach welcoming you to Future, a water bottle and a leased Apple Watch. Since I had my own Apple Watch already, I did not opt in for the watch but from what I understand, they send you a Series 3 Apple Watch with a hold on your account so you basically “rent” the Apple Watch during your time using Future. It’s important to note that at this time, Future is only available on iOS but I have spoken with members of their team and Android development is on their roadmap.
After that, you meet with your coach via FaceTime and have an initial meet and greet where you discuss your goals, level of fitness experience and what you’re trying to achieve. My coach, Cecilia, came from a premier gym on the East Coast and has experience working in coaching and nutrition as well. One of my favorite parts of Future is how well tailored the programs can be. Cecilia took into account all the equipment I have at home (which isn’t that much) and has been able to create great workout routines without me spending more money.
With the workout themselves, your coach works with you to see what styles will keep you interested and accountable. I am currently doing five full body workouts throughout the week with a yoga and stretching session on Saturday. At any point, I can reach out to my coach and let her know I need to change my routine or want to mix things up. If you’re traveling or going on vacation, just let your coach know and they will make adjustments to fit your schedule. If you know the hotel you’re staying at, your coach will even contact the hotel ahead of time to determine what equipment is available at the hotel so you can have a modified workout.
What really impressed me was the seamless experience I had within the Future app itself. Everyday I’ll log into Future and see my workout pop up. The overview will show the equipment you need, the length of your workout and you can also see the moves you’ll be doing as well. On top of that, each move is guided through a recorded video with audio support from your coach. You can choose to stream music in-app or play Spotify in the background. In the month that I’ve been using Future, I have been able to use the app with no issues whatsoever and if you’re using an Apple Watch, it’ll also help track your workouts into your overall health report. This has allowed me to see a holistic view of my wellness, especially since the Future app pairs so well with Apple Health and other apps like Noom and Lifesum too if you’re counting calories or macros. As you’re working out, you’ll also receive haptic feedback with the timer on your Apple Watch for at-a-glance movements.
Some Challenges
Although I’ve been able to perform most of the exercises with minimal guidance other than the on-screen visual, one of the biggest challenges to virtual workouts is proper form when not supervised. For those who are newer to fitness, I still see this as a problem even with the use of detailed Future application. However, Future tries to alleviate this issue by letting you record yourself doing a move and sending it to your coach. That doesn’t necessarily mean your coach will be able to view it live or get back to you right away. On top of that, it can also mean more time spent recording yourself doing the move and then waiting to see if you did it correctly than actual focus on the move itself. I think where Future can improve is maybe offering live sessions with your coach at least for the first time a new workout is introduced to your flow so you can go through the moves together if needed.
Speaking of additional guidance, coaches can also offer nutritional and wellness advice as well. Although they are not allowed to help you meal plan, they can make suggestions and encourage you throughout the day. I have worked with personal trainers in the past and I know meal planning is something a lot of people need help with. It would be nice to have that option from Future coaches, but I’m still very happy with what they can offer right now. For example, Cecilia and I are working together to help me find and choose healthier snacks when I have the midnight munchies.
Finally, we can’t talk about Future without discussing price. It’s not cheap. When you consider it as an app, it’s definitely more expensive than the average cost you’d spend on other apps. One month of training will cost $150 and I know one complaint people may have is that it’s out of their price point or they’d rather watch YouTube videos and exercise themselves. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, but if you have had an Equinox membership before or if you have visited boutique gyms and studios or have used ClassPass before, the cost is on-par if not just slightly cheaper than what you’d pay to visit those. Post-Covid life will see many businesses change their way of operation for public health reasons thanks to technology. This is a glimpse of how future personal training might be like. If you view the Future app more as hiring a personal trainer that you can communicate with in the digital space everyday instead of in-person visits once a week, then the cost of membership is relatively comparable. It’s not exactly the same as having someone physically there monitoring you, but it’s a compromise that has a unique spot in the fitness space.
Final Thoughts
Honestly I have been so impressed with Future and what this means for the future of fitness and technology. They’ve created a truly seamless experience that allows you to feel like you’re getting a personalized fitness experience with accountability and support from your coach. Thanks to Future, I started working out regularly again and feel like I am getting to experience new workouts that fit my goals. I also get daily check-ins from my coach, who has not only encouraged me but has really created an experience that I want to keep doing everyday. And yes, for the price point it’s not for everyone but I think that as consumers, the more options we have to pick and choose from, the better. Ultimately, there is still an in-person component to personal training that I prefer when it comes to ensuring proper form and movement, but as someone who is still uncomfortable going to gyms in person during these unprecedented times, Future has become a really great option for me.
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Lida
Always the number cruncher, the former narrative journalist turned data scientist, can’t help but find herself bursting with excitement with each new generation of tech gadgets. After all, predicting future trends is Lida’s forte. Any gadget that survives Lida’s torturous, adult working woman itinerary of over 700 notifications a day deserves praise!