Want AI-Powered Muscles? Introducing: Tonal
Is the future of exercise in the hands of technology?
Yes, you heard that right.
Today, you can invest in an at-home fitness screen that sits on your living room wall that will be your new personal trainer for weightlifting.
Introducing: Tonal
Tonal has revolutionized muscle building through their patented digital weight technology and cable system. They have managed to generate 100 lbs of resistance for each arm, and the machinery can be manipulated to support 170 different moves.
They take the guesswork out of choosing your weights by assigning you a “score” based on your current strength.
aka. the “peloton for weightlifting.”
Unique “Modes” of Lifting
What makes the digital weight experience significantly different from the weights used in the gym are the different settings that push your muscles in new ways, including:
Burnout — Reduces weight automatically every rep
Chains — Increases weight automatically every rep
Eccentric — Adds weight when the muscle normally relaxes for nonstop burn
Smart Flex — Precisely adjusts the weights throughout the entire range of motion
Coach AI
Tonal leverages AI to recommend workouts based on your specific goals and experiences, recommend long-term workout programs, and coolest of all, they have 17 sensors that analyze and correct your form to optimize the workout and reduce injury.
Extensions + Accessories
There are some cool extra features that Tonal offers, such as:
- Partner workouts: Tonal supports virtual group workouts or in-person partner workouts so you can compete and sweat together
- App: Tonal has their own app to gamify the tracking process through leaderboards and friendly competition
- Strava, Apple Health, Wearables: Partnerships with these companies to seamlessly integrate into your existing athletic technology
- Smart Accessories: Other Tonal-branded accessories can be added to the system such as a bench, roller, smart handles, smart bar, rope, etc.
Reviews
Tonal is no doubt an innovator in this field and is clearly a growing and improving company.
According to reviews I read online, Tonal is very receptive to user criticism, which includes:
- No live classes, which makes the programs boring after a long time, especially when you hear the same corny pre-recorded joke for the 5th time
- As a consequence, the workout videos can seem “a bit robotic and rehearsed” as opposed to Peloton, a competitor (where instructors personally engage with students)
- The high initial cost of $2,995 + $149/monthly subscription
- The form-monitoring tech is not quite there yet
However, I’m sure in a few years the cost will be lower and these other kinks will be sorted out!
Conclusion
Especially after covid, the at-home alternative to the gym is becoming more appealing. Tonal is for sure one of the leaders guiding the future of athleticism (along with Peloton, Mirror, and Classpass), and I’m very excited to see what the future holds!
