The Hottest New Fitness Tool Since the Stationary Bike

The Hottest New Fitness Tool Since the Stationary Bike

Tone up all over—and boost your flexibility, coordination, and balance—with this fun new workout

When it comes to exercise, innovative new equipment and classes may sound fun, but they aren't always efficient—or even effective (Think: dumbbells that shake… talk about a total #FitnessFail). But when fitness pros team up with engineers and technology experts to create a new product, seriously cool stuff can definitely happen. 

Case in point: The Fitwall. It's a ladder-like device bolted onto a wall that allows you to perform moves like pull-ups, downward facing dogs, and frog squats by stepping, pulling, and jumping on the rungs. The Fitwall was developed by engineer and martial artist (and rock climber, fittingly) Doug Brendle who wanted a workout that would give him a bigger bang for his fitness buck than do many traditional workouts. And the Fitwall certainly does just that: "It challenges your body in a unique and demanding way that requires balance, coordination, flexibility—and utilizes multiple muscle groups at once," says Clifton Harski, a kinesiologist and Fitwall Ventures' Director of Training and National Head Coach.

Fitwall Ventures offers 40-minute interval-style classes on the Fitwall at studios in California (where you check in on an iPad and get live feedback via a heart rate monitor and Bluetooth sensor). But fear not if you live nowhere near the Golden State. The founders say they're expanding quickly and will eventually sell at-home models with downloadable workouts for your iPad or computer, just like those used in their classes (and since it only comes three inches out from the wall, you'll barely know its there when you're not using it). 

Until then, you can get a sense of the Fitwall workout with these five floor-based moves (done in Fitwall classes) that you can do at the gym, or even in your living room—no equipment required! "We incorporate these moves to complement the exercises done on the wall—but they're also extremely effective when performed on their own if you can't make it to class, because they're still based on the Fitwall principles—they demand many different things at once: balance, coordination, stability, flexibility and strength, says Harski.

Try it out, and experience the intense sweat session for yourself: The Circuit Workout Inspired by Fitwall.

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