I Tried Jen Aniston’s Go-To Workout For 2 Months—Here’s My Honest P.Volve Review
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A new approach to resistance training, with innovative equipment
Verywell Fit / Nick Kova
I used to think that in order to get a solid workout, I had to leave the gym sweaty, exhausted, and aching. Whether running on the treadmill or attending a HIIT class, I was doing workouts that I really did not enjoy—making it that much harder to show up every day.
It wasn’t until I started incorporating yoga and Pilates into my routine that I realized you can get a good workout with low-impact exercise and leave feeling energized, invigorated, and strong. But it isn’t just that post-workout feeling that keeps me coming back to low-impact exercise—it’s also the physical and mental results: I am stronger, more flexible, less stressed out, and a whole lot happier.
And I’m not alone in my love for low-impact movement—it’s becoming increasingly popular as people realize its many benefits. And new online platforms and equipment specific to this type of movement keep popping up on my social media accounts—each with its own method and technique. That’s why, when P.Volve offered to send me some of their top-selling equipment to try for myself, I knew I had to test it out.
P.Volve
P.Volve—Jennifer Aniston’s favorite workout—is a unique, science-led method that combines low-impact movements with resistance-based equipment to build strength, improve mobility, and more. According to the brand, the method is underscored by functional fitness, meaning exercise that mimics everyday movement and works with the body’s biomechanics to offer training that delivers solid results with less discomfort.
You can attend P.volve classes in person at one of their nine studio locations based in the US and Canada. But I chose to complete workouts through their online membership, where you can stream thousands of on-demand classes on the website or app. Plus, right now they’re offering a 7-day free trial to their streaming membership that automatically renews at $14.99/month.
Throughout the two-month testing period, I completed at least ten workouts (a mix of upper body, lower body, core, and full body) using five of P.volve’s best-selling accessories: the P.ball, heavy ankle band, P.band, ankle weights, and gliders—more on each below. The brand does offer more equipment, including a precision mat and slant board, that I did not use during my workouts.
Each piece of equipment is designed for a specific purpose, but they all use resistance to target major muscles, as well as hard-to-reach muscles throughout the body. Here are my thoughts on each product that I tried. What I love the most about this equipment is that, although you get access to instructor-led workouts, you don’t necessarily need to follow P.volve-specific workouts to get the most out of your equipment.
P.volve P. Ball
My favorite piece of equipment from P.volve, the P.ball, offers a unique way to strengthen your lower body. It’s essentially a mini exercise ball held in place with a thick resistance band. To use it, you slide your feet into the band on either side of the ball, moving it up and down your legs to target different muscles. What makes it so challenging and effective is that you have to either squeeze the ball or push against the band to keep it up—meaning there’s constant resistance from every direction.
Once it’s centered between your legs, you can complete exercises like glute bridges, donkey kicks, lateral leg raises, squats, and more. You can also simply squeeze the ball or push against the bands, using the resistance to target your inner and outer legs.
This is one of the most innovative workout accessories I’ve ever tried, as it combines two really great pieces of equipment. The band is removable and adjustable, with five hook and loop closures and an optional extender. Plus, the p.ball also comes with a hand pump, needle, and a tape measure to ensure your ball is always inflated to the correct size (a diameter of 18-21 inches).
Price at time of publication: $70
P.volve Heavy Ankle Resistance Band
It’s like a resistance band but different. P.volve’s heavy ankle band, also designed to target the lower body, is an innovative approach to traditional resistance bands. It features two velcro cuffs that wrap around each ankle, connected by a thin latex band that holds them together. You can use this band both standing and lying on your mat by pressing your feet away from each other to build resistance. I used the band to complete exercises like side lunges, side-lying hip abductions, side steps, and more to target the outer glute and leg muscles.
What I love about the ankle band is that it stays put, unlike other resistance bands I’ve used in the past—allowing me to do more dynamic exercises. Plus, I love how simple it is to use. Although it’s only designed to target the lower body, you can use it for so many different lower body exercises that it’s worth the purchase.
Price at time of publication: $25
P.volve P.band Exercise Resistance Band
The perfect complement to the heavy ankle bands, the P.band strengthens your upper body by using (you guessed it!) resistance. It’s a thin latex resistance band that connects two gloves (made from polyester, neoprene, and cotton) that you can slip your hands into and then secure with the velcro wrist strap.
What sets the P.band apart from any other upper-body-specific accessories I’ve used is that it lets you target small, hard-to-reach muscles you otherwise would miss. That’s because it gives your full range of motion to work your arms, back, and shoulders at different angles and levels of resistance. My upper body has never felt more sore than when I used this product for the first time.
While testing the P. Band, I used it for chest flies, lat pull-downs, and other upper body resistance band exercises. In many P.volve workouts, you can combine the heavy ankle band with the P.Band for a total body workout—one of my favorite things to do!
Price at time of publication: $40
P.volve Ankle Weight Set
Ankle weights have been a regular part of my workout routine for some time, so I was super excited to try P.Volve’s 1.5-pound ankle weights. These small, versatile weights that can be used on your wrists or ankles offer a gentle way to add resistance as you walk and do other movements to engage your upper body, lower body, and core.
A weight that’s less than 2 pounds may not seem like a lot, but it works to build up tension in the muscles—leaving me sore after each P.volve session. I love that these weights feature an adjustable velcro strap that stays in place, which I especially appreciate during my 12-3-30 treadmill walks. While I still love my tried-and-true Bala Bangles, P.volve’s ankle weights come in a close second.
Price at time of publication: $30
P.volve Gliders
Gliders, or exercise sliders, are a sneaky workout accessory because, while they look small and unassuming, they’re actually super challenging to use. You can use gliders to get a full body workout, with moves like sliding mountain climbers, lateral lunges, and so much more.
P.volve’s sliders are a quality piece of equipment and mesh well with their other equipment. But I don’t think you need to spend this much for a pair of plastic discs when you can find other similar options for a budget-friendlier price. With that being said, if you are placing a P.volve order, you will not regret adding these to your cart.
Price at time of publication: $30
P.Volve
After completing two months' worth of P.volve on-demand classes using these five accessories, I can confidently say that I’m a huge fan—of the method and equipment. P.volve is an innovative workout that uses dozens of unique, equipment-based movements I’ve never seen done before. It’s an effective, low-impact exercise that gave me real physical and mental results.
I also love that I can use P.volve’s accessories in my own workout routine without following the brand’s specific classes—making each product even more worth the investment.
If you’re ready to invest, you can also check out the brand’s bundles—the Signature Bundle and Total Transformation Bundle. The signature bundle comes with three accessories and a free one-month membership, while the total transformation bundle comes with a free 12-month membership.
