Not knowing where to start, thinking fitness is all-or-nothing, falling prey to diet culture, juggling endless responsibilities, struggling to find the best workouts for women, aspiring to unrealistic beauty ideals… Women deal with so many obstacles in fitness that we often don’t move at all. And that’s becoming a problem because living a sedentary lifestyle robs us of healthy years, confidence, and critical mental health support.
If this story sounds familiar, you’re not alone. According to the CDC, more than 60% of U.S. women don’t get enough exercise, and more than 25% aren’t active at all. Plus, there’s a gender gap here—women are more likely than men to be physically inactive, which makes them more prone to developing health complications. Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and breast plus gynecological cancers are most common.
The biggest elephant in the room in all this? There’s not enough personalization for women out there. Yes, women know they should work out. But what type of exercise makes the most sense—and how often? Should you work out differently depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle? And what type of workouts can reduce your risk of disease? At obé, it’s our mission to help you navigate these questions (and so many more).
We guide women through the what, when, and how of working out, so you have one less thing to stress about. Your fitness journey will no longer be an endless pursuit to hit that magic number on the scale, but an empowering experience of building your body literacy and taking control of your health. Read on for 7 reasons why obé is the best workout platform for women—period.
1. Personalized workout plans for women
No two women are alike, so their workout routines shouldn’t be either. Opening up a massive library of endless fitness classes can be (admittedly) intimidating, which is why we cut the guesswork and map out exactly what workouts you need to do to reach your goals. Because spoiler alert: doing a random assortment of classes may get you sweaty, but it won’t help you reach more ambitious goals like changing your body composition or getting stronger.
Personalized plans on obé are progressive, long-term, and designed specifically with your preferences in mind. To activate your personalized plan, you’ll first take a short quiz. Your answers tell us where you are in your fitness journey, the type of movement you like, your goals, and how many days you can work out. After you complete your quiz, your personalized class schedule will auto-populate 2 weeks’ worth of classes—which will constantly refresh and progress as you go.
The benefits: no planning (we do that for you), no guesswork (you’ll get the best workouts for women, guaranteed), and no fitness plateaus. Since the plans are progressive, you’ll constantly build on the strength and skills you previously gained. This method is known as progressive overload, and it’s the best way to achieve fitness results.
2. Cycle tracking and insights
FYI, only 4% of sport and exercise science studies are done on female-only participants (this is called the gender data gap). As a result, very few fitness programs are designed with a woman’s unique physiology in mind. And that’s exactly where obé stands out.
For those who menstruate, tuning in and adjusting to your natural hormonal cycle can build a deeper connection to the body. Broken into four stages, fluctuations in this cycle have been shown to impact mood, energy levels, metabolism, appetite, sleep, injury vulnerability, and more.
Those changes can manifest as changes in stress levels, energy, physical activity, sex drive, and even emotions like motivation. By tracking your cycle, understanding it, and making informed decisions about your workouts based on where you’re at, you can better manage symptoms like PMS and feel more confident in your skin.
Since every cycle is different, obé offers a few tools to hone in on yours. If you already track your cycle, jump right into the Working Out on Your Cycle Collection. You’ll find a calendar of 20 hand-picked classes designed for your energy levels and readiness. Experiment with these workouts for women and see which class types feel best at each stage.
If you’re a beginner or want to unlock daily tips and class recommendations, go for Cycle Insights. After taking a short questionnaire about your cycle (we never store or share your data), you’ll see your current cycle phase, an explanation of what’s happening, and class recommendations for that stage.
And just to be crystal clear: women can absolutely do any workout a man can at any stage of their cycle. These are just two tools you can use (or not) to explore what works best for you. For the 101 syncing workouts to your cycle, read this guide.
3. Structured programs to learn new skills
With all the things women have to juggle, having more structure in your workout routines can be super nice. At obé, we know trying new things—especially in fitness—can be super intimidating, which is why we’ve designed workout programs tailored for women that progress step by step.
How many times have you thought: ‘I just wish I had enough confidence to try _______.’ Whether you fill in the blank with Yoga, Pilates, Dance Cardio, running, or strength training, we have you covered. obé’s training programs package workouts for women based on specific goals, helping you maximize your results. The best part is you can do these seriously effective programs at home—without any unwanted attention.
If you’re a beginner and want to learn the basics, try programs like Dance Essentials, Pilates Essentials, or Yoga Essentials. These program options are 3 weeks long with just two weekly 30-minute sessions. Heard about the importance of strength training for women but don’t know where to start? Go for Simply Strong to build your foundation over 6 weeks with 3 weekly sessions, Gym Strong if you want to learn how to use gym equipment, or BodyComp if you’re ready for a bigger commitment.
obé also has programs to help you Run 5K, prioritize your wellness, or focus on your core. Check out all your options here.
4. Express workouts for women
We know you’re busy—like, really busy. Whether you’re working more than ever, bearing the brunt of household responsibilities, cooking all the meals, or running countless errands, you’ve got a lot on your plate. Research shows that thanks to more emotional labor and domestic work, women consistently report higher stress levels than men, resulting in a very real stress gap.
One of our favorite remedies for all that built-up stress and anxiety? A 10-minute Express obé workout. Because sometimes, that’s all the time you have for yourself. If you’re thinking: ‘what can a 10-minute workout really do,’ research shows us that it’s a lot. Mini-workouts can reduce your risk of diabetes and help control blood sugar, measurably boost brain power, ease symptoms of anxiety or depression, and improve your cardio fitness.
Plus, starting small can make it easier to build up consistent habits. First, commit to just one daily 10-minute session. Then, stack a few à la carte or do one in the morning and another in the evening. Studies show that a few mini-workouts spread throughout the day are just as effective as a prolonged one.
5. Women’s health and wellness classes
A big thing missing from most fitness platforms? Classes specifically focused on women’s health. Real talk, there still aren’t enough resources out there for topics that were once (and often still are) considered ‘taboo.’ Think pelvic floor health, hormonal changes (especially during menopause), sexual health, PMS, menstrual health, and more. Your fitness regimen can impact all of the above—which is why it’s so beneficial to find the right workouts for women.
A great example: nearly 1 in 3 women experience a pelvic floor disorder in the U.S. Yet most of us have no idea what these vital muscles do—or that many issues can be prevented with simple exercises. That’s why we work with specialists to a) give you the education you deserve (check out this 15-minute Mat Chat with pelvic floor therapist, Dr. Jennifer Purwin) and b) offer targetted classes you can easily follow. Whether you prefer stretching, Yoga, Sculpt, Pilates, are prenatal, or just had a baby, there are so many pelvic floor-focused obé workouts to choose from.
Another marvel is how little information women get about what happens to their bodies as they age. To offer more insight, we partnered with Dr. Shoma-Datta Thomas of Modern Age for a 3-part longevity series breaking down how to boost metabolism, balance hormones, and build bone mass.
But wait, there’s more! Explore 200+ obé meditations for days you feel stressed, or try one of 80+ obé’s guided breathwork sessions to chill out and wind down. Your holistic wellness is always our top priority.
6. Tons of prenatal and postnatal workouts for women
Here’s a shocking statistic: according to one study, about 60% of pregnant women don’t engage in any physical activity. According to another, more than 85% of pregnant women said their biggest barrier to working out was inadequate information from healthcare professionals, with nearly 65% citing insufficient or contradictory info. Yikes!
The truth is, working out throughout your pregnancy comes with a plethora of well-documented benefits for both mom and baby. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that prenatal fitness can reduce the incidence of preterm birth, hypertension, cesarean births, and gestational diabetes. Moving for two can also reduce body aches and pains plus postpartum recovery time—and even reduce the risk of postpartum depressive disorders.
Especially if it’s your first pregnancy, it can be hard to know what to do and what modifications to make. And since most fitness platforms aren’t designed with you in mind, they’re often missing good quality prenatal and postnatal workouts for women. Luckily, obé has tons of certified prenatal and postnatal fitness experts teaching classes that aren’t just fun, but effective. (P.S. All of them have continued teaching during their pregnancies!).
Browse through our Prenatal Hub if you’re expecting—or choose your own adventure by filtering through obé’s prenatal workout options. If you’re looking for guidance postpartum, read this educational blog, then dive into our Postnatal Hub or filter through all postnatal classes.
7. 20+ class types so you never get bored
The cherry on top? At obé, we never want your workout to feel like a chore or punishment. That’s just not our vibe—and it’s the same reason we’ll never tell you that you need to ‘earn your body,’ ‘get summer ready,’ or ‘torch those calories’ in class. We know girls just want to have fun, so we give you the most variety in the game.
You’ll find 20+ class types on obé, with options like Sculpt, Yoga, Pilates, Dance Cardio, Strength, Boxing, Barre, and more. (For the complete list of obé workout class types, read this.) We also give you the power to filter by body focus (think: core, upper body, lower body), equipment type, music genre, impact level, instructors, duration, and fitness level. So really, the (workout) world is your oyster.
Plus, check out our special theme filter for classes that dress up the ordinary, and browse through obé Collections to uncover workouts for women you won’t find anywhere else. Because if you’re not having fun moving your body, is it even worth it? For us, your workout should always be a source of joy that lights you up, giving you a much-needed respite from your busy life and a glow you can carry long after the endorphins have worked their magic.
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