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While working with a personal trainer can be a game changer when it comes to achieving our fitness goals, it’s not always possible for everyone to get that kind of specialized help.
Whether it’s because of the large price tag or the travel distance to the a gym (or other locations), many people pass on paying for a personal trainer. However, there’s an app that is designed to make personal trainers more accessible.
HipTrain is an app that was founded by Los Angeles entrepreneur Jordan Metzner during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic to provide affordable personal training sessions through video.
For Metzner, it’s important to make personal trainers accessible to anyone interested in utilizing their services, regardless of physical location or fitness level.
HipTrain offers a way for all the gurlies to achieve their fitness goals, including live 1-on-1 sessions, custom workouts, progress tracking and specialized objectives. Metzner spoke with Hello Gurl about HipTrain, including some of the perks of this at-home option.
HipTrain Helps A Range Of People
For a parent at home with little ones, elderly people, disabled people, and others, working out at home may be the only (and best) option. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t have access to a personal trainer that understands their unique goals and needs.
HipTrain has personal trainers based in Argentina that work around each client’s schedule, providing quality and affordability. Metzner, a regular traveler to Argentina, developed close-knit relationships in the South American country that helped to create the fitness app.
“We have customers of all walks of life,” Metzner told Hello Gurl.
“You’d be surprised how many people we have that are in their 70’s, and even a few in their 80’s that use HipTrain. A lot of women who don’t feel comfortable going to a public gym, they just like, feel incredibly intimidated by being in any type of public gym format,” he added.
The app founder also recalled a student that travels often for work using HipTrain in his hotel rooms across various locations.
“He lays down a towel and just does HipTrain with his trainer,” Metzner said.
Here’s How The HipTrain App Works
Sometimes using a new app or online platform can be intimidating. This may seem especially true thinking of setting up a virtual workout session with a personal trainer. Luckily, HipTrain isn’t complicated to set-up or navigate.
Available through web browser, the Apple Store and Google Play, HipTrain is accessible to most devices and offers a free trial session for people to see if the service is a good fit.
“It’s kind of like an online freelancing platform, like Upwork or something, where you’d hire someone to build a website. But in this case, we’re doing that with trainers,” Metzner said.
Each certified trainer asks about their client’s individual goals and needs before starting up their 30-minute or 60-minute session, allowing them to strategize and assess which exercises will be done. Clients are able to message their trainers to discuss goals, concerns, scheduling and questions.
My Experience
HipTrain invited Hello Gurl to test out a session. I had a session with Miranda Moronta and what I appreciated the most was that she asked me how challenging I wanted my workout to be, which muscles I wanted to work and how I was feeling that day. I felt like I was in a safe, friendly and accommodating environment even though it was over Zoom in my apartment with nothing but a yoga mat and a few weights.
HipTrain Has Affordable Options
There are three different plans that offer a free session for those hoping to test which one fits their lifestyle best.
- Break a Sweat: Frequency: 1 Session Per Week for $49.99 a month
- Elevate your Game: Frequency: 2 Sessions Per Week for $99.99 a month
- Peak Performance: Frequency: 3 Sessions Per Week for $149.99 a month
With most personal training sessions in the United States costing between $50 and $100 per hour, HipTrain has extremely affordable options that won’t break the bank.
This could be even more frugal if used instead of a gym membership, at-home gym equipment and other costly options. Whether you are doing body-weight exercises with no equipment or have a few essential hand weights, etc., each personal trainer will accommodate you.
With this app, some of the drawbacks may include adding screen time on the phone or computer, limited at-home space to work with versus the gym, and the risk of technical difficulties interfering with the session.
Metzner is No Stranger to The Business World
HipTrain is hardly Metzner’s first business venture, as he is the CEO and founder of 2021 company Ryz Labs, a startup studio and staffing company in Santa Monica, CA. He is also known for co-founding California Burrito Co, a burrito restaurant chain.
He also created Washio, an on-demand laundry service, in 2023. However, it closed in 2016 with its assets acquired by business competitor, Rinse.
