Wondering how Jennifer Aniston got in the best shape of her life? Us too! So we asked her PT to spill on the revolutionary at-home workout designed to build lean muscle and unlock lasting energy.

At 56 years old, Jennifer Aniston wouldn’t look out of place time-travelling to the Friends set where she first shot to fame at the age of just 25. But more than her gravity-defying looks, the iconic actor feels like she’s in the best shape of her life, too. “I’m stronger than I ever thought possible, with new-found flexibility, sculpted muscles and lasting energy,” the megastar says. 

With what we’ve come to expect of the fitness industry, you’d likely assume that the method responsible for that glowing review (and those glistening biceps) involves a punishing regime of Navy Seal-standard training and a level of dedication to exercise that’s usually reserved for Olympians. Certainly not something the average person could achieve at home. But you’d be wrong. Turns out the clinically proven system Aniston swears by is staunchly opposed to the ‘no pain, no gain’ approach we’ve long been fed about fitness, promising results that work with your body, not against it.

Pain has left the chat

OK, we won’t keep you hanging any longer – the secret to Aniston’s enviable physique and fitness can be summarised in one word: Pvolve. Co-founded by entrepreneur Rachel Katzman, Pvolve is described as a “proven method that combines low-impact functional fitness with resistance-based equipment to deliver results beyond a traditional workout” on the brand’s website. We’re listening. 

So, what exactly can you expect from a Pvolve workout? Think low-impact resistance exercises on a 12-grid mat using tailored equipment to burn, build and sculpt your body in a way that mimics everyday movement. We Aussies can stream over 1500 different classes online on demand (for around $30 per month), with options for every fitness level and life stage –from your luteal phase to fertility, postpartum and menopause. 

Katzman herself explained to Body+Soul, “The fitness industry had long prioritised aesthetics over longevity, high-impact over sustainability and one-size-fits-all programs that ignored women’s unique needs.

“I created Pvolve to change that and introduce a new method that builds strength, mobility and stability, while honouring the way women’s bodies evolve over time.”  

Before Pvolve, New York native Katzman – who also founded luxury haircare brand, Cuvée Beauty – spent years chasing the ‘right’ workout, jumping from one high-intensity class to the next, pushing herself to the limit or the effort wasn’t enough. “I started Pvolve out of pure necessity,” she explains. “The reality was, those workouts were breaking me down. I was constantly dealing with aches, pains and exhaustion. Yet despite all the effort, I didn’t feel strong or connected to my body.” 

In case you were wondering, Pvolve means ‘personal evolution’, and that’s exactly what came next for the now 33-year-old co-founder. “I discovered functional fitness, and everything changed,” she admits. “I realised that moving in a way that supported my body – rather than punishing it – was the key to feeling and looking my best.” 

That realisation also hit home for Dani Coleman, VP of Training and Head Trainer at Pvolve, when she joined the team five years ago. “That was like a big ‘whoa’ moment for me – taking my first Pvolve class,” shares Coleman. “It’s really fighting that old-school notion of ‘no pain, no gain’.” Growing up dancing professionally spawned Coleman’s love of movement, which transformed into a wealth of health certifications and a decade of industry experience. “When it came to movement, I had a really unhealthy relationship with it… swallow pain, figure out how to do these idyllic things with your body but not know the means to the end,” she says. 

Enter: Pvolve, to turn that on its head. “You’re not just working out – you’re training for long-term health,” says Katzman of the method. “Because we focus on building muscle while protecting joints, improving flexibility while strengthening posture and enhancing mobility while preventing injury, the results go beyond just looks.” It’s a pitch that’s resonated with thousands of women, with 20 new studios opening across the United States in 2025 (bringing the total to 40) and a legion of online fans – A-listers like Aniston included.

Why Aniston bought in

While many of us spent lockdown coddling sourdough starter and finishing 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles, Aniston was sweating her way through Pvolve’s roster of classes. “We found out she was a secret streamer over the pandemic, which is just a fairytale come true,” recalls Coleman.  

A major perk of Coleman’s job? Putting the award-winning actor through her paces on the Pvolve mat. “She reached out for private personal training, and she and I got connected,” she explains. “It’s been a little over three years of working together on this wonderful method.” And it’s clearly made an impact, with Aniston so taken by the training that she came on board as an investor with the brand in 2023. “I started Pvolve simply wanting to move again after an injury, but it has transformed into so much more,” reveals Aniston. “Right from the start, I felt the results.” 

And while these results are obvious to anyone with 20-20 vision who’s had a glimpse at Aniston’s enviably sculpted promo for the brand, even more importantly for Pvolve, their results are backed by science. “We’re the first and only fitness brand to clinically study our own method on women, for women,” says Katzman. A serious gold star considering a 2021 study found that only six per cent of research in sport and exercise science exclusively included female participants. 

Better yet, they’ve drilled down on the kind of movement that best supports women as they transition through perimenopause and menopause, the impact of which – in part thanks to celebrities like Aniston, Naomi Watts and Drew Barrymore – is finally being acknowledged publicly. 

But don’t just take our word for it. The Jean Hailes National Women’s Health Survey found that one quarter of Aussie women aged between 45 to 64 reported that menopause symptoms made doing daily activities harder. Hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, disturbed sleep and downstairs dryness are some of the more obvious impacts, but menopause also causes silent biological changes that can increase women’s risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Hardly a hopeful outlook, but not one that’s a given. Greater recognition comes with reshaping cultural attitudes towards the natural phase of life and more awareness around the things women can do to embrace it best. 

“For too long, the conversation around ageing – especially for women – has been filled with fear and negativity,” says Katzman. “We’re told getting older means slowing down, losing strength and accepting discomfort as just part of the process, but that’s not the truth.” 

Teaming up with researchers at the University of Exeter, The Healthy Aging clinical study found Pvolve’s resistance-based program increased hip strength, dynamic balance, flexibility and lean body mass in women aged between 40 and 60. Meaning an age-related decline in muscle mass, strength and stability – which leads to falls and fractures – can be avoided with exercise. The 12-week at-home low-resistance exercise program was found to improve lower-body strength by 20 per cent and lower-body flexibility by 21 per cent, compared to results from the generally recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. 

The first-of-its-kind findings come on top of what we know about exercise reducing your risk of certain physical and mental health conditions. “Ageing is not a decline but an evolution,” says Katzman. “We’re helping women approach it from a place of strength, not fear.” 

But women in and after menopause might have some of the lowest levels of physical activity amongst the population, with 94 per cent of Aussie females aged 55 to 64 failing to get the recommended two sessions of strengthening exercise per week. The biggest barrier? A lack of time for middle-aged women balancing a work, family and household to-do list. Critically, researchers cite a lack of positive experiences and stressful or frustrating past encounters that make exercise seem out of reach.  

“Working out can actually feel good and be effective,” says Coleman. Katzman agrees, adding, “We’re not just changing the conversation – we’re rewriting the entire narrative around ageing and fitness.” 

So, bookmark these tips to transform your fitness ASAP, because as this A-list powerhouse proves, it’s never too late to get in the best shape of your life.

HOW TO FEEL STRONGER AND FITTER, FAST

While we can’t copy Aniston’s #blessed genetic make-up, we can adopt her PT’s transformative advice to get better workout results – at any age.

#1. Cancel the all-or-nothing approach

“[Move] past those barriers or obstacles or excuses that some of us like to put into our mind,” advises Coleman. “You can get an effective workout that is nice on the body but also delivers results.” That can mean modifying moves when you need to or opting for low impact when your body calls for it. “There are plenty of ways to scale your workouts up and down that meet your body where it’s at,” she adds – which is exactly what Coleman does with Aniston. “We tailor Jen’s workouts to meet her body wherever it’s at that specific day,” she reveals.

#2. Consistency is always key

If you’re feeling inspired to start exercising (you can thank us later), sticking with it even on the days you want to hit the snooze button is essential – whether you have five minutes spare to sweat or 50. “Consistency is the number-one thing,” says Coleman. “Whether it’s personal training clients or in our live virtual studio, it’s always: just show up and commit to practise three times a week, whatever that looks like, whatever effort you have that day to give.”

#3. Embrace weight training

Let’s hammer this one home: “Weight training is imperative,” says Coleman. “We know we need muscle mass to keep our body moving long-term and also, especially for women, to combat those hormonal changes that we’re seeing.” Start with lighter weights or bodyweight exercises if you’re new to strength training, and focus on mastering proper form to avoid injuries. When training with Aniston, Coleman reveals, “We aim for full-body workouts with a focus on form to help build overall stability, mobility and strength.”

#4. HIIT smarter not harder

Getting your heart rate up with aerobic exercise is on the must-do list, but that doesn’t mean making a marathon your fitness KPI. Cardio can look like “high-intensity, small bursts of movement, so that we’re not constantly exacerbating that cortisol stress hormone with long drawn-out sprints”, says Coleman. And science backs the strategy – research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) combined with resistance training to build muscle strength was more beneficial to women’s health than moderate-intensity aerobic training.

#5. Level up with pro gear

Good fitness news: you don’t need a celebrity-level gym set-up to work out well – you and a few bits of tactical equipment is all it takes. “As a trainer, anything with gliders and the P.3 Trainer to work the core is my favourite right now,” says Coleman. The latter is a patented resistance tool described as a Pilates reformer you can take anywhere, but a long resistance band works, too. “In plank work [the combination] lights up the core and provides an intense challenge that never gets easier.”