Centr Review 2024: Why Chris Hemsworth’s fitness app is one of the best

The A-list actor’s long-time friend and trainer also reveals the strangest thing he’s seen him do in the name of fitness.

Kara Byers

10 min read

June 25, 2024 - 2:38PM

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Here’s an understatement: Chris Hemsworth is a fit guy.

But his superhuman muscles aren’t just from gym workouts. The Thor star has tried some weird techniques, like blood flow restriction training and animal-inspired exercises. However, his personal trainer, Luke Zocchi, says none of it compares to the strangest thing he’s ever done for fitness.

Chris Hemsworth's personal trainer Luke Zocchi is adamant that normies like us don’t need to go to such lengths to get in great shape. Picture: Supplied

“I’ve seen Chris do a lot of uncommon things when it comes to training. He isn’t scared to try new things and he’s always looking at new ways to challenge himself,” he explained.

“When we were training for Chris to pull a truck in the Limitless series, he was getting stronger and stronger during the prep for the episode and it got to the point that our training sessions would be me sitting on a sled while Chris would drag me on it for 30 minutes.”

Good news is, Luke is adamant that normies like us don’t need to go to such lengths to get in great shape, and he says that actually, it all comes down to one very simple hack – focus on getting stronger .

Luke Zocchi is known for his work training Chris Hemsworth for his film roles, and is a trainer for the Centr app. Picture: Centr

“Being strong is so important across every area when it comes to getting into better shape,” he explains. “I think it’s hard to see the negative of being strong. It helps in every area of getting into shape.”

Chris’ stacked physique – honed by Luke as his personal trainer – was probably why the fitness app he founded, Centr, was an instant hit with over 200,000 users. I was not one of those users. Despite being a health editor for most of my career, since lockdown 2020, I’ve taken a languid approach to fitness. Given that, plus thinking Centr was for jacked types and being far from ripped, I was a surprising choice to review it. But I’m glad I did. It’s made a massive difference to my energy levels, positively affecting my work, family life, confidence, and motivation. Here’s why.

HOW WE EVALUATED CENTR

• Why I chose Centr

• How we tested Centr

• What are Centr workouts like?

• How fit do you need to be to do Centr?

• What is the Centr Circuit: Elevate program like?

• What is Centr food like?

• Does Centr really work?

• Our honest verdict on Centr

WHY I CHOSE CENTR

Centr Circuit: Elevate program, a 6-week training program that focuses on building strength – was my focus for this review. Picture: Kara Byers

I liked the Centr app’s variety – it has on-demand workouts, meditations, and meal plans – and I could use it anytime, anywhere. Plus, this video of Elsa Pataky in beats mode lives rent-free in my head, making me confident I could get fit using it. However, the focus on breathwork in the Centr Circuit: Elevate program really sold me. That’s a big point of difference among fitness apps that emphasise ‘high-intensity functional training’ and ‘stacking compound movements,’ which can be overwhelming for beginners or those working out at home for the first time.

Elevate, a 6-week training program focused on building strength, was my focus for this review, but I also tried other workouts, meal options, and mindfulness practices. As mentioned, I’ve loved it. But can you lose weight, build muscle, and find some Zen using the Centr app? Here’s my honest review.

ONE-MINUTE REVIEW OF CENTR

Centr Fitness App, from $29.99

HOW WE TESTED CENTR

The Centr adjustable dumbbell looks like Thor’s hammer, right? Picture: Kara Byers

For this review, I used the Centr app for four weeks. I did four Centr Circuit: Elevate 30-minutes workouts a week, using the Centr Smart Stack 50 adjustable dumbbell. I followed the meal plan for a week, meditated every other day, tried yoga and cool-downs, and played soundscapes while working from home.

WHAT ARE CENTR WORKOUTS LIKE?

Centr Elevate workouts are led by Luke and star trainer Alexz Parvi. Picture: Centr

Whatever you want them to be. I thought they would be too hard, I was wrong.

Luke says it’s a common misconception people have about Centr. “I think people think ‘this is going to be hardcore, look at Chris, look at the shape he is in,’” he says. “Actually, the Centr app was designed to be an ecosystem of health and wellness. We have yoga, pilates, boxing, kickboxing, HIIT, HILT, functional movement. There are beginner workouts, intermediate and advanced on all these training modalities. There really is something for everyone.”

There’s a cast of expert trainers on Centr too, in addition to Luke there are familiar faces like Tiffiny Hall, Dan Churchill, founder of Byron Bay’s HUSTL founder Alexz Parvi and Navy SEAL trainer Da Rulk.

You can choose either coached or self-guided workouts. Picture: Supplied

The Centr app also has some awesome meditations (including for kids), soundscapes and breathwork exercises in the app.

I am a terrible sleeper, I find it so hard to stay asleep once woken (I have a non-sleeping toddler) so I really loved the Power Sleep audios, which actually got me back to sleep. Amazing.

For any other sleep-deprived parents or shift workers reading this, Luke gave me advice on the sleep front too. “The sleep you are getting you want to be the best quality. Quality over quantity. So set yourself up for the best kind of sleep by creating a sleep-friendly environment by keeping your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool.”

Centr's mindfulness and meditation selection is vast and varied, you can choose from individual meditations to following programs and toolkits. Picture: Centr

HOW FIT DO YOU NEED TO BE TO DO CENTR?

Centr caters for all levels of fitness and beginners are welcome. Seriously.

I was really out of shape when I started Centr and I had moments while reviewing it when I was sore, uncoordinated and berated myself because I had to modify, but the fact I was working out at home on my own schedule lessened my self-consciousness.

Plus, I had Luke’s words ringing around my head, “I always tell people to begin with body weight exercises and master good form. Then they can increase load by adding weight once they are comfortable with form.”

There are programs specifically for beginners and the workouts offer variations, including base exercises, regressions and progressions.

When you sign up to the app you set a goal, either ‘Lose weight, ‘Build muscle’ or ‘Get fit and toned’, which then guides the workouts, meals and meditations the app presents to you. You can swap your goals, workouts and meals at any time too, customising them to your preferences – so from the moment you sign up, you’re in control.

From the moment you sign up to Centr, you’re in control of your goals, what you eat and how you choose to exercise. Picture: Centr

WHAT IS THE CENTR CIRCUIT: ELEVATE PROGRAM LIKE?

Challenging in a good way.

As I said, I was sore, but I noticed I was getting stronger after just a week of workouts.

The workouts change too, so it doesn’t get boring, plus as they’re only 30 minutes each it was hard to talk myself out of doing them (which I am an expert at).

Despite dismissing Centr as an app for jacked up types (as you can see I am far from ripped), I was surprised at how much I enjoyed its workouts. Picture: Kara Byers

Centr Elevate includes breathwork, which really stood out to me as different and also made me feel like I was getting more out of the workouts and bouncing back the next day seemed like less of a challenge.

Breathwork is incorporated both into workout moves and as part of the cool down in the Elevate programs.

As Luke explains, “The goal was to add an element of breathwork to this program to increase your performance while you were working out and then also to have it in the cooldowns to maximise your recovery after the workouts.

“The breath is a powerful tool to tap into the nervous system and that’s why we wanted to add it into this program. Breathwork is so important when it comes to training.”

Centr Circuit: Elevate is a 6-week training program led by Luke Zocchi and Alexz Parvi that focuses on building strength. Picture: Supplied

WHAT IS CENTR FOOD LIKE?

Delicious. And the portions sizes are filling.

I also love how it’s all populated for you, so it doesn’t require much thought from you – or rather, dinner ideas.

I was a big fan of this day’s food, especially lunch. Picture: Kara Byers

However, I am time poor so I had to be particular about the recipes I made. As a busy, working mum, I really need grab and go breakfasts and lunches so relied heavily on smoothies and make-ahead meals for this.

I found prepping breakfast and lunch for the week ahead really helped me stay on track.

The app gives you a meal plan but you can swap and change meals according to preference and dietary requirements and it’s also linked to a shopping list too. I loved this feature as it cut down on meal planning and helped me get on top of my eating habits.

Centr's food – like this peanut butter, banana and bluberry oats – is yum, budget-friendly and easy to make. Picture: Kara Byers

It also didn’t cost any more than my usual grocery shop. A lot of programs I’ve followed before require you to buy supplements and specific, often out of season produce, but not Centr. I didn’t stray too far from meals I already eat and even my toddler and fussy-eating partner enjoyed them too.

My typical day on a plate would be something like:

• Peanut Butter, Banana and Blueberry Oats or Choc Hazelnut Smoothie

• Cheesy Pumpkin Quesedilla with Lime & Jalapeno

• Weeknight Pesto & Ricotta Spaghetti

DOES CENTR REALLY WORK?

The best part of using Centr? The energy it’s given me, I no longer lean on an afternoon sugar hit. Picture: Kara Byers

My goal with Centr was to change my habits, for me that meant moving more and eating healthier food.

I didn’t intend to lose weight as I just don’t have the headspace for that at the moment. But I did, I lost roughly a kilo a week.

The best part of using Centr for me has been the energy it’s given me. I have so much more of it now. I don’t need an afternoon coffee and sugar hit and when I get home from work, I don’t feel like I am just pushing through to bedtime like I used to, now I can make and have dinner with my family, play with my toddler – enjoy all of that – and still have energy to spare. I’ve even gone out with friends on school nights. Get around me.

It’s rekindled my love of fitness and now I really want to get in great shape, be as strong as I can and push myself to be better. Obviously, this will take time and these daggy photos of me muddling through a workout while taking shots of myself doesn’t really do justice to how big an impact using this app has had on me.

I highly recommend it.

My goal with Centr was to change my habits to healthier ones. Andm, while I didn’t set out to lose weight, I did end up dropping four kilos. Picture: Kara Byers

CENTR: MY HONEST VERDICT

Is Centr worth it? Yes. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get fitter and healthier but feels like they don’t have the time to get to the gym, the headspace to stay consistent with meal planning and prep or even for those who don’t know where to start.

Centr app is everything you need in one place: workout library, nutritious recipes and mindfulness resources. Picture: Kara Byers

I get bored so easily, I need variety, I need results and I need a reason to keep going – Centr gave me all of that.

It also made me realise that being fit is about more than what you weigh. It’s also about how good you feel. For me, that all comes down to how much more energy I have since I’ve been exercising and meditating more with Centr – both of which have not been hard to motivate myself to do.

Bottom Line. Centr app is everything you need in one place: workout library, nutritious recipes and mindfulness resources.

And at $30 a month (or $10 if you commit to a year’s membership), it’s a lot cheaper than any gym, diet plan or quick fix I know of.

Chris Hemsworth pops up on the Centr app frequently – we love to see it. Picture: Centr

FAQs: CENTR FITNESS APP

How much does Centr cost?

There are three options for Centr memberships – annual ($119.99), quarterly ($59.99 billed every three months) and monthly ($29.99 billed every month).

All membership options offer you the first 7 days free with unrestricted access to Centr.

What equipment do you need for Centr?

Equipment is optional! Centr has a massive mix of no-equipment body weight workouts. There’s even a button you can press to filter workouts by ‘body weight only’. So easy.

Centr does also have workouts that require equipment, ranging from basic resistance bands through to benches and racks.

I used resistance bands, the Centr Smart Stack 50 adjustable dumbbell and kettlebells.

What workouts are available on Centr?

Everything you could imagine and more. It has every style of workout for every ability and fitness level, workouts that need no equipment, workouts you can do at the gym, yoga and pilates plus workouts to target certain areas, like core.

Who owns Centr?

Not Chris Hemsworth. He and his wife Elsa Pataky are still the company’s second largest shareholder and are said to still be heavily involved in its marketing and strategy, but they sold Centr to New York-based investment group HighPost Capital (owned by Jeff Bezos’ brother Mark) in 2022. At time of sale it was reported to be worth over $220 million.

How do you get fit and stay that way?

According to Luke Zocchi, these are the never-changing fundamentals everyone should keep in mind when they’re getting back on track or starting a health kick:

• Movement is key! You don’t have to go to a gym to get into shape. Do some form of movement you enjoy and start doing it regularly.

• Having a system to monitor your food intake whether that is counting calories, weighing food, or Intermittent fasting. You need a system to control your food intake because having control or a better understanding of what you consume is half the battle.

• It takes work, consistency and discipline. I’m not going to sugar-coat it! I wish It was easy but if it was everyone would walk around all looking healthy and fit. But that’s where the reward comes. When you work for something, you earn it and that’s the best part about it.

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