SAN FRANCISCO – Working out and being fit while at home can be intrusive to your personal space especially if you do not have the right equipment.
According to former world number one tennis player Maria Sharapova, she has always tried to avoid setting up a gym at her house because she prefers it to be her sanctuary.
However, towards the end of 2020, the former Russian tennis star finally decided to transform her basement into a gym, and her first piece of equipment was from Tonal.
This was after she met the home fitness startup CEO and founder Aly Orady in a business conference at the beginning of 2020. Sharapova decided to invest in Tonal as she believed that they share the same vision, especially on the focus strength training.
“Aly and I felt that when it comes to women and strength, there’s an intimidating perspective of it being too strong and too bulky.
“In truth, strength training helps you maintain your muscles, bone structure, and at the same time, gives you more energy. It can also help you burn more when you are doing cardio or other exercises,” she said, adding that she had to learn it the hard way.
“I had a shoulder injury from a very early age, so I had to work on my shoulder strength and, ultimately, strength for my entire body.”
Sharapova added that Tonal’s technology is personalised to each individual’s capability as not everyone needs to use the same weights and reps.
Being a pro tennis player for 19 years, Sharapova said that she had tried out countless brands and gadgets in the health and wellness space including watches, heart-rate monitors, and fitness equipment.
Because of that, she has developed a keen sense of knowledge of what type of device works best for a fitness enthusiast.
Sharapova, who retired from tennis at the age of 32 in 2020, said that by pivoting into the world of entrepreneurship she could keep herself active by diversifying her skills and experience outside the world of tennis.
Other than Tonal, she has also invested in wellness brand Therabody and wearable weights company Bala Bangles. – Agencies, September 21, 2021
