Quick answer: In this video I share the low-impact home workout I switched to after 50: P.volve, a functional-fitness program I stream through an app. I explain why high-intensity workouts stopped working for me during perimenopause and how short, joint-friendly sessions helped me feel reconnected to my body. This is my personal experience, not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- I traded high-intensity workouts for low-impact functional fitness (P.volve) to break out of a rut during perimenopause.
- The appeal: short, streamable sessions — roughly 10 to 33 minutes — I can do at home on my own schedule.
- The program uses its own gear: a glove-style resistance band and a resistance ball, plus a guided app and workout calendar.
- I'm pairing it with wellness trackers — an Oura ring for sleep and readiness, and a Lumen device for metabolism.
- This is a personal experience, not medical advice — consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.
Hey ladies — if you have hit a wall with your workouts, you are not alone. In this video I open up about why the high-intensity routines I used to love stopped serving me, and the gentler approach I have leaned into instead. Here is the honest rundown.
What Home Workout Did I Switch To?
The program is P.volve — the name stands for "personal evolution," which felt fitting to me since my whole brand is about beauty and fitness that evolve as we do. I first read about it in a Vogue article about Jennifer Aniston, who had fallen in love with the at-home app workouts. P.volve was founded back in 2017 by Rachel Katzman, who went searching for a way to get results without breaking down her body, and built a low-impact, functional-fitness method around that idea.
Why Low-Impact Functional Fitness After 50?
For years I was all high intensity — pounding, sweating profusely, feeling like I had to exhaust myself for it to count. As I have gotten older, and especially through a hectic few years and perimenopause, that approach stopped working. Functional fitness is different: controlled, sculptural movements built around how the hips, shoulders, and core actually move, so you can build strength without punishing your joints.
What sold me is that P.volve built a clinical advisory board of female doctors and offers classes geared to different life stages — cycle, fertility, menopause — including work aimed at the pelvic floor. These are real topics for mature women, and I love that they are not treated as taboo. That said, this is my personal experience, not medical advice — please consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.
What Is Actually in the Program?
Onboarding was the easiest I have ever had — I watched the videos and understood the ball and the mat before I had even started. The workouts themselves surprised me; they look gentle but they are genuinely challenging. Here is what it includes:
- A resistance band with glove-style handles, so your fingers slip in and you are not gripping or holding onto anything.
- The brand's own resistance ball that sits between your legs — it goes on a little like underwear — for inner-thigh and lower-body work.
- A guided app with detailed video classes, plus a mat for floor work.
- A workout calendar and a four-week challenge, with sessions ranging from about 10 to 33 minutes so you can fit them into your day.
What Wellness Tools Am I Pairing With It?
Movement is only part of it. I have worn an Oura ring for a couple of years to track my sleep, deep sleep, and readiness scores, and I use that data to tweak my routine. I also just ordered a Lumen, a device you breathe into to track your metabolism and get guidance on when and what to eat — helpful for me because my schedule and time zones keep my eating all over the place. I still love my Peloton for spinning, too. None of these replace professional guidance; they just keep me honest and motivated.
The bottom line
The real shift for me was letting go of the idea that a workout only counts if I am destroyed afterward. Short, consistent, joint-friendly movement — paired with a little wellness data — has me feeling reconnected to my body, and that glow always shows up in the mirror. I will keep reporting back on how it goes. In the meantime, if you want to round out your feel-good routine, explore our best sellers, timeless classics, and a soft, natural flush from our cream blush.
Frequently Asked Questions
What home workout is Nikol Johnson doing in this video?
Nikol is doing P.volve, a low-impact functional-fitness program she streams at home through an app. She discovered it after reading a Vogue article about Jennifer Aniston, and chose it because the sessions are short and joint-friendly rather than high-intensity, which suited her better during perimenopause.
What is functional fitness?
Functional fitness focuses on controlled movements that mirror how your body moves in everyday life — through the hips, shoulders, and core — usually with light resistance. The goal is building strength, balance, and mobility without the pounding of high-impact cardio. Always check with your doctor before starting a new routine.
Is low-impact exercise a good option for women over 50?
Many women prefer low-impact training as they age because it is gentler on the joints while still building strength and mobility. Nikol found it helped her break out of a fitness rut during perimenopause. Individual results vary, so talk with a healthcare professional about what suits your body.
What equipment does the P.volve program use?
Nikol shows the program's own gear: a resistance band with glove-style handles so you do not grip anything, and a resistance ball that fits between the legs for inner-thigh and lower-body work. Workouts also use a mat and follow guided video classes through the app.
What wellness tools is Nikol pairing with her workouts?
Alongside the workouts, Nikol uses an Oura ring to track her sleep and readiness scores, and she ordered a Lumen device to monitor her metabolism. She frames these as motivation and data tools that help her stay consistent, not as replacements for professional advice.
Should I talk to a doctor before starting a new exercise program?
Yes. Before beginning any new workout or wellness routine — especially during perimenopause, menopause, or if you have existing health concerns — it is best to consult your doctor. This video shares Nikol's personal experience and is not medical or fitness advice.
