Litesport, formally Liteboxer, has upended the at-home, virtual reality fitness landscape, casting real trainers into users’ personal spaces to deliver strength, total body and boxing workouts — and things are just heating up, with the brand eyeing the healthcare space. 

Having been selected last year by Xponential Fitness to develop Xponential’s new virtual and mixed reality app for Meta Quest, Litesport co-founder and CEO Jeff Morin says 2024 is shaping up to be even better for the VR/MR fitness company.

An MIT-educated engineer and certified personal trainer with an eye for both physical and technological performance, Morin shared that Litesport doubled its active subscriber base in January and was on track for similar growth in February. 

Healthcare Applications

“Our roadmap includes expanding partnerships and venturing into healthcare, highlighted by our participation in a clinical trial for Parkinson’s research,” Morin tells Athletech News. “Additionally, we’re advancing our technology with AI-based body tracking and enhanced HD video to deliver an even more immersive and effective fitness experience.”

To hear Morin tell it, the future of VR fitness is both bright and boundless.

“As technology advances, we anticipate VR headsets becoming more compact and user-friendly, further enhancing the fitness experience,” he predicts. “Mixed reality will blur the lines between the virtual and the tangible, enabling users to interact with gym equipment in new and innovative ways.”

Of course, as with any emerging technology, artificial intelligence will also play a significant role in the VR/MR evolution, which Morin says will offer ultra-personalized workout experiences and sophisticated body tracking metrics. 

“At Litesport, we are at the forefront of these developments, integrating AI and mixed reality to make traditional gym equipment ‘smart’ and to provide personalized coaching that adapts to each user’s unique fitness journey,” he said.

Motivating More People To Work Out

Apart from its groundbreaking foray into healthcare, Morin notes that Litesport has empowered countless fitness enthusiasts by removing the traditional barriers to gym access with a welcoming, intimidation-free environment. The brand also introduced a “Standard Tier” subscription at $8.99, which Morin points out makes Litesport the most competitively priced app in the Quest market. 

“This inclusivity extends to individuals who may feel uncomfortable or are physically unable to attend in-person gym sessions,” he explained. “By leveraging VR technology, we make it possible for users to experience the benefits of a gym from the comfort and privacy of their own homes. For instance, someone hesitant to step into a boxing gym can now immerse themselves in a virtual boxing experience, gaining confidence and skills in a supportive setting.”

Litesport offers over 2,000 on-demand classes in modalities including boxing, strength and total body. Through the powers of virtual and mixed reality, the platform also democratizes access to top-tier fitness trainers, a luxury Morin points out was previously a luxury available to few.

“Through gamification and interactive elements, we also introduce an element of motivation and engagement that traditional fitness methods may lack,” Morin added.

More To Come

Morin sees boxing and beat-based workouts as the most on-trend VR fitness modalities, which he says appeal particularly to the newly adopted gamer demographic. But what sets Litesport apart is that it offers live, real trainer-led workouts for an immersive experience enhanced with proprietary hand-tracking technology that allows for using real dumbbells — a first in the VR fitness space. 

“Looking forward, we anticipate a diversification of popular modalities as users seek more varied and comprehensive fitness solutions,” Morin said.

Litesport’s VR fitness tech also has an edge over conventional fitness methods, with precision movement tracking, motivation, accountability through progress tracking and multiplayer experiences. 

“These features, combined with the ability to exercise in various virtual settings, keep workouts fresh and exciting,” Morin said. “Our approach to VR fitness emphasizes not just gamification but functional fitness, making exercise both fun and genuinely beneficial.”

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After successfully establishing itself as the world’s top boutique fitness franchisor, Xponential Fitness is now looking to take over the growing virtual reality arena, beginning with three of its most popular fitness brands.

In order to stake its claim in the metaverse, the fitness curator selected Litesport to develop its popular studio workouts for its virtual and mixed-reality fitness app, Xponential+, available on the Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro and Meta Quest 2. The new digital workout platform was revealed at the Meta Connect event in September.

Litesport, a fitness and wellness VR/MR tech company formerly known as Liteboxer, knows a thing or two about the magic of VR fitness, having launched its own app with a newly added strength training mode enabling real trainers to appear in a user’s space to offer dumbbell-based workouts.

For $9.99 a month, Xponential+ fitness fans can access Club Pilates, Pure Barre and StretchLab right from home. Rumble Boxing and CycleBar will be added early next year, with BFT, Stride Fitness, Row House and AKT available by the end of 2024.

“We are thrilled to partner with Litesport to introduce Xponential+ to our fitness community,” said Garrett Marshall, president of Xponential+. “This app represents a new era in fitness technology, offering our users a truly immersive and dynamic workout experience. We are excited to see our members achieve their fitness goals in this innovative way.”

The new platform takes into account a user’s physical surroundings to ensure a safe workout experience — users can select from a complete virtual reality studio experience, a mixed reality environment that blends the physical and virtual, or a full passthrough setting, where instructors will appear directly in a user’s physical environment. A controller-free experience using hand-tracking technology allows fitness enthusiasts to freely use dumbbells, bikes, rowers and mats.

Xponential has also earned bragging rights as the first to bring Barre and Pilates into virtual reality, using Surface Sync IP, which transforms a dining chair into a virtual Barre. Plans are also underway to use the same technology to reinvent dust-ridden rowers or exercise bikes into smart hardware that can track fitness stats.

Litesport CEO Jeff Morin calls the partnership with the boutique fitness franchisor a “pivotal moment.”

“Together, we are bringing the future of fitness into millions of homes around the world,” Morin said. “A first-of-its-kind experience bringing well-known brick-and-mortar fitness studios into the virtual world. We are diving headfirst into an unsaturated and high-potential space. Our collaboration will revolutionize the way people engage with their health and wellness, making it more accessible and inspiring than ever before.” 

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Asensei, a leading provider of movement recognition and coaching intelligence, has unveiled an exciting extension to its Asensei.ai software development kit (SDK) called Asensei XR. The new addition brings a range of extended reality (XR) capabilities to the SDK, revolutionizing the virtual and augmented reality landscape for fitness and health developers.

One of the major advancements offered by Asensei XR is integration with popular game development engines, Unity and Unreal Engine. The integration opens up new possibilities for developers, enabling them to create immersive and interactive experiences using Asensei’s cutting-edge technology.

With support for iOS, Android, Web, as well as cross-platform development platforms like Ionic, React and Flutter, the Asensei SDK ensures compatibility across a wide range of devices.

Positional tracking is another standout feature of Asensei XR. By utilizing the body as a controller, users can engage in “Exergames” that respond to their movements in real-time. Whether it’s moving left, right, forward, backward, jumping, crouching or performing specific sport or fitness techniques, the SDK accurately tracks and translates these actions into the virtual environment.

Real-time overlays are yet another exciting feature offered by Asensei XR. Users can now overlay real-time video capture on smart TVs and connected mirrors, enhancing their workout experience with animations and infographics that respond to their posture and movement. The visual feedback helps users maintain proper form and technique.

A (virtual) world of possibilities

Virtual fitness equipment is an innovative addition to Asensei XR, allowing equipment brands to transform CAD models into interactive digital equipment. Users can track punches, kicks and other movements accurately, with virtual equipment serving as targets or obstacles to overcome.

To further enhance the user experience, Asensei XR enables the integration of athlete and coach avatars. These on-screen avatars are rigged with motion-capture data from Asensei’s extensive exercise library, allowing them to demonstrate exercises and techniques with precision. Users can engage in natural language conversations with these avatars, thanks to Asensei Voice, which utilizes synthetic voice synthesis of real athletes, coaches and celebrities.

Collaborations with leading fitness brands

Top brands have recognized the potential of Asensei XR. Litesport, formally Liteboxer, creates some of the world’s most immersive workouts combining hit music, game dynamics, and expert training.

“We were approached to showcase Litesport on upcoming mixed-reality headsets that are not yet in the market”, says Jeff Morin, founder and CEO of Litesport. “However, we needed full body-tracking, exercise recognition and real-time feedback driven by form-tracking. The Asensei team worked quickly and effectively to deliver us a sample Unity app that made AI integration a breeze. This will be a game-changer for XR sport and fitness apps.”

PowerBlock, the first brand to create adjustable dumbbells nearly 30 years ago, is an industry pioneer. PowerBlock expandable dumbbells are trusted in elite training rooms and facilities, and now will be available digitally, including to customers in VR/AR.

“With Asensei fitness equipment detection, not only can Asensei XR recognize when someone is holding PowerBlock dumbbells, but identify exactly how much weight is loaded on them using advanced computer vision and machine learning.” says Mattson Towley, CEO of PowerBlock. “Incorporating Powerblock dumbbells into a mixed reality experience, virtual trainers will not only know how well you’re moving, but how much weight you’re moving.

Towley called the innovation an “astonishing leap forward in virtual strength training.”

As the demand for VR and AR experiences continues to rise, Asensei is at the forefront of empowering developers to create groundbreaking fitness and health applications. With Asensei XR, users can look forward to a future where VR and AR seamlessly integrate with their fitness routines, delivering personalized coaching and immersive experiences.

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Litesport, formerly known as Liteboxer, has announced a transformative rebrand to reflect its evolution and continued expansion into workout modes beyond boxing. The leading trainer-led VR fitness company is disrupting the industry with its latest addition to the app: the first-of-its-kind Strength Training mode that uses cutting-edge VR features to enable real trainers to appear in the user’s own space and provide effective dumbbell-based workouts. This milestone demonstrates the company’s growth and commitment to helping at-home fitness enthusiasts build strength while increasing the app’s appeal to a wider audience.

The Liteboxer VR fitness app launched just over a year ago, and since then, the app has evolved and expanded to include Boxing, Total Body, and now, Strength workouts. The app has over 940,000 installs to date, with a CEO and Founder, Jeff Morin, who is delighted with the progress. Morin said, “The app has changed so much in the past 12 months. We added full body workouts with the launch of Total Body six months ago, and it became obvious that this made-for-VR, trainer-led experience is really something special. People love it, and it’s a huge differentiator for us.”

Litesport’s unique offering provides a personalized and interactive workout experience that is led by world-class trainers. Members enjoy the one-on-one coaching experience, which they might not have access to otherwise due to time, cost, or location. Morin explains, “We are unique in the space where the trainer is in front of you, showing what you do for the entire workout. Not just an intro, not a voiceover, but right in front of you – showing you good form, sweating, and doing the work. Now take that, add the interactivity and the feedback made possible by working out in the headset, and we have something pretty addictive. That’s what we’re all about.”

The new Strength Training mode is different from the other workouts in the app as it does not provide a score, leaderboard, or match results. Instead, trainers provide guidance throughout the workout, targeting 16 key muscles, which are showcased on the interactive muscle map. Members have the ability to filter content by specific muscle groups to change the focus of each workout to reach their goals. The mode is intended to motivate members to compete with themselves, improving their muscle map and getting stronger with each workout.

Litesport’s app is available to download in the Oculus Store for $18.99/month, with a 7-day free trial. There is also an option to sign up for a free membership, which provides limited access to content. The app is compatible with Meta Quest, Quest 2, and Quest Pro headsets, providing immersive and fun workouts in the comfort of your own home.

Litesport’s rebrand demonstrates the company’s commitment to expanding its offering beyond boxing and creating an accessible, inviting, and convenient environment for any and all fitness enthusiasts. With the addition of the Strength Training modality, the brand continues to lead the way in the VR fitness industry, providing an innovative and personalized workout experience that helps users build strength and achieve their fitness goals.

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Liteboxer, an at-home boxing fitness company, has joined the Metaverse and developed an immersive, competitive boxing experience. The boxing company recently showcased Liteboxer VR at CES 2022 in advance of its March release. The Liteboxer’s ‘fitness first, video games second’ approach provides a full workout designed to fit into a gaming format. 

Last year, the company raised $20 million in a Series A led by Nimble Ventures, with Timbaland participating in the round. Since its inception in 2020, the company has raised a total of $28.5 million.

“It’s like DDR but boxing to the music,” points out one observer on the gamercise experience. A terminal known as a Liteshield illuminates to indicate where a boxer should land a punch. Liteboxer then tracks power, timing, and accuracy with each punch, allowing users to track their progress. Users need a Quest 2 VR headset and a Liteboxer VR membership to get exergaming. 

A video depicting the virtual reality experience can be viewed here. 

Launched in 2020, Liteboxer was co-founded by Todd Dagres, a lifelong athlete. Dagres enjoyed spending time in the boxing ring but found that a boxing bag didn’t provide the same exhilaration as a sparring partner. 

Dagres said in an interview that people tend to be intimidated by boxing but are curious. Liteboxer gives them the opportunity to train at home comfortably, he says.

Consumers can select from either a wall mount or a floor stand depending on space needs. “I said I want this thing to look like it could be in a Marvel comics gym. It could be in Ironman’s gym,” said Dagres on Liteboxer’s shield design. 

Liteboxer includes a virtual community component in which users can compete against friends in the metaverse and select songs before requesting a challenge, as well as boxing workouts, Punch Tracks, and rehabilitative classes.

The connected boxing company also teamed up with Universal Music Group, allowing users to create their own playlists from a vast music library selection.

Best of all, Liteboxer VR uses hand-tracking software with the option for a controller-free fitness experience. 

“We’re thrilled to bring Liteboxer VR to market, blazing a trail for the VR fitness revolution and expanding access to first-class fitness that looks to the next wave of fit-tech innovation,” says Jeff Morin, Liteboxer CEO and co-founder. 

“The dawn of the metaverse points to a demand for a deeper sense of connectivity. Virtual reality workouts connect people in a way that’s more meaningful than a 2D screen on a tablet, phone, or computer. With just a VR headset and your will to win, anyone can now workout anywhere in the world with the best trainers, tracks, and fitness technology,” Morin continues. 

The Liteboxer VR is available on the Quest Store and is free for those who own either models and have an existing membership. 

The company has partnered with GovX to offer a $200 Liteboxer discount to military (active duty & veterans), military Families (spouses & dependents), first responders (Fire, Police, Healthcare Workers), government employees and teachers (K-12 and University teachers/staff).

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In the vein of increasingly popular at-home connected fitness machines like Peloton, Mirror, and Hydrow, boxing fans now have an option when it comes to getting a good workout in at home.

Cofounded by Jeff Morin (CEO) and Todd Dagres (Chairman), Liteboxer is launching today with a platform that was built from the ground up to give users the chance to get an exciting boxing workout at home.

Dagres, cofounder and General Partner at Spark Capital, came up with the idea for Liteboxer after falling in love with boxing with a trainer in a gym. It was incredibly difficult to replicate that workout at home with a heavy bag, said Dagres… READ MORE @ Tech Crunch

The post Liteboxer, the Peloton for Boxing, Enters the Ring appeared first on Athletech News.