In a studio interview, Reena Vokoun discusses how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping the health and fitness landscape. She cites a statistic from Athletech that 56% of consumers wear wearable devices, and outlines four major shifts: (1) Wearable devices and biometric tracking—smartwatches, rings, headsets, and glasses now capture steps, calories, heart‑rate variability, stress, sleep, and zone minutes, providing data that can be shared with doctors for more personalized care. (2) Mobile apps—an abundance of apps now offer virtual workouts, customized nutrition and meal planning, mindfulness, and mental‑health tools, many of which sync directly with wearables for seamless data integration. (3) Livestream and on‑demand fitness classes—companies like PassionFit provide hybrid options that let users attend live or pre‑recorded sessions anytime, reducing barriers such as commuting or lack of motivation, a trend accelerated by the pandemic. (4) Virtual health coaching—both human coaches (often delivered via Zoom) and AI‑powered coaching platforms offer support, accountability, and education regardless of geographic location; Vokoun notes AI can feel uncomfortable at first but will complement rather than replace human coaches. The conversation also highlights PassionFit’s broader ecosystem, including online courses, a YouTube channel, a podcast, an online boutique, and in‑person services, illustrating a multi‑channel approach to meeting diverse wellness needs. The segment ends with promotional plugs for the Fox 5 KUSI Now app and sponsors.
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Welcome back. We have Reena Vokoun in studio, and you always bring such great conversations to the studio when you come in. And today it's all about how AI and technology are impacting fitness in a good way, right?
Absolutely. There's so much happening in the world of health and fitness and AI and technology. And according to Athletech, 56% of consumers are actually wearing wearable devices. So consumers are really embracing all that technology and AI out there.
And there are so many ways to wear these devices that monitor, you know, what your body's going through. You can be, um, like something that this you can tell obviously is some kind of a smartwatch, or like even the rings, like it's disguised as jewelry.
It's crazy. Yeah, the watches, the fitness trackers, the rings. There's also headsets and glasses you can wear now, and it's all tracking really important information. Not only your steps and your calories burned, but your heart rate variability, your stress levels, your your sleep, your zone minutes, and so much more. And all of these data— pieces of data and insights can really help you when you go to your doctor for your annual physical. You can show them all this information so that you can really optimize your health outcomes and make decisions for future progression with your health and wellness.
Wonderful. Well, how else is AI and technology impacting our fitness?
Yeah, so mobile apps are also huge. There's an abundance of mobile apps out there, not only for virtual workouts, but also for customized nutrition planning and meal planning, for mindfulness and mental health. So much more. And what's nice is these mobile apps can actually connect to your wearable devices so that you can track data as well.
Very cool. What else should we keep an eye out for?
Yeah, so livestream and on-demand fitness classes. My company, PassionFit, offers them as well, and they're just a great opportunity for you to have a hybrid approach to your health and fitness regimen. So maybe some days you like to go to a gym or studio, but on those days when you don't feel like commuting and getting fully dressed and you're lacking motivation, you can actually use these livestream and on-demand classes anytime, anywhere. According to your busy schedule. So it really helps you stay on track.
I know, I really feel like that was something good that came out of the pandemic, because remember, so many fitness instructors started doing that when we were stuck at home, and then that's something that's carried on into the real world. So there's no excuses not to get that workout in.
That is right.
Let's see, we have another one, right? We said we're going to talk about 4 ways.
Yeah, and so the 4th one is all about virtual health coaching. Whether you are obtaining it through your employer or on your own, it's a great way regardless of your geographic location to be able to work with a health coach for support and accountability and just education, there are human virtual health coaches that you can use, but there's also AI-powered ones as well, which I know makes people a little bit uncomfortable at first, but it's just another opportunity to get that information in an efficient way. And there's going to be more and more of those out there as well. But I will say, I don't think they'll fully replace the humans. We'll have to find that right balance.
Absolutely. And I mean, and you do a lot of these services through PassionFit. I mean, people can Do coaching with you, they can take classes in person with you. You offer so many services. I feel like we haven't talked in a while really about what PassionFit is, 'cause you offer so much.
Oh, thank you. Yeah, so we have online courses, as mentioned, the on-demand and livestream classes. You know, we definitely do do health coaching, which can be in person, but also virtually over Zoom. So yeah, lots of ways that we've got a YouTube channel, the podcast, I'm an online boutique. So really with PassionFit, I wanted to have both that sort of online and offline opportunity for people. So that we could meet them where they are with whatever health and wellness needs they have through products, services, and content.
I know, and your podcast is so good. Who's coming up as one of the next guests? Can you give it, can you spill the tea and tell us who's coming up?
Yeah, so she is a woman, she's done a lot of, you know, executive coaching. She's another author, so she's great. She's based out on the East Coast, and I'll be introducing her next. I have another woman who actually in Vancouver was a news anchor, works on a lifestyle TV show as well. Lots of great people coming. I feel like I'm already lined up until like mid-2026, which is crazy.
Awesome.
But it's been growing and just fun to really feature.
So much for always coming in. We love catching up with you, and thank all of you for joining us today. Now don't forget, if you have Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire, you can download the Fox 5 KUSI Now app to watch The Localist SD and other shows 24/7. Today's show is sponsored by Copa Airlines, El Cajon Ford, Greenway Landscape Design and Build, and PassionFit. Have a great Great day.
