How The Founders Of Bala Are Using Stylish Design To Inspire Our Fitness Goals

We're a little more than a month into the new year and, impossible resolutions aside, we can probably all prioritize our wellness goals a bit more. If getting a good sweat session in is on your to-do list but your cold-weather, at-home motivation is waning, there's nothing better than a few stylish upgrades to inspire you to get moving - and have more fun while you're at it.

Enter Bala, the brand beloved by fitness fashionistas and health gurus alike. You've probably heard of their cult-favorite Bala Bangles, which made a huge splash on Shark Tank and on the arms and ankles of every Instagram cool girl coast-to-coast. Now boasting a whole roster of chic equipment, from floor mats to weighted beams and power rings that look more like modern décor than gym gear, Bala is completely transforming the way we approach our workouts. And for that we can thank founders Natalie Holloway and Max Kislevitz, the entrepreneurial duo elevating the aesthetic of fitness.

We caught up with the entrepreneurial duo to chat their company's success, the secrets to good design, and their own favorite ways to sweat with Bala.

Bala really hit its stride just as people were forced to reimagine their fitness routines outside of the gym, making the brand uniquely suited for that moment. Why was a workout-from-anywhere approach so important for you initially?
Many people assume Bala started just as folks began sheltering in place. In fact, we started the business 2 years prior in 2018. We were traveling throughout Asia when we reminisced on the effectiveness of wrist and ankle weights but, equally, how unattractive and uninspiring they were.

Over time, we developed more products with portability in mind – this idea of boundaryless fitness. To allow people to free themselves from the confines of the gym (or home studio). It’s our belief that fitness products shouldn’t come with a plug. That users should work out anytime, anywhere and anyway they please. So we’ve designed products that can be taken on a hike or packed in a suitcase.

Bala puts the "fun" in functional. With a new year upon us and many of us still working out from home, how can playful, stylish equipment motivate people to get moving and stick to their fitness goals?
If you’ve ever tried to learn a musical instrument, you’ll remember how hard it is to commit to practicing when the instrument is packed in its case and stuffed in your closet. The same is true of fitness products that you’ve tucked away when company comes over.

When fitness products are beautifully designed, you’re more comfortable leaving them out and are more inclined to use them as a result. At Bala, we believe that design alone can inspire movement. Our brand is – in many ways – the antithesis of the fitness industry. And our products are designed to inspire, not intimidate.

Between a booming business and a little one running around, how do you optimize your own moments of wellness and self-care?
It’s not easy, that’s for sure. But – over time – we’ve begun to understand how connected they truly are. We’re better business people, better parents when we prioritize our mental and physical health. Because we’re married, we can share the load and make time for the other to catch up on work or spend more time with our son.

Do you have any favorite workout routines that incorporate Bala equipment?
Natalie: My favorite workout, hands down, is yoga. In fact, I rarely deviate from it. Bangles are great for an entire or even short bursts of a sweat yoga class – they don’t interrupt your flow or interfere with grounded poses. But I also love incorporating The Power Ring as an ergonomic, weighted prop. I love love love Y7, my favorite studio.

What are some things you always keep in mind when launching new products?
We have very strict criteria for the development of new products – the product needs to be beautiful, on the one hand, and needs to have meaningful functional improvements, on the other. Both have equal priority. If we don’t feel we’ll be able to deliver, we won’t pursue it.

Do you have any favorite new releases and/or upcoming launches on the horizon?
We’re thrilled for the launch of Balacize! We can’t say too much yet but you can stay tuned for updates HERE or on IG @balacize.

[Photos courtesy Bala]