Peloton has released a new app that allows users to get in shape and get the most out of their yoga mats and weights. Instead, all you need is some weights and a yoga mat to get the most out of the new Peloton Strength+ app and build muscle at home or at the gym.

And if you think you've already tried the Peloton app (one of the best workout apps around), this is another app that focuses solely on building muscle strength through body weight and resistance workouts.

It costs $9.99 per month and is available on iPhones in the US starting today. And if you already subscribe to the Peloton app, you can access it completely free with your existing membership (unless you are using the entry-level Peloton App One).

Of course, if you've used the Peloton platform before, don't worry: Peloton has offered several strength workouts since 2018, and in 2022 with the launch of Guide for tracking weight routines, stepped it up a notch even further.

However, the new Strength+ app ditches Peloton's usual roster of exercise bike and treadmill sessions in favor of custom workout generators and instructor-led, multi-week programs that take a more focused approach designed to “make the most of the time you have available to you.

It is no secret that Peloton has struggled to define itself in a post-pandemic world. The company soared in 2020-2021 as people switched to training at home and needed equipment that allowed them to train without leaving their homes.

But then, as life returned to a more normal state, people returned to gyms and in-person classes. Sales of Peloton equipment declined, and the company has since made it a priority to make the Peloton experience more widely available.

The Peloton apps are now available in two versions: the machine-connected All Access, the Peloton app (a machine-friendly App+ version and a machine-free App One version), and now the Strength+ app.

It sounds confusing on paper. However, I think it makes sense to separate Strength Workout from the primary app. I've used the Peloton app before, but it is definitely geared toward people using the same brand of equipment.

There are many great options for strength and resistance training, but it's hard to find among the thousands of cardio classes (like the Defected Records spin class I did earlier this year).

In addition, by spinning out a dedicated app, Peloton can take care of building muscle specifically, with features like a workout generator and short instructional videos designed for when you're in the gym.

When my colleague Kate Kozuch tried the Peloton Strength+ app a few months ago, she found this level of customization useful.

So while it definitely makes sense for Peloton to go this route, it is still difficult to get people to imagine the company as anything other than a brand that makes exercise bikes, especially when entering such a crowded market. [I use the Chris Hemsworth-developed Centr for my home workouts. Ultimately, though, it's about finding the right fit for your workout and finding a way to make exercise fun.