Why do we train the way we do on Studio Era?

Ever wondered why Studio Era workouts look a little different from traditional gym sessions?

You won't typically see 90-minute workouts, long rest periods between heavy barbell lifts, or complicated equipment setups.

And that's intentional!

Our workouts are designed to help you build or maintain muscle, improve strength and fitness, and work toward your body-composition goals, all while fitting exercise into real life.

Maddie's training philosophy comes from years of experimenting with different approaches to fitness. In her earlier years, she often spent 60 to 120 minutes working out. Over time, she found that shorter, more intentional sessions could fit her goals while leaving more room for the rest of her life.

But different training styles serve different goals. Let's break down why we train the way we do and what you can expect from our programs.

We use different interval formats depending on the goal of the workout.

If you're new to interval training, here's what those numbers mean.

When you see something like 40/20, the numbers represent seconds:

For example, 40/20 means 40 seconds of exercise followed by 20 seconds of rest. Similarly, 30/10 means 30 seconds of exercise followed by 10 seconds of rest.

Different work-to-rest ratios create different training challenges, which is why you may see different formats throughout Studio Era workouts.

These intervals are generally more strength-focused.

The longer working period and rest allow you to focus on slower, controlled movements and choose weights that challenge you appropriately.

The focus is on:

These intervals are generally higher intensity, with shorter rest periods that keep the workout moving.

They're designed to challenge your muscular endurance and cardiovascular fitness while still incorporating resistance exercises.

The goal isn't to rush through repetitions. You should still be able to perform each movement with control.
​

You may have heard that traditional strength training uses longer breaks between sets. And that's true, especially when you're lifting very heavy weights and trying to maximize strength.

Studio Era uses shorter, structured intervals to combine resistance training and conditioning in sessions that fit into busy schedules.

Neither approach is automatically better. It depends on what you're training for.

One point Maddie emphasizes in her training lessons is that simply going through the motions isn't the same as challenging your muscles.

For strength-focused exercises, you want to choose resistance that requires genuine effort while allowing you to maintain control and proper technique.

The final repetitions may feel more challenging as your muscles work. But that doesn't mean every set must be taken to complete exhaustion, or that you should push through pain.

A timer helps structure your workout. The quality of your movement and the challenge you're working with still matter.

Our philosophy is simple. You don't need to spend hours in the gym to make meaningful progress.

Studio Era combines strength-focused workouts, conditioning, and consistent movement to support your fitness and body-composition goals.

Two important pieces of that approach are:

When we talk about building a more toned or defined physique, we're generally talking about developing or maintaining muscle while changing body composition.

That's why our approach brings training and nutrition together rather than treating them as completely separate things.

Maddie often explains this as training to build or maintain muscle rather than judging your workouts by how many calories they burn.

In her earlier fitness experience, she frequently used long, intense cardio sessions while focusing heavily on burning calories. Over time, she shifted toward prioritizing resistance training and using nutrition and everyday movement to support her broader goals.

That distinction is important because the number of calories estimated during a workout doesn't tell you everything about its value.

A resistance workout may contribute to your strength and muscle development without producing the highest calorie-burn estimate.

The goal is to build a routine that's challenging, practical, and sustainable for you.

Studio Era programs combine different training styles, each with a purpose.

This mix provides variety while helping you work on different aspects of fitness.

Not every workout needs to feel the same to contribute to your progress!

Maddie also encourages enjoying different types of movement. She personally enjoys lifting weights, boxing, walking, and resistance-band workouts.

That variety is part of what helps her maintain a consistent routine.

You don't have to enjoy every training style equally. The important thing is finding an appropriate balance between your goals, the movements you enjoy, and the training you can maintain.

Walking and everyday movement can complement your Studio Era workouts without having to become another intense training session.

Maddie frequently emphasizes walking in her fitness lessons because it's a practical way for her to stay active throughout the day.

She often walks outdoors or uses a walking pad while working.

There are a few useful distinctions between walking and structured workouts:

These activities can all contribute to an active lifestyle.

In her personal routines, Maddie sometimes aims for 10,000 steps per day. That's her individual goal, not a requirement for every Studio Era member.

Your appropriate activity level depends on your current abilities, health, schedule, and goals.

If you're starting from a relatively inactive routine, gradually increasing your usual movement may be more practical than immediately trying to match someone else's step count.

And you don't have to walk specifically. Other enjoyable, suitable forms of movement can also contribute to your overall activity.

Progressive overload means gradually increasing the challenge placed on your muscles so they continue to adapt over time.

And here's the thing. That doesn't always mean adding more weight.

With Studio Era's home-based workouts, you can challenge your muscles by:

You may see different exercise variations throughout a program, but many of them challenge the same major muscle groups and movement patterns.

These approaches can support strength and muscle development, even without a full gym setup.

Maddie emphasizes making your training intentional. For example, if you've been using the same dumbbells for a particular exercise and the movement now feels much easier, that may be an opportunity to increase the challenge.

That could mean using slightly heavier weights or making another appropriate progression.

You don't need to increase the difficulty of every exercise in every session. Gradual progress, good technique, and suitable recovery all matter.

But there's an important distinction: Making an exercise more challenging doesn't always mean it's equivalent to lifting a heavier barbell.

As your strength increases, the amount of resistance available at home may become a limiting factor for certain exercises and goals.

Studio Era can support muscle development and strength, but it isn't a direct replacement for heavy gym training when your main goal is maximizing how much weight you can lift.

Let's say you're already hip thrusting around 80 kg with a barbell at the gym.

A hip thrust using two dumbbells can still challenge your glutes, but it won't necessarily provide the same loading opportunities as your heavy barbell hip thrust.

And we wouldn't tell you otherwise!

If your priority is to keep increasing the weight you lift in exercises like heavy hip thrusts, Romanian deadlifts, or barbell squats, training with equipment that allows heavier loading is generally the better fit for that goal.

Studio Era is designed around a different approach: challenging your muscles through controlled movement, training volume, and time under tension, using equipment that's practical for home workouts.

That can be a great fit if your goals include:

Different goals call for different training approaches. The important thing is understanding what each one can offer.

Maddie has experience with traditional gym training and still enjoys lifting heavy. She doesn't view home workouts and gym workouts as opposing approaches.

Her emphasis is on choosing a training method that suits what you're trying to accomplish, rather than assuming that one style is automatically best for everyone.

Absolutely!

If you love lifting heavy at the gym, you don't have to give that up to train with Studio Era.

You can continue your gym sessions and use selected Studio Era workouts to complement your routine.

For example, you might keep your heavier lifting sessions at the gym while using Studio Era for conditioning, additional movement, or a different type of training challenge.

Just remember that your total training workload matters.

You don't need to add every Studio Era workout on top of an already demanding gym schedule. Make room for recovery and choose the combination that makes sense for your goals.

The two approaches don't have to compete with each other.

Maddie's own routine has included combinations of strength training, walking, and occasional higher-intensity activities such as boxing.

She also talks about the importance of recognizing when more training isn't necessarily better.

If you're combining several types of exercise, make sure you're leaving enough room for rest and recovery rather than treating every available session as something you must complete.

To get the most out of your training, focus on the fundamentals.

Maddie often talks about how her understanding of fitness has changed over the years.

Earlier in her training experience, she frequently spent much longer exercising. She eventually found that shorter, intentional sessions, enjoyable movement, and allowing time for other parts of her life worked better for her.

That doesn't mean everyone needs to follow her exact schedule.

It's a reminder that fitness should be something you can incorporate into your life, not something that requires your life to revolve around it.

If you're managing an injury or medical condition, or you're unsure what type of training is suitable for you, check with a qualified healthcare professional before starting or changing your routine.

If you're ready to follow a structured routine, see Start and follow a workout program.

For help choosing suitable equipment and dumbbell weights, see What equipment do I need for Studio Era workouts?.

Maddie discusses how her training philosophy developed and shares examples of her personal routine in:

These videos share Maddie's personal experiences and general coaching recommendations. They aren't individualized exercise prescriptions, and specific routines or results may not apply to everyone.

The takeaway?

You don't need a fully equipped gym to make meaningful progress with resistance training.

But we're not going to pretend that a pair of dumbbells offers exactly the same opportunities as heavy barbell training either.

Studio Era is built to make structured, challenging exercise accessible with minimal equipment and a schedule that fits your life.

Choose the training approach that matches your goals, challenge yourself appropriately, and keep showing up.