From a road trip-ready recovery tool and creatine gummies to the free resource she relies on for up-to-date data on supplements and more, see her go-to products here
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Fitness expert Leanne Pedante has helped build a strong community of non-gymgoing workout enthusiasts at Supernatural, the popular virtual reality fitness app on Meta’s Quest platform that transports users to locales near and far (from the desert in Chile to the Icelandic coast) to exercise to the beat of hit songs across genres. Pedante (or “Coach Leanne,” as she’s known to Supernatural users) has been core to the app’s success since joining in 2019, and its official Facebook group boasts more than 110,000 enthusiastic members.
Despite Supernatural’s highly engaged base, the tech giant announced that it’s pulling the plug on the app to focus on its AI efforts. That likely won’t stop members from staying plugged into the app’s Facebook community, where they cheer each other on in their wellness journeys and share their love for Supernatural’s dedicated and energetic coaches. Fans have even started a Change.org petition urging Meta to reconsider the decision.
Before joining Supernatural, “I had never touched VR, I didn’t know what a VR workout could mean,” Pedante recently told Athletech News at Meta’s Lab space in Los Angeles, where the tech titan previewed its immersive collaborations with Coldplay. (The Grammy-winning band also lent its music to the fitness app Beatsaber and teamed with iHeartRadio and Meta to bring its Music of the Spheres World Tour to VR.) After her very first demo with Within, the studio that developed Supernatural and was acquired by Meta in 2023, “I thought, ‘This is going to change so many people’s lives.’”
Those unfamiliar with Supernatural may be most surprised about who its members are, said Pedante. “When people think about virtual reality, they expect that technology to be reserved for these early tech adopters and young demographics. We have a huge contingent of members who are between 30 to 70,” and membership is about an even split between women and men, she adds.
She credits that success with Supernatural’s ability to connect with fans of all ages and lifestyles through music across decades and genres. Jane Fonda – an icon in Hollywood, fitness and social justice – even launched her own workout on the app.
We recently sat down with Pedante to find out what else is in her fitness and wellness kit. (Our interview took place before Meta’s announcement.) In addition to a host of workout and self-care essentials, the certified life coach also shared a key no-tech (and free) resource she uses to stay updated on research-backed health data.
Keep reading for her favorite things below, and stay tuned as Pedante plots her next move.
Creatine is one of the most-researched fitness supplements and one I try to take consistently. Paired with resistance training, creatine reliably boosts strength, can increase lean mass and is generally considered safe for healthy adults at standard daily doses. I can’t count on myself to remember to use the powder every day so the gummy format makes consistency effortless, and these actually taste good.
I love my Whoop fitness tracker. I look at so many screens all day long, so I love a tracker that I don’t have to look at metrics on. I get to choose when I want to look at it.
I just bought this heated rechargeable eye mask that I use constantly for my mid-day shutdown meditations. I am an expert mini-meditator, and I pride myself on finding 5 or 8 minutes in between meetings during the day. This mask adds to the feeling of an instant “downshift.” It’s a cozy little ritual that helps me unwind when my brain is still buzzing. Caveat: It has 3 heat settings, and the highest setting is too hot for me; try the Low first.
These are my “everyday” socks — comfortable, supportive and they don’t slide around. I wear them for training, travel and loafing around the house.
Obviously, the Meta Quest 3. That’s how you work out with me and get an amazing workout anywhere you are.
The fitness industry is full of information overload, so Examine.com is my sanity-check tool when the wellness internet is screaming ten different “truths” at once. It helps me stay grounded in what’s actually supported without spending all my time digging into PubMed.
I’m also very basic. The Aquaphor Lip Repair is my No. 1 lip gloss.
I love this wrap, which feels like a muscle-soothing hug. I use it after hard workouts to soothe my back and I take it on long drives because it makes my back feel cared for instead of cranky.
This gentle foaming facial cleanser is simple and reliable — my face feels clean, not tight and angry afterward. And I love how accessibly priced The Ordinary’s products are.
Magic Puzzle Company The Mystic Maze
$24.99
This 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle has a “magic” surprise ending when you finish.
