1. Rachel, please tell us a little more about yourself.
Hi Rooi Rose! Thank you so much for having me. My passion for fitness has been a constant throughout my 30-year career in the modeling industry. In between modeling gigs, I was a fitness coach, but my modeling career really took off, making it challenging to continue coaching. Modeling has taken me around the world, but I eventually settled in sunny Los Angeles for both the weather and the professional opportunities.
I'm always looking for new ways to innovate my workouts, and the jet-setting lifestyle can be exhausting. To stay motivated, I hired a personal trainer—who is now my husband! We have two wonderful children, a 6-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son, who keep us very busy. In addition to modeling, I am the proud co-founder and owner of Flexbox, an innovative, multipurpose workout platform that I’m excited to share with you today.
2. What inspired you to create Flexbox?
In a word: COVID. Haha. During the lockdown, my husband Van Aarde and I were stuck at home, trying to figure out how he could continue training his clients and how we could work out with limited equipment. Van usually trained his clients at the gym, but with everything shut down, he had to get creative, lugging equipment to their homes or parks.
I love using free weights and machines, and we needed something that could mimic the gym experience at home. Our fitness backgrounds led us to come up with some innovative workouts, but it still didn’t feel quite like the gym. After one home training session, we brainstormed a solution that could combine gym machines, free weights, and more, all in one tidy package. We also wanted to keep our living space looking like a home, not a gym. And that’s how Flexbox was born!
3. What was the thought process behind the design of the Flexbox?
The functionality of the Flexbox is all thanks to my husband’s genius, while I focused on the aesthetics. I’ve always found exercise equipment to be large, bulky, and not very attractive, usually only available in black. We wanted Flexbox to be different—good-looking, multifunctional, compact, portable, and available in various colors to blend with modern home decor.
Creating a piece of equipment that mimics many different gym machines in one box was a logistical challenge, but four years later, here we are. It’s a beautiful fusion of form and function.
4. Who is it intended for - fitness level, age, etc.?
Flexbox is designed for everyone, regardless of fitness level or age. But we especially had busy parents, professionals, and fitness coaches in mind. As a busy mom and entrepreneur, I needed a solution that was as effective as the gym, but fit my schedule without wasting time commuting, fighting crowded gyms, or getting ready. Flexbox fits perfectly into this need.
It's also a game-changer for fitness coaches who do online training or home visits. If a trainer's clients have a Flexbox, the trainer will know exactly what equipment is available, streamlining their sessions and making them more effective.
Flexbox offers the versatility to do resistance training, Pilates, and yoga, making it easy to incorporate into daily workouts or between heavy lifting sessions. I can work out in whatever I’m wearing and whenever I have time, seamlessly fitting into my busy lifestyle.
5. Are there additional guidance tools to enhance your experience when using Flexbox?
Absolutely! We have an amazing app that helps you get to know your Flexbox and how to use it. It includes a library of exercises and workouts suitable for all fitness levels. I also post regularly on our Instagram @oneflexbox, sharing various ways to use the box, target different body parts, incorporate new exercises, and even enjoy active rest options.
We also encourage following our influencers who showcase creative ways to use the Flexbox, providing endless inspiration and new ideas.
Thank you so much for having me!
Hi Rooi Rose! Thank you so much for having me. My passion for fitness has been a constant throughout my 30-year career in the modeling industry. In between modeling gigs, I was a fitness coach, but my modeling career really took off, making it challenging to continue coaching. Modeling has taken me around the world, but I eventually settled in sunny Los Angeles for both the weather and the professional opportunities.
I'm always looking for new ways to innovate my workouts, and the jet-setting lifestyle can be exhausting. To stay motivated, I hired a personal trainer—who is now my husband! We have two wonderful children, a 6-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son, who keep us very busy. In addition to modeling, I am the proud co-founder and owner of Flexbox, an innovative, multipurpose workout platform that I’m excited to share with you today.
2. What inspired you to create Flexbox?
In a word: COVID. Haha. During the lockdown, my husband Van Aarde and I were stuck at home, trying to figure out how he could continue training his clients and how we could work out with limited equipment. Van usually trained his clients at the gym, but with everything shut down, he had to get creative, lugging equipment to their homes or parks.
I love using free weights and machines, and we needed something that could mimic the gym experience at home. Our fitness backgrounds led us to come up with some innovative workouts, but it still didn’t feel quite like the gym. After one home training session, we brainstormed a solution that could combine gym machines, free weights, and more, all in one tidy package. We also wanted to keep our living space looking like a home, not a gym. And that’s how Flexbox was born!
3. What was the thought process behind the design of the Flexbox?
The functionality of the Flexbox is all thanks to my husband’s genius, while I focused on the aesthetics. I’ve always found exercise equipment to be large, bulky, and not very attractive, usually only available in black. We wanted Flexbox to be different—good-looking, multifunctional, compact, portable, and available in various colors to blend with modern home decor.
Creating a piece of equipment that mimics many different gym machines in one box was a logistical challenge, but four years later, here we are. It’s a beautiful fusion of form and function.
4. Who is it intended for - fitness level, age, etc.?
Flexbox is designed for everyone, regardless of fitness level or age. But we especially had busy parents, professionals, and fitness coaches in mind. As a busy mom and entrepreneur, I needed a solution that was as effective as the gym, but fit my schedule without wasting time commuting, fighting crowded gyms, or getting ready. Flexbox fits perfectly into this need.
It's also a game-changer for fitness coaches who do online training or home visits. If a trainer's clients have a Flexbox, the trainer will know exactly what equipment is available, streamlining their sessions and making them more effective.
Flexbox offers the versatility to do resistance training, Pilates, and yoga, making it easy to incorporate into daily workouts or between heavy lifting sessions. I can work out in whatever I’m wearing and whenever I have time, seamlessly fitting into my busy lifestyle.
5. Are there additional guidance tools to enhance your experience when using Flexbox?
Absolutely! We have an amazing app that helps you get to know your Flexbox and how to use it. It includes a library of exercises and workouts suitable for all fitness levels. I also post regularly on our Instagram @oneflexbox, sharing various ways to use the box, target different body parts, incorporate new exercises, and even enjoy active rest options.
We also encourage following our influencers who showcase creative ways to use the Flexbox, providing endless inspiration and new ideas.
Thank you so much for having me!