New iFit Streaming Workout Series from Five to Sixty Explores New Orleans' Most Haunted Locales

iFit interactive fitness has released a timely new series, the 'Haunted Bayou', as part of its larger interactive home training platform. The 'Haunted Bayou' series takes users on a memorable journey through six unique locations in New Orleans, each with its own haunted history. Expert Dalen Spratt leads iFit users on a workout through each location all while uncovering the ghosts and mysteries of years past.

iFit is an interactive digital personal training platform. The platform supports a wide range of workouts filmed around the world that are part of larger training programs that include everything from running and walking to biking and rowing for NordicTrack and ProForm treadmills, cycles, rowers, ellipticals and more.

Carly Sorensen, head of production at iFit, commented: "Looking at the big picture of iFit, we strive to bring the best workouts on the planet to our users, and we define the best workouts as those that make our customers want to come back and workout tomorrow. iFit offers a range of workouts with over 5,000 on-location and studio workouts currently available on our platform (excluding the daily live workouts), everything from training for a marathon to climbing Kilimanjaro and exclusive access to explore King Tut’s tomb in Egypt. In addition, iFit’s content is interactive, meaning that our technology platform syncs with the machine to automatically guide the speed, incline and decline on a treadmill or resistance on a cycle or rower. Our built-in interactivity means consumers can lose themselves in the workout without having to touch any of the controls, and really immerse themselves in our distinctive content."

This series was created to provide iFit users with an entertaining, haunting, interactive training experience just in time for the 2020 Halloween season. Released on the iFit platform on 26th October, the series was met with an incredibly excited response. 

Five to Sixty's executive producer, Nic Weinfeld, said: "When we begun pre production, our first task was finding a host for the workout series. We knew we wanted a ghost hunter but finding Dalen Spratt from Travel Channel's Ghost Brothers, brought a comedic angle to the paranormal genre, and was a game changer for the series. He brought his expertise and resources to uncover paranormal hotspots in and around New Orleans while keeping the tone fun enough for the whole family to workout to."

When asked about how the at-home workout changed what he knew about ghost hunting and how filming was different from other series he'd done in the space, Dalen said: "The idea of turning your typical ghost investigation into a virtual interactive experience is GENIUS! To me it makes me feel like I’m working with just one viewer as opposed to the entire world when filming your traditional TV show. This experience was way more intimate. And it’s a great way for first time investigators to get their feet wet!"

Dalen continued: "Anytime you’re welcomed into a new situation with open arms you immediately become relieved. iFit feels like a family. I was almost waiting on someone to invite me to dinner. I have been overwhelmed with responses from people all over the country expressing to me how much they enjoyed their experience. As a storyteller and explorer... there’s no better feeling."

Carly added: "The iFit 'Haunted Bayou' series is the perfect combination of entertainment and exercise. It’s seasonally appropriate yet evergreen; the perfect series to binge while getting in your steps. And if you are doing one of our more intense programs, like training for a marathon, it’s the perfect workout for a rest day when you still want to stay active. We realise that not everyone wants to get on their at-home fitness machine and join a routine studio class, or use their workout as punishment. We believe that working out should be enjoyable."

When asked how the 'Haunted Bayou' series influenced the future iFit programming, Christian Hathaway, director of content at iFit, responded: "iFit is for everyone, and seeing the success that the 'Haunted Bayou' series has already experienced reinforces the fact that we need to continue to create content that is both fitness-focused and entertaining. Users can already work out on all seven continents in over 50 countries, and our database includes workouts for all fitness levels. Now we have an opportunity to start expanding into education-based, docu-style workouts that still have users’ health and fitness in mind."

Commenting on how the iFit community’s reaction to 'Haunted Bayou' has been different from other series, the iFit team concluded: "We have seen nearly double the engagement with the 'Haunted Bayou' series, plus a lot of social engagement. We attribute this not only to the uniqueness of the content itself, but also our marketing and promotional efforts and seasonality. We look forward to continuing to expand the iFit portfolio and exclusive experiences, from all over the world, into our customers’ homes while helping them maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle."