Our 6 favourite fitness apps so you can get fit anywhere, anytime
For many, the pandemic has presented an opportunity to pay a bit more attention to our health and fitness. With gyms closed, more of us have tried to keep fit at home through yoga, going for a run or walking 10,000 steps. Now, as the world and our social calendars start to reopen, we’re finding it increasingly difficult to find the time or energy to stay fit. Whether it's being neck deep in social obligations or getting used to being back in the office, the urge and willingness to set aside the right amount of time to work out every week isn’t easy. Luckily, there are tons of apps today that can help you stay fit even without requiring a huge time commitment.
These apps strive to reach the three golden ideals of convenience, affordability, and sports science; all of which combine to revolutionise the way you look at fitness. You can finally say goodbye to those pricey gym memberships and personal trainers that you keep rain checking...
Here are our top six picks from among the hundreds on the app stores:
FIIT
The FIIT app delivers some of the world's most in-demand personal trainers to your mobile device or smart TV. It allows you to participate in high-end studio fitness routines from wherever you are, as well as the ability to track your performance using HealthKit to export your workout data into the Health app. There’s scores of classes with all expertise levels covered and a selection of activities from yoga to HIIT, strength workouts to breathing classes. There's something for all.
14-day free trial then £10/month (yearly plan) or £20/month (monthly plan). NHS employees and teachers get 3 months free.
Our good friend TheBreathGuy is one of the trainers and shares his breathing classes on the app.
Download it here.
Down Dog
This highly-rated yoga app guides you through a different yoga practice every time you come to your mat. It features step-by-step verbal instructions and can also follow the instructor on the screen. The app houses over 30,000 different configurations with each practice having an accompanying music playlist, giving you the power to build a yoga practice you love! Down Dog automatically syncs across all your devices and you can even download a practice for offline use.
Free classes available, $7.99/month Pro version unlocks more movements and class options. Download it here.
MyFitnessPal
This three-in-one diet tracker, calorie counter, and exercise motivator app from Under Armour personalizes your goals based on your body type, goals and the food you’re eating. It helps you stay on top of your calorie counting, as well as figuring out how many calories you need to eat, balanced against calories expended, to reach your fitness goals. With over 5 million foods, MyFitnessPal has the largest database of foods and drinks, letting you search for the foods you eat (or scan the barcode on the package), get the nutritional information and determine how many calories you're actually taking on and losing.
Free calorie and nutrition tracking, from £3.33/month premium version includes more nutrition stats and goal-setting features. Download it here
Aaptiv
If you don't have ample time during the week for a proper fitness routine, then this may just be the fitness app you need. Dubbed the “Netflix of fitness,” Aaptiv has more than 2,500 on-demand workouts that last as few as seven minutes for different fitness levels. Each activity is set to a playlist made of popular songs you might actually know and enjoy, rather than uninspiring stock music.
Free 7-day trial available, $99/year for subscription. Download it here
Freeletics
Offering a host of workouts all centred around high intensity interval training, or HIIT, Freeletics revolves around four free platforms – Gym, Bodyweight Workouts and Training, Running, and Nutrition. The app pushes you to your limit through an array of moves that you must finish as quickly as possible. Each exercise comes with detailed videos demonstrating proper form. It incorporates a unique social aspect to the app which motivates you to stick to your plan, pushing yourself to beat your personal bests and smash your goals.
From £2.16/week for all workouts, digital AI coaching and nutrition guidance. Download it here
Strava
This is less an actual workout class app and more a tracker, but it has proven a very popular one! At its most basic level, it helps you track and analyse key stats, whether you are running, walking, cycling, swimming, surfing or kayaking (plus many other sports). A subscription will get you customisable training and workout plans so you can set your own goals and get feedback, helping you train safer. Another nifty feature of the premium version is the ability to set and create new routes to mix up your workout. It also has a social element, allowing you to share data with friends and even joining groups of other athletes around the globe interested in the same sports or fitness goals as you! There are even leaderboards and monthly challenges if you want to get involved.
The app works on your smartphone or smartwatch and uses HealthKit to export your workout data into the Health app.
Free tracking, added features available with subscription is £4.00 per month at the moment (billed annually). Download it here
So, whether you're walking the dog or doing downward dog, there's an app that can motivate, track and support you throughout.'
Read next >>>
