SonyaIf there was a silver lining to the pandemic times it was finding ways to adjust and explore different ways to living a healthier lifestyle. Gyms were closed and many of us turned to fitness apps at home and even stuck with once things had opened up again. From meditation, yoga, Essentrics, HIIT, cycling and dance there was something for everyone. It was all there before the pandemic but it just feels like the industry has doubled down on what was offered and continues to do so. We discovered that there were plenty of activities we could do on our own that we continue to enjoy and even supplement our group efforts and gym time when we can’t get there. Apps are also convenient when you’re travelling as well.
Here are a few apps we love and love to take on the go along with most recent news…
Muay thai fighter Nez Dally joins the Fitness+ trainer team to lead Kickboxing workouts.
Apple Fitness+ recently unveiled a new Kickboxing workout type that offers a full-body workout. We love kickboxing as it helps build strength, stamina, coordination and balance. Also a great way to let off some stress.  A brand new Sleep meditation themed session has also been added and can found within the Meditation Library designed to help users wind down before drifting off to sleep. Fitness+ has also introduced new workouts featuring music by Beyoncé in their Artist Spotlight. Includes songs form her latest album RENAISSANCE. The popular Time to Walk series kicks of its fifth season with guests Golden-Globe nominated actor Jamie Lee Cutis, late-night talk show host Amber Ruffin, Olympic champion figure skater Nathan Chen, and German actor Nina Hoss.
MyFitnessPal has empowered over 200 million of users worldwide since 2005. The app helps with tracking not only what you eat and the calorie intakes but also how much water you drink and calories burned. What also makes it appealing is the app has evolved to include many of today’s most popular programs — keto, whole 30, and even intermittent fasting recently launched within the app. It helps track your progress but it’s also like having a nutrition coach, meal planner and food diary all-in-one AND easily accessible even on the go and even on vacation! They’ve recently launched a new and free 14-day in-app challenge. Jumpstart Your Health has a team of experts including the very inspiring celebrity Ayesha Curry offering up tips and practical advice to help us step positively into 2023!
Fitbit: Identifying and managing stress have become priorities for many. Fitbit has developed a new proprietary algorithm to help identify body responses that may be due to stress, excitement, effects from caffeine, and more.  It combines heart rate, heart rate variability, skin temperature, and electrodermal activity in order to identify physical signs of stress referred to as Body responses. The algorithm runs continuously throughout the day to help users identify these moments. Users may find this information as a useful prompt to pause and reflect in the moment and determine what may have the trigger.  Then, take that opportunity to reframe the situation or act to manage the stress in the moment. Over time, this may help users identify patterns that can be use to anticipate potential stress and plan ahead. This new feature is exclusively available on Sense 2.
Peloton recently added Mariah Carey to their Artist Series. Celebrating all of the multi-GRAMMY Award-winning artist’s music in 11 classes across seven modalities, available live and on-demand on the Peloton platform(US, Canada, UK, Germany and Australia) with content streamed from Peloton Studios New York and Peloton Studios London. Class offerings range from Cycling and Tread to the first-ever Artist Series class on the Peloton Row. Also included are off-equipment offerings such as Strength, Barre and Yoga, making the series accessible for all Peloton Members, with no equipment necessary. The Peloton Mariah Carey Artist Series can be accessed on the Peloton App, which new Members can try for a free 30-day trial period.
Nike Training Club: Follow Nike Master Trainers through varied classes, ranging from 5–50 minutes. Do them at home, in the gym, or outdoors – whenever and wherever you want. Their free video library is constantly growing and it’s for everybody regardless of what fitness level you’re at. Now, you can also explore the workouts on Netflix. Subscribers to the streaming service have access to 46 workout videos in the collection — Kickstart Fitness with the Basics, Two Weeks to a Stronger core, Fall in Love with Vinyasha Yoga, HIT and Strength with Tara, and Feel Good Fitness.