BACK ON TRACK
Fitness+ will help you move
They say timing is everything. Just when Canadians need it most — faced with a winter spent mostly at home, with fitness clubs either closed or operating under limitations — Apple launched its Fitness+ streaming service this month. And unlike other streaming services that have kept you and the family glued to the couch, this one gets everyone up and moving.
Fitness+ features 10 exercise options (yoga, high-intensity interval training, core, strength, treadmill running and walking, rowing, cycling, dance and a series of cool-downs), five choices of exercise duration
(five, 10, 20, 30 and 45 minutes) and 21 trainers. You can also select your preference of music, including rock, dance, hip hop, country and “chill vibes.” The idea is to mix and match the exercise essentials until you find a workout that suits your mood. Opt for a 10-minute yoga interlude between Zoom calls, or sweat through two back-to-back 20-minute workouts that move from pedalling your stationary bike to a strength class using either body weight or a pair of dumbbells.
To access the large suite of fitness classes, you need an Apple Watch (Series 3, 4, 5, 6 or SE), at least one other Apple device (iphone, ipad, Apple TV) to pair it with and a Fitness+ subscription, which sells for $12.99 monthly ($99.99 annually).
The connection between the Apple Watch and the Fitness+ workouts is what makes the experience so rich. I've done my share of home workouts in the past several months, including following instructors live online, using one of the many apps I have on my phone and doing my own thing, but none of them were this interactive. Once the workout starts, your personal exercise metrics (heart rate and calories burned), the running time of how long you've been sweating and Apple's activity rings show up on screen in real time. There's also a “burn bar“displaying how your efforts rank against everyone else who did the same workout, and a timer that flashes on screen counting down the intervals when the trainer turns up the intensity.
As for the content of the classes, each workout features a lead instructor and at least two other trainers, one of whom demonstrates a lower-intensity version. That said, the focus is primarily on the lead instructor, which means the modifications offered by the other trainers aren't always in view. Still, cues on modifying the intensity to suit different levels of fitness are provided often enough that you don't feel left out. And for anyone unfamiliar with any of the workouts, like rowing and indoor cycling, or for novice exercisers who need a gentle introduction to getting back in shape, the beginner series gives valuable tips on technique and helps pave the way to longer, more intense workouts. At 10 or 20 minutes each, they make the transition from the couch to the exercise mat that much easier.
Also worth noting is the diversity of the trainers.
They're all equally unique in their delivery and in their sport and fitness background, which keeps the workouts fresh, but they also span the decades in terms of age, including proud grandmother Molly Fox, who started teaching the Jane Fonda workout back in the '80s. There's also a para-athlete with a prosthetic leg.
The variety of classes and the energy of the trainers make it easy to get a good sweat on. I've tried almost all of the workout types, including rowing and dance, and had no problem getting my heart rate well into the training zone and keeping it there.
Fitness+ has no live classes you can attend virtually with friends, but there are traditional and trendy workouts, music options to suit most tastes (or use your own Apple Music playlist), opportunities to sweat a little or a lot and for as brief a time or as long as you wish. And with new workouts dropping every week, your routine doesn't have to get stale.
But the real strength of Fitness+ is its potential appeal to everyone in the family, which is where it separates itself from some competitors. Try a workout alongside your spouse, or do your own thing for 30 minutes and then finish with a yoga workout you can do together. You can even turn on one of the dance workouts and embarrass yourself in front of the kids. Throw the workout up on the big screen (you need Apple TV — screen mirroring doesn't work) or download to your device for use anywhere there's no Wi-fi.
If you already have an Apple Watch, the monthly fee is as cheap as it gets. And unlike some other popular streaming services geared to home workouts, you don't need to purchase another piece of expensive exercise gear. The upright stationary bike hidden away in a far corner of your home works as well as a higher-priced spin bike. Or stick with an exercise mat and a couple of dumbbells and you're good to go. If you have a treadmill or rowing machine, you'll put them to good use, too. If not, when you get back to the gym you can try out the cycling, rowing and treadmill workouts.
Apple features a family sharing program for up to six people (they all need Apple Watches), with interesting options for kids and family members without an iphone.
Admittedly, Fitness+ requires an investment beyond just the monthly service, but for families and exercisers who aren't paying fees to play organized sports or who have a fitness membership on hold, and are looking for ways to stay active, it's an option worth considering.