We think it’s safe to say that most people have a love hate relationship with exercise. We hate it because it’s usually an hour of hard work but we love it for the way it makes us feel and look.
When it’s 5am and our alarm goes off for our morning run or if we are in the thick of doing 50 sit ups, we always remember those post exercise endorphins and know that the early starts and gruelling exercises are all going to be worth it.
Something that has made exercising easier and more accessible now than ever before is technology and the rise of fitness apps. There are countless out there that all do different things and work on different routines so we thought we would round up a few of our favourites!
Aaptiv is a fitness company that produces audio-based workouts created by certified personal trainers and a few of our SWIISH team members use it and swear it’s just like having your own personal trainer! Each workout is set to the perfect playlist to create an effective, music-driven experience. With over 2,500 workouts in the app and 50 new ones added weekly in a variety of categories (running, elliptical, race training, strength training, stretching) there’s a workout for every interest and fitness level. On-demand, audio-only workouts means no more distracting screens, expensive equipment, or cancellation fees for missed classes and it means that you can workout anytime, anywhere! Download it here.
Get off the couch and get running with the Couch to 5K training app! All you need to get the most out of this app is yourself because it’s a learn to run program for beginners. All you need to do is spend 20-30 minutes, three times a week, for nine weeks, and you’ll literally go from the couch to running 5 kilometres! Next stop: a half marathon! Download it here.
This is one of the coolest fitness apps we’ve found because for every mile you walk, run, skip, hop or jump, it donates money to a charity of your choice (you can choose from over 40 charities). How cool is that! Charity Miles works like a pedometer, run-tracker, walking timer, cycling meter or running stopwatch. Just start and stop your workout to track your distance. Download it here.
Nike’s Training Club is another app that is just like having a personal trainer in your pocket, except the person telling you to run or jump or do 20 push ups is Serena Williams, Ellie Goulding, Cristiano Ronaldo or Kevin Hart, just to name a few. And nope, we’re not joking! With Nike’s Training Club, there are over 160 free workouts in a variety of full-body challenges, from strength and endurance to mobility and yoga, featuring Nike’s world-class master trainers. The plans can adapt to what you and your body want – whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just getting started. Download it here.
So this isn’t technically a fitness app but it’s just as good for our wellbeing as exercise! Relax Melodies is designed for you to get the best sleep possible but we also love using it as background noise for yoga, meditation or even when we need to get through a whole heap of work! It works by selecting sounds and melodies that you like and combining them to create a mix to relax to. There are 52 free sounds and melodies to create different atmospheres and there’s even a number of 5-day programs that you can utilise. Download it here.
