Finding time to work out while juggling your career or business and home life can easily fall by the wayside. The thing is, working women wear many hats. Sometimes you don’t feel like going to the gym after a long day at the office. Or you don’t have the time because you need to focus on your kid's extracurricular activities. However, exercise is as crucial for your mental health as it is for your physical health. It reduces stress and anxiety and improves your overall mood and sleep performance. In fact, being calmer while dealing with work’s challenges and waking up for another day fully refreshed will enhance the quality of your life. So it's time to let go of your tension and work yourself into a good mood. Here is where Apple’s Fitness+ app steps in.
One of the highest fitness apps in the world, Fitness+ transforms any space into a gym or training area. There are ten categories: rowing, dance, cycling, yoga, strength, core, mindful cooldown, treadmill walk or run, and HIIT. Most workouts do not require any equipment except treadmill, rowing, and cycling. Each workout video has three trainers guiding you through the exercises, showcasing different workout levels.
And the best thing about it? You can install the app on your work iPad and take it wherever you go.
Although you can technically use Fitness+ without an Apple Watch, you’ll need it to set up the app. Download the latest iOS version on your watch and iPad 9.7. You must have WatchOS 7.2 and iPadOS 14.3 for the app to run correctly.
Find the Fitness+ app on the Apple Store and download it on your iPad. Sync your Apple Watch, and the app will appear as a new tab in the Fitness section. The app is free for a one-month trial or three months if you purchase an Apple Watch. After that, it costs $9.99 a month.
Setting up the app is as easy as pie. Open the app on your iPad and tap Apple Fitness+ at the bottom of the screen. Tap Get Started and sign in with your Apple ID and password. You’re ready to start working out!
Choose the music that sets you pumping for a HIIT workout or a gentle instrumental tune for a yoga session. You can either pick from the wide selection available on Fitness+ or access your private library at Apple Music. And if there is a soundtrack that you become addicted to in Fitness+, you can export it to Apple Music.
Select the fitness level, duration of the session, and your trainers. In addition, there are even options for pregnant women and those who are slightly older. Then push your limits with the highest difficulty level. Do you need to burn off some energy? Or do you need to wind down after a stressful day? You are always in control.
One of the Fitness+ app's most outstanding features is taking it wherever you go. Do you want to fit in a quick yoga session or dance your nerves out in the privacy of your office? Just open the app and go for it. Are you traveling for work? Take advantage of the hotel gym and do a good cardio session on the treadmill or rower. Or a core workout in your hotel room or public garden. The options are limitless.
With Fitness+, you can track your heart rate and how many calories you burn during the workout. The app summarizes all your metrics on one screen when the session is over. It also keeps you motivated with an animation when you hit a milestone. Or you'll see a countdown timer to boost you through a particularly tough rep.
Earlier this year, Apple introduced a cool new feature to Fitness+. Designed for outdoor walks while wearing an Apple Watch, Time to Walk features stories from world-famous actors, celebrities, musicians, and athletes. You can listen to the moments that shaped their lives as they narrate and keep you company as you walk. These recordings get you in the zone as the narrator is on a walk and describes their settings before getting deep into their personal experiences. Choose from the app’s library that includes country music singer Dolly Parton, actress and workout queen Jane Fonda, comedian Wanda Sykes, and singers Nick Jonas and Shawn Mendes. You will never walk alone again.
Although you don't need an Apple Watch when working out, you need it to set up the app. If the watch is low on battery or in another room, you can still do a session on Fitness+. However, it will affect your metrics, such as time-tracking or calorie consumption.