If the ongoing heatwave is coming in the way of your gym routine or morning run, try these expert-approved workout apps for at-home, anytime fitness
Many apps allow you to compare your progress with your peers. Representation pics
Staying committed to your fitness goals can be especially difficult when the weather isn’t cooperating and the incessant heat has you feeling drained and exhausted even before you make your way to the gym. On days like these, say experts, home workouts can be a meaningful compromise. To really take your home routines to the next level, they suggest syncing your workouts to a fitness app that enables you to switch up your routine, track your progress and tailor your exercise plan, without having to expose yourself to the elements.
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Shivali Chatterjee
“What makes fitness apps a viable alternative is the sheer variety of workouts they offer. Many apps also enable you to become a part of a fitness community, pair you up with a fitness partner and let you compare your progress with your peers, to make you more accountable and to gamify workouts. This can help to keep you motivated and be that dose of inspiration you need on days you’re feeling especially sluggish,” notes Jashan Vij, a health and fat loss coach. He, and other fitness professionals, share apps that you can use to keep yourself fit and active, regardless of where you are.
Best from yoga
For yoga educator Shivali Chatterjee, this app stands out because of the range of instructors it allows access to. “Each instructor has a different teaching style, so you can easily find a practice that best suits you,” she explains. The app offers lessons for all levels of learners — from basic stretching to beginner sessions to routines for advanced learners looking for a bit of a challenge.
Recco: Alo Yoga app
It’s a HIIT
This free app is hailed for its intuitive interface and lets users browse through various routines depending on the type of workout they’re after as well as what equipment they have at hand. For Avinash Mansukhani, a body re-composition and transformation specialist, this app is an ideal choice for those looking for HIIT (high intensity interval training) routines, in a quick, apartment-friendly format.
Recco: Nike Training Club app
Asanas for all
“I’ve found Akshar Yoga’s channel to be exceptional due to its diverse range of yogic practices, including yoga asanas, meditation and pranayamas, along with insightful guidance on when to practice each. The depth of knowledge and presentation of information is truly remarkable,” says Chatterjee. The channel comprises podcasts, exercises and insightful Q&A sessions to make for an immersive and educative yoga platform.
Recco: The Akshar Yoga channel
Avinash M
Adaptive and flexible
This app offers personalised coaching by assigning you a (paid) fitness coach who will create your individualised diet and exercise regimen. The app, which evolved from a community-based platform, is flexible and adaptive — in that, you can continue to use it even after you rejoin the gym by modifying your workout routine, says Vij. The addition of a supportive community makes the endeavour a positive, uplifting one.
Recco: Fittr app
Jashan Vij
Options galore
An integrative health app that encompasses multiple types of workout classes, from dance and yoga to strength, this app stands out because of its proprietary energy meter, which allows users to track exactly how much energy they’ve expended during a workout, says Vij. What also sets this app apart is the option for members to join a live class and visit a fitness centre near them for a quick HRX, boxing or dance fitness session (time and weather permitting).
Recco: Cult.fit app
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