Workout app list

These phenomenal new smartphone apps will keep you active within the comfort of your lounge!

In today’s fast-paced world, having time to simply breathe has become a luxury few can enjoy. We are all knee-deep in our daily appointments, whether they are official meetings, evening tea parties or feeding the baby. In the midst of all this chaos, who could possibly have the time to hit the gym and rake in some exercise?

Fortunately, there is a solution to your health woes! Much like everything else, the world of fitness has also undergone a technology overhaul. With numerous fitness apps available, you can now train with the world’s best health gurus at your own convenience and that too, without having to a pay dime! Simply download them to your Smartphone and begin. Looking good has never been easier!

Personalised fitness apps: The massive boom in fitness apps can be attributed to Apple and sporting goods giant Nike, who pioneered the industry by collaborating for the Nike+ Ipod feature eight years ago. The feature offered an upbeat and energising musical playlist to keep you going while exercising. Now, there is a large variety of apps available which not only allow you to create your own workout playlist but also track your progress and share with other users from around the world. You can also focus on your problem areas thanks to specialised apps which offer workouts for certain parts of the body.

Professional fitness apps: What’s great about these apps is that not only are they cheap but can also be downloaded and used as per your convenience. To make  it even easier for you, some renowned health gurus from around the world have developed their own apps to help you train. From YouTube channels like Ballet Beautiful by former ballerina Mary Helen Bowers to websites like www.yogasync.tv, everything is available on your app store should you wish to try it. The Johnson & Johnson Official 7-minute workout is another free app that offers you a chance to choose from 36 exercises and 13 predesigned workouts and a custom workout feature to help you design your own seven minute regime. Similarly, the Jillian Michaels Slim-Down features the fitness genius Jillian Michaels and offers food and fitness journals options as well as a calorie counter guided by her to make a healthy diet easier to manage.

Popular fitness apps:

• Couch to 5K which offers training under five virtual coaches at just $1.99 per month!

• Daily Abs Workout is a great way to bring your dream six-pack to reality!

• Calorie Counter allows you to count the number of calories you consume with each meal.

• Zombie Run is an eight-week audio training programme that provides clear instructions on when to walk, run and stretch, building your stamina while narrating a story direct to your headphones. The runner is part of the story, performing different tasks as exercise.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, November 2^nd, 2014