FITTER, HAPPIER, STRONGER

BETTER LIVING THROUGH SMARTER TECHNOLOGY

BY ALEX COX

Could home tech make the gym a thing of the past — even when we’re allowed to work up a sweat in the presence of others again?

Getting smart about getting fit is all about doing the right things at the right time. Even if you’re free of specific movement restrictions and curfews, the way we go about our daily business likely isn’t changing for a while. So now would appear to be the perfect time to put that expensive gym membership on hold and dial up your activity in and around your home. There are a host of devices and apps that'll get you moving, with more released in the past year than ever before, but let’s start with those that try to bring that authentic gym experience into your home.

Subscriptions are a big thing now, and they’re only getting bigger. Apple, of course, has its own: Apple Fitness+ ($9.99 per month) fired out of the gate with something of a bang at Apple’s previous big event, joining the likes of Apple TV+ in the firm’s push to add a bunch of content to its growing ecosystem. It’s versatile, with video workouts that let you see your current data on screen (piped there directly from your Apple Watch) as well as customizing the music that gets you moving.

Peloton’s instructor–led class formula ($12.99 per month) is another that’s gained traction, with a host of exercise options on offer beyond the spin classes you might expect. And Ultrahuman ($13.99 per month) has launched with a top–to–bottom fitness subscription covering overall fitness as well as sleep and mindfulness. That’s not to mention the (partially) free trainer–led workout program of Nike’s Training Club, the personalized workout plans of Fitbit’s premium tier, or the many great yoga apps out there (see “Yoga apps” on p74).