It goes without saying that winter chills are a great motivator for people to stay home. However, while some do stay home for warmth, for others the chills are simply deterrence from keeping up with their fitness routines. Laziness creeps in and the proverbial snooze button on exercise stays down the whole season through.
Much like every other part of modern living, the word for fitness has also been revamped through tech innovations, some of which are the saving grace many will need to bare out the cold months without losing a single fitness gain. Tracing back as far as home workout videotapes, the fitness industry has always found a way to offer a take-away option. In this era of technological advancements, the ubiquity of personal gadgets and gizmos that increase convenience makes quite a task to figure out which ones are really necessary.
According to Statista, the global fitness industry was valued at USD87.23 billion in 2019. This grand figure accounts for all forms of clubs, gymnasiums and customer service providers. However, not all people wish to engage in communal activities or spaces, especially since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, beyond relenting to the calls of the couch, there is a necessity for alternatives to maintain the gains that are much easier to achieve in the summer when the outdoors are welcoming.
Rather than investing in the traditional bulky equipment such as treadmills, elliptical machines or exercise bikes that require not just space for storage but also motivation to mount, it might be a smarter option to go for an app or virtual programme. These can not only help you track your progress, but also offer the convenience of being available, no matter where you are. Tech-centric fitness company, Dribbleup, has a variety of devices that allow the user to work out in different ways.
Their Smart Strength Ball, Smart Soccer Ball, Smart Basketball and Smart Boxing Gloves are all able to connect to iOS, Android mobile devices and smart TVs to allow the user to follow a guided routine while being monitored by an artificial intelligence (AI) system connected to the aide. Using computer learning to tailor the user’s workout for each session, the devices also add a motivational edge with ranking users through a central programme.
Most smartphones are now equipped with a fitness app of some kind. Activity tracking suites are also available to download on Google Play and through Apple App Store that make it possible to map how your activity varies day by day. The range of applications available also makes it possible for anyone to stay fit without limitation. Yoga apps like Yoga Workout (free to download and use, and includes beginner classes), Simply Yoga (great for children and adults), and Glo (ideal for busy people who still want guided practice) allow users to engage in some of the most holistic and universal physical activities that can be done indoors.
MapMyFitness offers users access to workouts designed by popular sports equipment company, Under Armour while JeFit gives those with a preference for bodybuilding a means of challenging themselves and clocking gains. Makers of the device that initially changed the game, Fitbit, which is a smart watch, continue to innovate on the metrics it tracks in order to provide different users with information useful to their cause. From monitoring heart rates to synchronising with your calendar and taking note of your sleep stages, it makes for a personalised experience that can keep you fired up and informed.
These digital solutions are, of course, available all year through, so there’s no need to wait until the slack of winter weighs heavy on you before joining the virtual fitness revolution. From easing the anxieties of what the doctor will say at your next physical check-up to making everywhere you go a place you can work out in, it makes perfect sense to tech up.
