Over the last month or so, even the most active among us have struggled with adjusting their routines around being at home. Staying active and finding peace of mind have become all the more difficult with our usual routines disrupted.
But we at Madison Square Wellness want to help our community overcome the challenges that stand between you and feeling your best. Just because we’re stuck inside doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice our health and wellness!
We’ve compiled a list of our favorite low-cost apps that you can use to exercise and meditate while at home. Like a personal trainer, chiropractor or gym, it is important that you find the right fit for you. We recommend trying a few different programs, and see which one suits you and your family best.
Aaptiv
Aaptiv is an app for iPhone that offers users guided workout programs via audio. Unlike many other apps that have videos you follow along, Aaptiv provides a different experience, connecting you to quality trainers who use music and their voice to provide you the expertise and motivation you need to achieve your fitness goal. They offer training in yoga, strength training, running and more!
Another cool part of Aaptiv is that new users sign up by entering their fitness goals and letting the app design them a program to achieve them. Sign up for your free 7-day trial here to get started!
Daily Burn
Daily Burn is a unique virtual fitness trainer that you can access on your computer, as well as devices that connect to your television like Roku, Chromecast and more. They offer thousands of workout videos across the fitness spectrum, including yoga, HIIT (high-intensity interval training) and running. They also have a wildly popular “Daily Burn,” which is a 30 mintue live video they stream at the same time everyday for people who want to challenge themselves first thing in the morning.
With a thirty day free trial, we think this is a great way to design a fitness program and try out new forms of exercise with little risk of bad investment. Check out all they have to offer at their website here!
Nike Training Club
From one of the world’s biggest fitness apparel companies comes one of the app store’s most useful fitness apps. NTC gives users access to fitness programs from world-class trainers, including tips on nutrition and overall wellness. Their programs range from HIT to yoga to mobility workouts (which we love). They also provide ways to track progress towards specific goals you can set yourself. We think it’s especially cool that NTC incorporates recovery tips, as well as meditation and mindfulness training.
You can sign up for NTC for free by downloading their app on your iPhone or Android device. Give it a whirl, and be amazed at how quickly you become hooked on building wellness habits. Give it a peek at their website here.
Peloton
Most people know Peloton for their stationary bikes— but did you know they also offer an app that provides training in yoga, running and strength training? It’s true. The Peloton app is actually very robust, and does not require you to own a Peloton bike in order to use it. You can use your phone or TV connected device to access thousands of pre-recorded workout classes, or join a live one too. They also have audio guided outdoor workouts that you can take in with your headphones, and a feature that’s geared towards workouts you can do with kids aged five and up.
If you give their 90-day free trial a try, check out our favorite trainers, Emma Lovewell (@emmalovewell) and Matt Wilpers (@mattwilpers). This is probably our favorite fitness app at the moment due to the diversity of classes they offer, as well as the fitness tracking feature of their program that allows you to be accountable to yourself. Check it out here!
Headspace
Headspace is one of the most well-rated and downloaded apps in the wellness space. They pioneered the field of guided meditation, and have had huge success in introducing people to meditation methods that previously seemed too intimidating to try. Using expert guidance and well-designed programs, Headspace makes meditation accessible, useful and extremely un-scary. You can use their app to find specific programs aimed at improving your mindfulness, anxiety-management, sleep habits and more.
Try their free trial and see for yourself how useful mediation can be in your day-to-day life. Wellness extends beyond how our bodies feel, and incorporating meditation into your wellness routine will help you feel your absolute best. Check out their free trial program at their website here.
If you want to know more about meditation apps, check out this very useful guide we found here. All of these programs are free as well!
We hope these give you some ideas and inspiration that will help keep you healthy and sane during these trying times. As always, we encourage you to check out our blog, where you can find more tips and tricks for feeling your best no matter the circumstances.
