8 apps to turn your phone into a personal trainer

If you can’t get to the gym (or prefer to go it alone at home), apps on your phone can be a handy alternative. Experts share their top picks to get you moving.

A lot of people are yet to harness the potential for their smartphone to be an exercise buddy.

Between April and May, roughly a third of Australians had a physical activity or exercise app on their mobile, according to research being carried out by Deakin University in Melbourne.

“A lot of benefits come with using your phone to exercise and be more active,” says Dr Kate Parker, a researcher at Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition.

“It’s convenient – you can train at whatever time you like. It can also be perceived as safer for anyone concerned about exercising outdoors at night or on their own.”

But not all apps are effective, so it’s important to choose the right one for you.

1.     Workout videos

You can usually try fitness apps like LES MILLS On Demand for free initially.

It has workouts for beginners to advanced and includes three to 12-week workout plans.

There are more than 1000 workouts to choose from including yoga, strength, cardio, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and dance, plus there are workouts for kids, too.

“The programs and videos are motivational, well-produced and you feel like you are actually part of a class or group session,” says Andrew Daubney, of Exercise and Sports Science Australia.

2.     Livestream classes

You can take part in livestreamed classes by the instructors using XTEND@Home for barre, pilates and yoga.

“You are guided through each move by the instructors,” says Andrew.

The exercises are dance inspired and are designed to give an all over body workout, to tone muscles and build flexibility and endurance.

3.     Get running

Couch to 5k is designed for inexperienced runners and aims to get them running a comfortable 5km in nine weeks.

“This is a graduated training program that takes you from a low exercise base and builds fitness over time to reduce the risk of injuries,” says Andrew.

4.     Stretch it out

If you’re new to yoga, the Daily Yoga app can start with tutorials for beginners and then choose from programs that embrace Ashtanga yoga poses, mindfulness meditations, quick yoga sessions, workouts focused on toning your body or poses that are for more experienced yogis.

5.     Go gaming

“You can encourage kids to be more physically active by turning exercise into a game,” says Dr Parker.

Use augmented reality games on your mobile like Pokemon GO to get children up and out the front door and searching for Pokemon characters in their own neighbourhood.

6.     Mix it up

The Victorian Government recently launched Get Active Victoria, a series of online workouts, challenges and games to help people exercise more with the help of their smartphone or tablet.

Programs have been developed for schools, workplaces and families and include pilates, strength building, low impact, stretching and dance sessions.

Learn how to juggle or master ’90s hip hop moves.

7.     Choose quality over quantity

The free app Workout for Women is a popular choice with women around the world, says Dr Parker. The seven-minute workouts were specifically designed with busy women in mind.

8.     Track your progress

You can also use your smartphone to monitor your progress, stay motivated, keep track of what activities you do and count kilojoules with apps like MyFitnessPal.

Similar options for tracking and monitoring your health and activity include Fitbit and Garmin Connect.

Written by Sarah Marinos.

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