CIOInsider India Magazine

When it comes to looking after health, commitment flickers like that lightbulb that needs a replacement for many of us. Gym, yoga, dancing, dieting, and other physical activities are ever so tagged with phrases such as ‘not much time, ‘too lazy,’ ‘demotivated,’ and more, like those promises made by politicians which seldom get fulfilled. With the gyms and other physique workout centers remaining shut, apps acting as personal trainers could be the most reliable source in committing to a physical workout, including mental health. Q2 in 2020 will go down in history as an unprecedented period for the mobile economy, as health and fitness apps surged from 565 million to 811 million. This continued to grow as 2022 arrived, as App Annie's State of Mobile 2022 report suggests that total downloads stood at 2.48 billion in 2021.

Nike Training Club
This app suggests customized workouts based on a quick quiz. It offers a variety of exercise styles such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT), yoga, core, cardio, and strength training workouts. To find the perfect class, muscle group, workout focus, and equipment can also be looked into. A fact is that Nike made its premium content free for all users as a bonus in 2020. Although the app is totally free to use, it takes a decent amount of storage space in the phone. It does not play music while streaming classes. Its multiple filters, including warms and cooldowns, have quick transitions and are fast-paced, which could be tough on beginners.

jumpingMinds
A first-of-its-kind deep-tech Mental Health and Wellness ecosystem led by Ariba Khan and Piyush Gupta is assigned to look after global mental health and wellness challenges. Powered by an engaged community, smart AI bots, and self-care tools, the platform guarantees an anonymous, safe place and instantly helps a stressed individual to feel better. Unlike most platforms running on a therapy-based approach, jumpingMinds has adopted a user-first approach turning wellness easy, accessible, and fun. The platform has built a 100k+ strong community and 35 Million+ brand reach by creating a positive impact by spreading smiles.

Fit Body
A community created by women and for women, featuring 12 programs led by four expert trainers committed to helping individuals reach fitness goals. The classes last 30 minutes or shorter, and individuals are welcome to go through the stretching and foam rolling videos. It suggests meal plans for 72 weeks with customized portions according to daily calorie needs. Additionally, it also encourages individuals to put forth their one meal plans by enabling access to more than 300 recipes. Through its inbuilt community function within the app, individuals can connect with others on their wellness journey as well. It offers nutrition tips, meal plans, and track workouts while keeping a check on mental/emotional wellness as well. It also suggests alternative move suggestions during workouts.

Centr
Created by Chris Hemsworth, this app suggests methods practiced by the actor. Touted as “your PT, dietician, chef, and wellness coach all in one,” the app offers daily workouts, meal plans, recipes, and a mindfulness component through a convenient weekly planner. This app can be challenging as it pushes users to the limits with prominent trainers like Luke Zocchi, Hemsworth’s personal trainer, and Gunnar Peterson guiding through and through. Therefore, this app is for those who are already on their wellness journey and is mostly not beginner-friendly. The suggested recipes and ingredients are expensive and have minimal progress tracking options.

Sarva
This app helps practice yoga for weight loss, meditation, sleep, and healthier life. The workouts are tailored by the pro instructors in India, who are skilled in 25 forms of Yoga such as Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, Therapy, Aerial, and more. It was founded in 2013 and went by the name Zobra. It debuted again in 2020, completely transforming into a digital wellness platform, and now stands by the name Sarva - Yoga & Mindfulness. To date, the app has recorded over five lakh downloads.

With various apps on the market, choosing the right one that qualifies and fits one’s daily routine and wellness needs can be confusing. Therefore, there are certain factors to consider before downloading the apps.

Credible Instructions
These are apps with workouts produced or led by experienced fitness experts for safety and optimum results.

Exercise Needs
Be it weight loss, building strength, becoming flexible, or whatever the interest may be. Be sure to select an app that caters to the exercise needs.

Budget
While some apps are free, some come with a price tag, including expensive workout or meal customization options. Hence, it is best to try a few classes before going all in.

Equipment
Most apps have classes that require some sort of equipment, such as yoga blocks, dumbbells, or kettlebells. Look for apps with classes compatible with the present home gym setup unless one is willing to invest in new gym equipment.

Ease of Use
The apps must be easy to navigate and should offer filters to help quickly find the perfect workout.

Medical and Business Standards
One must ensure whether the apps are meeting health as well as business standards.

Reviews
While it’s mostly recommended to take user evaluations with a grain of salt, knowing what other people think about a fitness app can be useful information when deciding whether it's the appropriate fit.

“Health and fitness apps have seen significant growth during the pandemic on the back of local innovations. It’s great to see our local developers create a meaningful impact in the lives of people across the country with customized well-being solutions that cater to their physical as well as mental health. At Google Play, we are deeply invested in the growth of the local developer ecosystem in India, and we continue to work with the ecosystem to help them scale”, said Aditya Swamy, Director, Play Partnerships, Google.

Since the pandemic, people all around the world have been prioritizing their physical as well as mental health while coping with carrying on living in the new normal. Looking after one’s health can be embraced as a positive change, among other changes beckoned by the pandemic.