She just happens to live on your phone, laptop or, er, mirror…? Learn to navigate the ever-expanding world of digital fitness

- Kristin Canning

The top-of-mind question used to be: what kind of workout do you want? Now it’s: how would you like it delivered?

There have never been more ways to sweat “with” an expert. Some trainers have developed their business to include digital-only interactions, texting and emailing with clients or watching workouts via FaceTime. Companies such as Peloton and Mirror (pictured) now bring the boutique fitness experience to you remotely by way of connected, at-home equipment that syncs to live classes. And then there’s computergenerated exercise advice: apps, like Freeletics, which uses an algorithm to develop customised workout plans, AI devices such as Vi – a headset that gives you feedback on pace and form as you run – and Tonal home gym and CAR.O.L bike, which auto-adjusts resistance based on your fitness level.

Sure, they’re not all available in SA yet, but take a look at the gym floor and notice how many people are plugged in, moving in sync with something on their smartphone screens or following prompts through noise cancelling earphones. Worldwide, health and fitness app usage grew more than 330 percent from 2014 to 2017, according to Flurry Analytics; for example, training app Aaptiv’s subscriber base has exploded from 2 000 in 2015 to 200 000 today.

A passing trend this is not, says exercise researcher Sabrena Jo. As long as an app or AI device asks questions about your history and goals, it has the potential to provide a legit programme, just like an IRL trainer, says biokineticist Dr Jimmy Bagle

Dit verhaal komt uit de November 2019-editie van Women's Health South Africa.

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