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Seven fitness Apps to keep you active this summer
Ski Fit
Ski Fit ($12 membership) is a program to help skiers of all levels develop correct movement patterns, endurance, and coordination. You’ll have an online expert clinician to guide you through progressions of over 100 ski-specific exercises, telling you why you’re doing the exercise, and how to correctly align your body. If you’re not sure you want to pay, you can do a free trial.
ACTIVEx
Sometimes we just need a little help from our friends. The free app ACTIVEx allows you join “packs” of friends or strangers all working towards a common fitness goal (examples include “active moms” or “training for our first 5k”). Take on a 30-Day Challenge or become a “fundracer” to give underserved kids the chance to play a sport. Whatever you choose, the app will give it a unique and community-centered feel.
Charity Miles
Make your training count double with the free app Charity Miles, which monitors your mileage and then donates to a charity of your choice. You’ll earn 10 cents per mile if you bike, 25 cents if you walk or run, and then you’ll be able to donate to any one of 37 different organizations, including Habitat for Humanity and Feeding America.
Snow Fitness Workouts
Sometimes all you need to stoke your fitness fire is new ideas. The Snow Fitness Workouts HD app ($2.99) serves up about 100 five- to 10 minute workout sessions featuring simple, ski-specific exercises. The sessions are different every day, and each exercise includes a goal, a timer, and an animated demonstration by a guy in a weird GS suit. Incorporate your tunes and record your performance to measure improvements.
Sleep Cycle
Physical fitness can only do so much—you need a good night’s sleep to regenerate your overworked muscles. Sleep Cycle (free) tracks your sleep patterns, creating a graph upon waking showing you how rough or sound your night’s sleep was. It also has a smart alarm feature that wakes you up during your lightest sleep, so you’re not jerked out of a deep slumber. Of course, the app itself can only do so much; it’s up to you to make changes to your schedule to get the best sleep possible.
The 7 Minute Workout by UOVO
No more excuses. A 7 Minute Workout (free) takes exactly as long as it promises and can be done anywhere from your bedroom to your backyard. You’ll perform exercises for 30 seconds each with 10 seconds of rest in between, guided by voice cues so that you can focus completely on your workout instead of trying to look at your phone while doing crunches.
Sworkit
Sworkit (free) stands for “simply work it,” and that’s exactly what this app helps you do. One of the simplest and least intimidating fitness apps we’ve seen, Sworkit starts off by asking you what your fitness goals are, and then tailoring your workout to meet that end. The videos are easy to follow and you can either choose a workout plan or make your own. FYI, Sworkit was ranked No. 1 fitness app by the American College of Sports Medicine.