Apple Fitness+: The new streaming service delivering workouts, tunes, and sweat

While most of our favourite streaming services let us comfortably enjoy every corner of our couches, Apple’s new online subscription does the total opposite. Once you turn on Apple Fitness+, you can forget about your couch for at least 10 minutes.

December 14 marks the official launch of Apple’s new fitness experience, which is built around the Apple Watch. Think of it as a personalized, and immersive (and sometimes competitive), experience for users that can be watched anywhere using Apple devices.

In a park? You can use your iPhone or iPad for your workout. At home? Apple TV will be all set for you to watch something besides Netflix.

The workouts

As it launches in Canada, Apple Fitness+ includes 10 of the most popular workout types, including High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Strength, Yoga, Dance, Core, Cycling, Treadmill (for running and walking), Rowing, and Mindful Cooldown.

Each workout is led by a trainer (most are well-known in the fitness communities). But the programs are designed for all fitness levels, from beginners to pros.

As soon as the watch and device are open to Fitness+, users are able to select everything from the type of workout, time of the workout (10 to 45 mins), trainer, as well as music type.

The music – let’s be real, it’s a huge part of any physical activity – includes top artists and ranges from Chill Vibes, Latin Grooves, to everyone’s favourite, Throwback Hits. Prior to your workout, you can actually see the exact playlist, and later download it if you love it and have Apple Music.

For beginners, there are videos specifically to help you get started, or to help you try something new. It goes over equipment set up, along with proper techniques. Tip: If you’re trying something for the first time, like Rowing for example, you may want to watch these beginner videos a few times to nail down the techniques.

For any experienced users, just hop on your indoor bike (or treadmill) and get ready to be sweaty while enjoying a singalong to S Club 7… true story.

The Burn Bar

Apple Fitness+ is interactive, and continuously shows metrics like heart rate and calories burned along with Apple Watch’s Activity rings, which are displayed onscreen in real time. And for those who want a little extra motivation, select workouts include the Burn Bar.

This Bar will be your favourite onscreen tool if you love a challenge because it lets you see how you are doing compared to everyone else who has done this workout before you.

Available for HIIT, Treadmill, Cycling, and Rowing workouts, it’s shown as calories burned, and is based on your rolling two-minute effort. And when you’re done, the Burn Bar will show an average of your workout.

Personalized recommendations

Once a routine of classes are viewed, Fitness+ will start to recommend new workouts and trainers for you to check out.

Users will be able to do “More of What You Do” and to “Try Something New.”

Having all of the workouts in one place, you can really balance out your routine by mixing it up and matching… it up. For example, you can move, shake and sweat to a dance class for 30 minutes, then find a cooldown for 10 minutes to complete your workout.

Overall, Fitness+ is easy to use, conveniently available across Apple devices, and features some celeb trainers that include local favourites (shoutout to Tyrell Désean).

The best part is, up to six people per household can use a Fitness+ subscription — so your family members or roommates you’d like to compete with on the Burn Bar can also get in on the account, they just need to have an Apple Watch.

Fitness+ is available in Canada for $12.99 a month, or $99.99 per year with one month free.

Fitness+ provided for review by Apple