Apple Watch: Your Year-Round Fitness and Health Companion
Apple Watch is being presented as a continuous fitness and health companion, reinforced by recent research and an influx of new Apple Fitness+ programmes set to launch this month. The primary aim is clear: to assist users in adhering to their fitness objectives long after the initial motivation of the New Year diminishes.
Apple Watch Users Exhibit Enhanced Exercise Consistency
New insights from the Apple Heart and Movement Study reveal that users of the Apple Watch don’t just begin strong in January but are also likely to maintain elevated levels of exercise in the subsequent months. This analysis considered data from about 100,000 participants who consistently wore an Apple Watch over a four-year period.
After a typical decline in activity levels during November and December, daily exercise minutes sharply rose in January. Over 60 percent of users increased their daily exercise by more than 10 percent during the first two weeks of January compared to their December averages. Almost 80 percent of these individuals sustained higher activity levels throughout the latter half of January, while an impressive 90 percent continued this trend into February and March.
The study, conducted in conjunction with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the American Heart Association, involved over 250,000 participants from across the United States.
Prominent New Challenges and Limited-Edition Awards for January
To maintain high motivation, Apple is introducing a “Ring in the New Year” limited-edition award. Users of the Apple Watch can earn this award by closing all three Activity rings for seven consecutive days in January.
For the first time, participants can also engage in a special “Quit Quitting” challenge within the Strava app. Those who log a total of 12 workouts during January will be rewarded with a unique Apple Watch badge in Strava, highlighting Apple’s increasing collaboration with third-party fitness platforms.
New Multi-Week Fitness+ Programmes Launching in January
Starting from January 5, Apple Fitness+ is launching four new multi-week workout programmes intended to provide clarity and structure to training routines.
The “Make Your Fitness Comeback” programme caters to those returning to exercise, offering a comprehensive four-week plan consisting of short Strength, HIIT, and Yoga sessions. “Build a Yoga Habit in 4 Weeks” aims at improving flexibility, reducing stress, and enhancing strength with two 10-minute yoga flows each week.
For individuals desiring increased intensity, the “Back-to-Back Strength and HIIT” programme combines both workout styles into continuous 20-minute sessions, conducted three times a week for three weeks. “Strength Basics in 3 Weeks,” debuting on January 12, is designed for beginners or those returning to strength training, emphasising technique and confidence.
Fitness+ is currently accessible in 48 countries and regions, including India, with workouts available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.
Engaging Music-Led Workouts and New Time to Walk Guests
The Artist Spotlight series on Fitness+ is also expanding, featuring workouts with music from the artist KAROL G. From February 2, additional sessions will highlight Bad Bunny, coinciding with his appearance at the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show.
The “Time to Walk” audio series will continue with fresh episodes featuring actor and producer Penn Badgley, Spice Girls member Mel B, and actor Michelle Monaghan later this year. Each episode is a blend of personal narratives, photographs, and music to make walking more enjoyable.
A Comprehensive Fitness and Health Ecosystem
Apple is committed to promoting the Apple Watch as the core device for tracking fitness and health. Users can monitor their workouts with AI and machine learning-driven metrics, observe trends in cardio fitness and training loads, and access insights related to sleep, heart health, and beyond. Third-party applications like Strava, Runna, Golfshot, and 18Birdies further enrich the user experience.
The current lineup of the Apple Watch includes the Series 11, SE 3, and Ultra 3, catering to various price points and usage scenarios from daily fitness to extreme activities. In India, the starting prices are Rs 25,900 for the Apple Watch SE 3, Rs 46,900 for the Series 11, and Rs 89,900 for the Ultra 3.
Apple Fitness+ is available at Rs 149 monthly or Rs 999 annually, with new subscribers potentially eligible for free trial periods upon purchasing select Apple devices.