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Apple's Jay Blahnik Explains How Fitness+ Will Work for Beginners

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Apple's Fitness+ service is set to launch next Monday, and ahead of its debut, Apple's senior director of fitness technologies Jay Blahnik has been doing interviews to explain how it all works.

applefitnesswatchandiphone.jpg

In an interview with Fast Company he spoke about how Apple Fitness+ is tailored to users of all levels, explaining details on how it will work for beginners.

Each Fitness+ video includes three different trainers on the screen at the same time, and at least one of these trainers will be doing a "modified" version of the workout that's simpler or less taxing. In a cycling workout, for example, one trainer might pedal more slowly, or in a yoga workout, one of the trainers might do simpler poses. In many cases, the alternate trainers you see in workout videos will be the leads of other kinds of workouts.

Apple has also added a series of 10 to 20 minute videos for those who are new to workouts and not ready for the standard workouts. These videos have a single instructor and provide instructions on equipment setup or how to do a particular exercise.
"One of the things we've heard that's been consistent is that working out is tough for people," Blahnik tells me. "If you're a beginner, it's tough because you don't know what to do, you don't know where to start, or maybe you're not in great shape and going to a gym or taking a class is actually way too much ... of a commitment when you're brand-new."

"It was clear to us from the very beginning that if we could do something to make working out a better experience for everybody, that felt like a really great thing to do for Apple Watch customers," Blahnik says.
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The app is also designed to offer up suggestions for new workouts based on the workout types that people have completed. "We've done some really intelligent things to make it simple to get to your next best workout," said Blahnik.

The algorithm will suggest the workout types that people prefer, but it will also offer up recommendations for complementary exercises. For those who like to run or cycle, as an example, Fitness+ might suggest a HIIT workout or a yoga routine.

Fitness+ is set to launch on Monday, December 14. It's priced at $9.99 per month and also included in the $29.99 per month Apple One bundle. Apple is giving those who purchased an Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, or Apple Watch Series 3 after September 15, 2020 a free three-month trial.

For more on Fitness+, make sure to check out our guide.

Article Link: Apple's Jay Blahnik Explains How Fitness+ Will Work for Beginners
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/12/10/apple-fitness-plus-for-beginners/
Will profiles for each family member using the app need to be setup on the Apple TV? I assume this will be required if each users watch is going to show data on the screen. Since the iPad doesn't support multiple profiles this won't work so well with the iPad i use with my bike.
 
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ELman said:
Will profiles for each family member using the app need to be setup on the Apple TV? I assume this will be required if each users watch is going to show data on the screen. Since the iPad doesn't support multiple profiles this won't work so well with the iPad i use with my bike.
Click to expand...
I'm guessing that since you need to have an Apple Watch, the "profile" will be based on whoever's watch is connected.
 
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I'm concerned they aren't going to have long enough or hard enough workouts. Finding services and videos that offer workouts that are 30 minutes or less is pretty easy. I'd like to see something more in the P90X area for duration and intensity. That's my other concern, this all seems like one-off workouts without being a program. The one-off might work well for cardio style workouts, but I don't see how that works for strength based that focus on areas unless everything is just total body.

Edit: I admit that for $80 this is a day one buy for me and I'll be comparing it the subscription I already pay for Beach Body.
 
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unashamedgeek said:
I'm concerned they aren't going to have long enough or hard enough workouts. Finding services and videos that offer workouts that are 30 minutes or less is pretty easy. I'd like to see something more in the P90X area for duration and intensity. That's my other concern, this all seems like one-off workouts without being a program. The one-off might work well for cardio style workouts, but I don't see how that works for strength based that focus on areas unless everything is just total body.

Edit: I admit that for $80 this is a day one buy for me and I'll be comparing it the subscription I already pay for Beach Body.
Click to expand...
Most of the time it pick the level and pick the body part you want to work out.
 
unashamedgeek said:
I'm concerned they aren't going to have long enough or hard enough workouts. Finding services and videos that offer workouts that are 30 minutes or less is pretty easy. I'd like to see something more in the P90X area for duration and intensity. That's my other concern, this all seems like one-off workouts without being a program. The one-off might work well for cardio style workouts, but I don't see how that works for strength based that focus on areas unless everything is just total body.

Edit: I admit that for $80 this is a day one buy for me and I'll be comparing it the subscription I already pay for Beach Body.
Click to expand...
That’s my concern, too, although I’m already subscribed. I currently use Fitbod for strength training, and Daily Burn for cardio and in between days. I really like Fitbod because of the way it targets different parts of the body based on what you worked in the previous workout (recovered muscle groups). If Fitness+ comes near this, I can ditch both Fitbod/Daily Burn and just use Fitness+ for everything.
 
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That’s a nice touch. Reminds me of the Centr app, made by Chris Hemsworth. They have one instructor doing beginner modified versions of the workouts, one doing intermediate, and the last doing advanced. Worked out pretty well!
 
ELman said:
Will profiles for each family member using the app need to be setup on the Apple TV?
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Yes, that is current approach.
ELman said:
I assume this will be required if each users watch is going to show data on the screen.
Click to expand...
At launch, from my understanding, only one user can be paired at a time. The plan is to make it so two or more people can be using it at once with their data being displayed at the same time.
ELman said:
Since the iPad doesn't support multiple profiles this won't work so well with the iPad i use with my bike.
Click to expand...
It is possible that the Fitness+ App will support multiple profiles even if the device as a whole does not.
 
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Any mention if AirPlay would be supported (so I can use my iPhone to start workouts, but watch the workouts on my TV that has AirPlay built in)? Would like to avoid buying an AppleTV.
 
How it will work for beginners:

1. Get a free three-month trial to Apple Fitness+, yeah!
2. Spend $689 on fitness gear.
3. Do every workout imaginable for six days.
4. Never workout again.
5. Remember like 17 months later to cancel Apple Fitness+.
6. Buy Apple “Eye” Glasses or whatever in 2023.
 
unashamedgeek said:
I'm concerned they aren't going to have long enough or hard enough workouts. Finding services and videos that offer workouts that are 30 minutes or less is pretty easy. I'd like to see something more in the P90X area for duration and intensity. That's my other concern, this all seems like one-off workouts without being a program. The one-off might work well for cardio style workouts, but I don't see how that works for strength based that focus on areas unless everything is just total body.

Edit: I admit that for $80 this is a day one buy for me and I'll be comparing it the subscription I already pay for Beach Body.
Click to expand...

I feel the same.

Love em or hate em but Peloton is top notch, in my opinion. I've been a digital subscriber for a year and it is some of the best workouts I've ever taken at home. I have just a basic treadmill and a basic spin bike and the quality of workouts, and the variety of workouts, is what keeps me coming back. The thing I love about Peloton and their classes are that they offer classes from 10 minutes up to 90 minutes and It is very easy for me to plan and stack workouts together. Maybe this morning I want to do a 15 minute Climb on the bike followed by a 15 minute upper body strength class and then finish with a 20 minute Interval run? Or maybe I just want to do a 45 minute Bike Bootcamp where I alternate between HIIT/Intervals on the bike with strength training on the floor?

I'll admit, the only reason why I'm trying out Fitness + is because of the price. $80 a year for both my wife and I vs almost $300 a year with Peloton?

I just hope the quality and the variety is there.
 
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QFace said:
Any mention if AirPlay would be supported (so I can use my iPhone to start workouts, but watch the workouts on my TV that has AirPlay built in)? Would like to avoid buying an AppleTV.
Click to expand...

Wondering this as well. It seems like you can do this. Will find out when I start the trial.
 
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