Fitness Gets Functional

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Fitness Gets Functional

A growing trend in fitness is less about form – it’s about function. Women’s Health has the details: “ Functional fitness is about preparing you for life, rather than something specific like a big race or a lifting competition,” writes Deja Leonard. “Think anything from squatting down to pick something off of the floor, to turning and reaching for the oatmeal on a high shelf. This type of exercise mimics your everyday actions while engaging multiple muscle groups.” Because what good are incredible abs if you can’t lift your gym bag?

App Health

The race is on to become the “Netflix of fitness” – and Aaptiv seems to be leading the pack. What’s Aaptiv? It’s a fitness-audio app lets you stream music and workouts, ranging from boxing to yoga, coached by expert trainers. For $99, app members get annual unlimited access to 2,500 streaming workouts. According to GearJunkie, Aaptiv adds over 40 classes each week, and there are price breaks for businesses and students and you try it out for free during a 30-day trial. You’re going to be hearing a lot more from Aaptiv – Disney and Amazon just invested $22 million in the app.

Working The ‘Gram

Has Women’s Best, a globally recognized fitness brand, uncovered the secret to Instagram mega-success? With 3.5 million followers, it sure looks that way. Forbes’ Darren Heitner digs in. “[B]efore curating a social media presence, founders must first do the important work of defining a brand voice,” he writes. “Only once the voice is defined is it a good idea to post on social media.” Women’s Best has also harnessed the power of influencers, seeking out ambassadors that fit perfectly with the brand’s messaging.

Anti-Wellness

Wellness Instagram is supposed to inspire you to take better care of your body, mind and soul, right? Self’s Amy Keller Laird thinks it might be doing the opposite. “No, I’m not a sparkly star today, thank you very much, I’m feeling rather dull,” she admits. “All the ‘crushing’ of goals and “owning” of confidence and “you can do anything”-ness feels hollow. Pandering. Particularly when you don’t feel like you could crush a flea.” What’s the solution? Be more thoughtful and genuine on social media, Laird suggests. Also, know when to take a break from the online world. “Step away from social media whenever you can. Take a walk. Listen to a podcast. Call a friend. Because a screen is never a substitute for human-to-human interaction, particularly when a catchphrase won’t cut it.”

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