With the UK once again plunged into a national lockdown, now could be a very good time to remember a hidden feature buried on your Sky Q box. Late last year, the satellite TV firm announced the launch of the FIIT app on its service which offers an easy way to get some heart-pumping exercise without needing to leave the house. With gyms shut for the foreseeable future, this could be the perfect tonic after all the excesses of Christmas and New Year.
FIIT is fully integrated into Sky Q with it offering over 600 on-demand classes, created and led by Fiit’s 35 top trainers.
You can pick your class by studio – Cardio, Strength and Rebalance – or by the trainer you prefer working out with. If this takes your fancy and you feel you’re in need of losing a few pounds then you can sign up to 2, 4 or 6-week training plans. These can even be tailored to your level, whether you’re just starting your fitness journey, or taking it up a notch.
In the coming months, Fiit Club will also go live on Sky Q, so you can train with friends in group classes, and compete in a live leader board. You’ll also be able to connect your tracking device to your account (via your phone) so you can monitor your heart rate stats on screen and earn Fiit points when using Fiit on Sky Q.
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Although working out at home may not seem as appetising as a gym session, a new study from Sky and FIIT says that many Brits have now become used to working out in their living rooms with some even preferring it to the gym.
The research showed that following the on and off closure of gyms and leisure centres since March, the alternative set-up of exercising at home was more relaxing, quieter, and more enjoyable, with almost a third preferring the option to choose to exercise when it suits their calendar.
Speaking about the research, Fiit ambassador, Dr Hazel Wallace, said: “Working out at home can be very difficult without any guided support or motivation to get you through. Fiit on Sky Q solves that problem by offering you a range of quick, effective, instructor-led classes in the comfort of your own home. Staying active is not only important for our physical health – but our mental health too. With all the upheaval over the last year, it is more important than ever that we take time out in our day to look after our health and wellbeing.”
Online workouts are clearly growing in popularity and it’s not just Sky who is offering a way of getting fit at home.
Apple recently announced its Fitness+ service which uses the Apple Watch, iPhone or iPad to help keep users motivated.
Fitness+ includes a swathe of routines with metrics from the Apple Watch beamed to the screen you are watching the workout on. That means you can instantly see calories burned and heart rate without needing any extra equipment.
In fact, many workouts can be done with no equipment at all or just a set of dumbbells. The familiar Activity rings from Apple Watch also appear onscreen, highlighting the wearer’s progress and launching an animated celebration as they close.
Apple Fitness+ features the most popular workout types including Cycling, Treadmill, Rowing, HIIT, Strength, Yoga, Dance, Core, and Mindful Cooldown, and each is accompanied by music thoughtfully curated by the trainers. Each week, the team of Fitness+ trainers will deliver fresh workouts from the studio across a range of lengths, disciplines, and music genres so there are always new workouts to explore.
You can read our full Apple Fitness+ review here
