Apple Fitness Plus adds Collections and Time to Run features
Apple launched a fitness service called Apple Fitness Plus — here’s everything you need to know, including recent updates.
Apple has been finding ways to infiltrate the fitness market for a long time now, and since the Apple Watch first started offering activity tracking, people have been obsessed with closing their rings. Apple’s latest big push into the fitness space is their guided workout service known as Apple Fitness+. When you pair Fitness+ and your best Apple Watch, you’ll have access to over 2,000 workouts and guided meditations to choose from; here’s everything you need to know about Apple Fitness+.
What’s new in Apple Fitness+
January 25, 2022: Apple adds Collections and Time to Run features to Fitness+
Apple has expanded the offering available on its Apple Fitness+ service by adding two new big features to the platform: Time to Run and Collections.
Collections
Collections are a curated list of Apple Fitness+ workouts and meditations that are intended to help users achieve goals. The series of workouts and meditations are pulled from the over 2,000 workouts already on the service and offer a new way to stay motivated and focused on a goal.
Some of the Collections currently included are “30-Day Core Challenge,” “Run Your First 5K,” and “Wind Down for a Better Bedtime.”
Collections also include suggested plans to help users make intentional training choices over the next several days or weeks.
Time to Run
If you’ve experienced Time to Walk before, then you know the basics of how Time to Run is intended to work.
Throw on an episode of Time to Run, and you’ll be coached along your run with one of Apple Fitness+’s wonderful running coaches. Each episode is focused on a popular running route in locations such as London and Miami Beach, so you can get a little escapism when you’re on the treadmill or jogging through your neighborhood.
September 14, 2021: Apple announces new features for Apple Fitness+
Apple unveiled a slate of new features at its event on September 14, 2021, including Group Workouts.
Group Workouts
In the new software, you can use SharePlay to initiate Group Workouts with Apple Fitness+ so you can enjoy a class together with friends.
Guided meditations
Apple Fitness+ will be getting guided meditations that you can access just like any other class on Apple Fitness+.
Pause and Resume across devices
Apple Fitness+ will soon let you pause your workout on one device and resume the same workout in the same spot on another device, making it easier to switch from your iPad to your Apple TV with ease.
Pilates
Apple Fitness+ will be getting classes for Pilates, which you will also be able to track on your Apple Watch coming in watchOS 8.
Launching in 21 new countries
21 new countries will soon be added to the list of countries that can access Apple Fitness+.
What is Apple Fitness+
Apple Fitness+ is a subscription service that allows you to access a library of video-led workouts that use real-time data from your Apple Watch.
You’ll be able to select what workout you want to do, and the video will display on either your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. While you are following along with the workout, your Apple Watch data will be displayed directly on the screen so you can see your workout metrics without having to look at your watch.
When?
Apple Fitness Plus+ is now live! It requires iOS 14.3, watchOS 7.2, iPadOS 14.3, and tvOS 14.3. For Apple Watch users, Apple Fitness+ will automatically appear as a new tab in the Fitness app on iPhone; a Fitness app for iPad will be available to download from the App Store; and on Apple TV, the Fitness app will automatically appear once users upgrade to tvOS 14.3.
Note: You will have to download the Fitness app for iPad from the App Store. It does not automatically show up when you update iPadOS.
How do you access Apple Fitness+
Apple Fitness+ will be available through the Fitness app on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. It’s there that you will be able to watch the video, follow along with the class, and see your Apple Watch data right on the screen.
What types of workouts will it offer?
Apple has stated that at launch Apple Fitness+ will have guided workouts across many popular categories, including cycling, treadmill (walk and run), rowing, HIIT, strength, yoga, dance, core, and cooldown.
These classes will all be led by trained individuals who are “specialists in their fields.” During the presentation, some examples Apple gave were professional athletes, yogis, personal trainers, martial artists, health coaches, gymnasts, and more.
Do I need equipment?
Apple states that some courses — like ones for a treadmill — will require gym equipment. Other classes will only need a set of dumbells or no equipment at all.
There will even be a beginner program built in to Apple Fitness+ that is meant to help you get the basics of movement down and prepare you for the studio-led workouts.
Does it work with my old Apple Watch?
Unfortunately, Apple Fitness+ will only work with the Apple Watch Series 3 or newer, so the list of compatible Apple Watches should look like this:
Apple Watch Series 3
Apple Watch Series 4
Apple Watch Series 5
Apple Watch Series 6
Apple Watch SE
Apple Watch Series 7
How much does it cost?
The price for the subscription service is $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year. There is a 30-day free trial that will allow anyone to try the service for no cost. You can also share with five other family members at no additional cost!
Anyone who buys an Apple Watch Series 3 or later will get three months of Apple Fitness+ for free.
Is it available in Apple One?
Apple Fitness+ will be available as part of a bundle with Apple One, but only in the Premier bundle ($29.95/mo), where it’s available.
Time to Walk
If you’re an Apple Watch and Apple Fitness+ customer, your walking experiences are about to change thanks to Time to Walk. The feature includes audio content from “influential and interest people” who share stories, photos, and music. It works with Apple Watch and AirPods, or other Bluetooth headphones. Time to Walk launches with four audio experiences, with many more expected to arrive in the coming weeks and months.
Episodes of Time to Walk are between 25 to 40 minutes in length and appear automatically in the Workout app on Apple Watch. You can also browse the available episodes in the Fitness+ tab in the Fitness app on your iPhone. For wheelchair customers, Time to Walk becomes Time to Push and automatically starts an Outdoor Wheelchair Walk Pace workout.
When does Apple Fitness+ launch?
Apple didn’t give an exact launch date for Apple Fitness+ quite yet but did say the service would be available by the end of the year in the following countries:
United States
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Ireland
United Kingdom
Up until now, Apple has been introducing the instructors on the AppleFitness+ Instagram account. You can always give them a follow, see what instructors will be leading classes!
Updated January 2022: Updated with new info about Time to Run and Collections.
Find your fitness
Apple Fitness+
New workouts every week and a positive attitude for your fitness journey.
Fitness+ helps you find the workouts that are right for you, with a vast collection of sessions in practices like core training, yoga, and rowing. Each class is taught by a top-flight instructor, and new classes are added every Monday.
