3 apps every busy yogi should have
We all have our own ways to fit exercise into our lives; a cycle commute, lunchtime runs, after-work gym seshs, barre before brunch on a Saturday. But, with only one in five adults doing enough exercise to actually keep fit, however you get your fitness fix, it’s all good.
Now there’s been an influx of fitness apps, helping you get your workouts where you can — and pretty much eliminating your excuses.
Here’s our pick of the best yoga apps:
Yogi2Me
After launching in October 2016, Yogi2Me has been expanding ever since — and now you can choose from a whole range of yoga, from pregnancy to kids, and meditation, gong baths and massage, on the natty app or website (complete with yoga gifs — big bonus).
BALANCE review: Booking a last-minute class in Leyton the week it launched in E11, it was understandable my first choice of teacher was busy — but the woman who came (on time, prepped with two mats) was a total delight. Clued up and calm (…everything one would look for in an instructor), she ran through what to expect from the class. An hour of relaxing but energising Hatha, with focus on the breath throughout and grounding at the end, left me suitably stretched — helped by the teacher’s impressive and confident adjustments.
Best thing about it: An exciting, growing company with a great community feel
Cost: £69/hour
Trube
A handy app, Trube allows you to book a trainer — with an expertise in everything from yoga and barre, to a simple personal training sesh — to come round within a few hours.
BALANCE review: The yoga teacher came a few minutes before my allotted time, with zero hassle or stressful calls, ready for the class — and unfussed by the distinct lack of space in my small London flat. We kicked off the warm-up, before discussing the session or any injuries, but covered anything relevant as we went along and the teacher then adapted the class to suit. The one-on-one format gave us the opportunity to work on poses I usually sit out of in group classes for fear of looking silly, like crow and headstand (making me realise my avoidance is more due to lack of confidence than ability). As you can imagine, having someone ensuring you won’t fall on your face definitely helps with the trickier poses!
Best thing about it: You can book loads of exercises through the app
Cost: £50/hour, but it works out less through TruPacks and TruPlans
Yogassential
In just a few clicks on the slick, minimalist app, you can book a yoga class — from ‘calming’ to ‘cardio’, from teachers with varying levels on experience — and choose what you’d like to focus on in your class.
BALANCE review: The teacher arrived only a few minutes late and was so apologetic I completely believed her when she said it never happened! She was friendly and chatty, making it un-weird that we were both squished into my very small sitting room. She set up the mats while discussing injuries and my preference for the class. I was undecided and tired, so said to focus on stretching — which, in retrospect, was a slightly ridiculous request given it was a yoga class. Due to space, she demonstrated postures and adjusted mine, which felt totally comfortable, despite potential for British awkwardness. We did a perfectly paced class, some more vigorous stretching and headstand practice, before ending with some breathing. An excellent class and, though I’d felt like I just wanted to go to bed, I was exceedingly glad I hadn’t.
Best thing about it: The choice of teachers and types of yoga
Cost: Starting at £45/hour