APPS TO HELP YOU REACH YOUR WELLNESS GOALS

Achieving optimal wellness may seem like a challenge at time, but there’s plenty of help to be found along the way. Here are some useful apps for Android and iOS which will help keep you on track with your wellness goals.

1 Giant Mind Training your body is an essential step towards enjoying your best health, but so is training your mind. 1 Giant Mind teaches you to meditate in 12 easy steps to help you start feeling happier, more energised and less stressed.

Users begin with a 12-step course in which each 15-minute step builds upon the knowledge of the previous one, bringing users a comprehensive understanding of meditation and the heightened wellbeing it offers.

The app is highly user-friendly, and each step in the course includes video and audio instructions as a guide. A journal and a reminder function help to ensure that you do not forget your practice, while videos can be streamed or downloaded.

After completing the 12-step course, users will then unlock a 30-day challenge designed to fix meditation as a permanent habit. Available on Android and iOS / Free to download

J&J Official 7 Minute Workout More than three million fitness fanatics have downloaded this innovative app, which offers fast, simple, science-based ways to workout, anywhere, anytime. The app’s focus is on offering workouts which take just seven minutes to complete, however, it also offers a range of workouts up to 32-minutes in length. With 72 customisable exercises and 22 customisable workouts there is something for everyone, at every fitness level. Additionally, without the requirement for cumbersome weights, the app serves as a reminder of what can be accomplished without fancy equipment, while workout and inactivity reminders help you stay on track. Available on Android and iOS / Free to download

Pocket Yoga The Pocket Yoga app is designed to guide and encourage you in the performance of yoga wherever you may be, allowing you unending access to the health and clarity of mind that the practice can bring. Pocket Yoga offers access to 27 yoga sessions which vary in duration and in difficulty. The app functions without a network connection, meaning you can practice yoga any time, in any location. Audio and visual instructions guide you through each pose, while a pose dictionary provides additional help.

The app contains other useful features as well, such as an automatic log of all your activity, and the ability to use music from your library to complement your sessions. Available on iOS / US$2.99 to download

Tone it Up Designed specifically with women in mind, Tone it Up is a communityfocused app that features a wide variety of workouts devoted to full-body fitness. Daily workout routines are created by professional trainers for incredible results and cover a wide range of workout styles and disciplines, including cardio, high-intensity training, kettlebells, barre, yoga, pregnancy workouts, and workouts designed for specific muscle areas.

One of the features that makes the app so outstanding is its extensive and supportive community of female users designed to help keep you motivated, along with its selection of live classes each led by a top fitness trainer. With virtual classmates and the ability to chat with other users, Tone it Up creates a sense of connectivity. Available on Android and iOS / Free to download

Sleep Cycle Waking up and feeling refreshed is all about timing. Sleep Cycle alarm clock tracks your sleep patterns and wakes you up during light sleep. Waking up during light sleep feels like waking up naturally rested without an alarm clock.

Sleep is divided into five stages through which your body continually cycles. Stage 1 lies on the border between sleep and wakefulness, Stage 2 involves light sleep, Stage 3 incorporates longer, slower delta waves, and Stage 4 switches exclusively to longer waves. Finally, Stage 5 is the dream state.

Awakening from any of the deeper stages often results in tiredness, while waking up from Stages 1 and 2 tends to feel natural. Analysing body movements using sound detection, or its accelerometer, Sleep Cycle will awaken you during a time window of your choice. Available on iOS / Free 30-day trial

Nike Run Club Whether you’re ramping up your training regimen for a big race, or heading out on your first run, Nike Run Club’s training plans give you the guidance you need to become a better athlete.

The app comes with a range of features including the ability to store your previous runs, guided runs by professional coaches and athletes, and trophies to celebrate your greatest accomplishments.

There are several components of your runs which are tracked by the app including your route (through the use of a GPS), as well as elevation, heart rate, and mile markers. While the app helps you to measure your goals, its personalised coaching can also help you to meet them.

The app’s community of users will help encourage your sense of motivation. It offers the ability to share runs with friends, join Nike’s global and monthly distance challenges, and even to create your own challenges which you can share with others. Available on Android and iOS / Free to download