Apple Gets into Group Workouts, Pilates, Guided Meditation

This fall, Apple will begin offering a group workout feature for Fitness+ subscribers, the company announced this week.

Group Workout with SharePlay allows users to work out with up to 32 people at once via FaceTime or in a group message thread.

Apple is also introducing Pilates workouts and guided Meditation on Sept. 27, and they will introduce new episodes of Time to Walk, an audio experience on Apple Watch designed to encourage Fitness+ users to get active by walking more often.

With Group Workouts powered by SharePlay, users will be able to start a group workout from a group message thread or FaceTime call on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV with AirPlay. From there, they will navigate to the Fitness app, select a workout or meditation, see their friends and family onscreen, and get started. During a group workout, users will see their metrics and progress toward closing their Activity rings, while also seeing and hearing friends as they work out. With Group Workouts, when someone moves ahead on the Burn Bar or closes their Activity ring, users will be notified so they can celebrate together.

Body-conditioning workouts such as strength, core and yoga are among the most popular workouts in Fitness+, according to Apple. Pilates will now be added to Fitness+ as a new low-impact workout type, providing users with more options for maintaining and improving their strength and flexibility. Most Fitness+ Pilates workouts can be done with just a mat, while some also incorporate the use of a resistance band. All Pilates workouts will be 10, 20 or 30 minutes long.

Building on the popularity of Mindful Cooldowns in Fitness+, guided Meditation will help users develop a regular meditation routine and improve their overall sense of well-being, according to Apple. Users will be able to choose from nine guided Meditation themes — purpose, kindness, gratitude, awareness, creativity, wisdom, calm, focus, and resilience — for a video experience alongside the Fitness+ trainers. Each practice will be five, 10 or 20 minutes long.

The same meditations also will be uploaded each week in audio form in the new Mindfulness app on Apple Watch, so users can experience guided neditation at their convenience. With watchOS 8, the Breathe app becomes the Mindfulness app, featuring an enhanced Breathe experience, a new session type called Reflect, and Fitness+ guided Meditations.

Throughout the fall, Fitness+ will also introduce new episodes of Time to Walk, an inspiring audio experience on Apple Watch designed to encourage Fitness+ users to get active by walking more often. Time to Walk features some of the world’s most interesting and influential people, who share stories, photos, and music with Fitness+ subscribers. As the series continues its second season, new guests will be added each week, including singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha; singer-songwriter Camila Cabello; country musician and actor Reba McEntire; activist and founder of the Me Too movement Tarana Burke; professional basketball player and 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony; and actor, activist, and author Gabrielle Union.

Later this year, Fitness+ will be available in 15 new countries: Austria, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates.

“We are excited to be introducing new workouts that bring Fitness+ users more options to stay active and motivated, plus immersive guided Meditation experiences that are approachable for all and easy to fit into your day,” said Jay Blahnik, Apple’s senior director of Fitness Technologies.