Workouts (Apple)

Workouts
Developer(s)Apple Inc.
Initial releaseMarch 9, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-03-09)
Operating systemwatchOS
TypePhysical fitness

Workouts is a fitness companion and activity recording application developed by Apple Inc. for Apple Watch devices, used to start workout tracking and view metrics while an exercise activity is in progress. The app was first introduced alongside watchOS 1 on April 24, 2015, and is tightly integrated into the operating system's health tracking features. All workout history and deeper workout metrics can be viewed from within the Fitness and Health apps on a connected iPhone.

Overview

The workouts app displays a list of activities and excursuses for a user to begin recording, although the watch is also capable of detecting when a workout session begins on its own and notifying a user to start a workout. During a workout, the app will display the time elapsed since recording of the chosen activity began, the user's current heart rate, and the active and total kilojoules burned during the workout. Other metrics can vary depending on the type of activity, such as displaying the total altitude of a cycling workout or the total laps of a swimming program. Additional metrics may also be displayed by connecting the watch to bluetooth-enabled third-party exercise machines or accessories using the GymKit API.

For water-based activities, the watch may ask for the length of the pool an activity is being conducted in, and will also set the device's water lock feature automatically once a workout has begun. During cycling activities, the workout can appear as a live activity on a connected iPhone, which can be used to display the workout metrics on a larger screen if the device is mounted to the bicycle.[1]

Since watchOS 9, swiping up on the metrics display will show a user's heart rate zones, which are five calculated segments which indicate the intensity of a workout based on their maximum heart rate.[2] Workout views can also be customised to display a range of metrics in order to suit a user's needs and preferences.[3] Workouts can be paused or segmented for breaks and changes in activity,[4] and media controls can be accessed within the app itself during a workout.

Workouts are displayed in different colours depending on the chosen goal - green for open activity, yellow for timed activities, blue for set distances, red for kilojoule targets, and purple for custom interval programs. The "Multisport" workout option allows users to switch between the indoor and outdoor versions of the swimming, cycling, and running activities in any order.

Types of workouts

As of watchOS 10, the list of supported workout activities available for recording includes:[5]

*Indicates a water-based workout

**Only available to wheelchair users

GymKit API

GymKit is an integration API that was launched with watchOS 4.1 on 31 October 2017, which allows developers and manufacturers to enable bidirectional sync between the Apple Watch and certain cardio equipment.[6][7] Once paired, compatible machines can display workout data and performance during workouts and send additional data to the Fitness app.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Go cycling with Apple Watch". Apple Support. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  2. ^ Luke Filipowicz (2022-09-13). "How to use, view, and track heart rate zones on Apple Watch". iMore. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  3. ^ Song, Victoria (2022-04-14). "How to customize your Apple Watch workouts". The Verge. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  4. ^ "How to Divide Your Apple Watch Workouts into Segments". MacRumors. 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  5. ^ "Workout types on Apple Watch". Apple Support. 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  6. ^ "Apple GymKit Makes Tracking Your Workouts That Much More Accurate". Best Health Magazine Canada. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Apple's GymKit: What it is, who supports it, and where you can find it". AppleInsider. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2020.