Some of the things on many people’s New Year’s resolutions list will have been to improve their health/fitness and their well-being in 2023. If you are finding the enthusiasm is starting to wane, we’ve put together a guide with some things that should help put you back on track physically, mentally and spiritually.
Fitness technology has advanced staggeringly in the last decade, and it’s aiding people of all ages to make the most of their health and fitness resources. My own retired parents have increased their daily step quota ever since purchasing step trackers. Meanwhile, personal trainers use various gadgets and apps to improve their client’s health as well as boost their own performance.
There is a plethora of gadgets on the market, and sometimes it can be hard to figure out which ones to invest in. But you don’t have to make things over complicated. The key is to pick easy ones for you to use, encouraging you to hit your fitness goals and making getting fitter more fun. Let’s look at a few accessories to help you stay focused in 2023.
Pivo Pod
There’s a reason why gyms have mirrors, and no, it’s not so gym enthusiasts can marvel at their bodies. Mirrors help members to observe their alignment, posture and form when exercising to prevent injury.
But you’re not always going to have a mirror hand, especially if you’re working out from home, in a hotel room or in the great outdoors. Using a device like the Pivo Pod will help you track your workouts or active hobbies so you can watch them back and make improvements.
The Pivo Pod (formerly known as Pivo Pod Active), in conjunction with the Pivo + app, turns a phone into a training partner and your personal camera crew. It’s perfect for capturing fast-paced content creation like dancing, stand-up paddle boarding, roller-skating, skateboarding and horse-riding.
The Pivo Active mount, powered by AI technology, which can rotate 360 degrees, automatically tracks your movements, following you at all times and zooming in and out to ensure you’re always in focus and in the frame.
Pivo Active has four different speed modes, and face, body and horse tracking make it easy to record a dance session, stream a workout routine, have a remote training session or video a horse-riding lesson when you’re on your own.
Pivo Pod also includes a video call feature that will allow a coach to train you (whether doing PT or a horse-riding lesson) from a remote location.
Pivo Active is compatible with iOS and Android. It comes with a remote control, and other accessories, such as a mount and tripod, are also available. Priced at £124.99, the Pivo Pod is available to buy from Pivo.ai and Amazon.
Twelve South HoverBar Tower
Many of us became accustomed to doing workouts from home via the internet during lockdown when gyms were forced shut. And while this has been a great way to keep fit, balancing our phones and tablets or adjusting the laptop screen hasn’t always been fun. I can vouch for the latter while doing live yoga sessions from Yoga Lounge Bournemouth.
Varying the angle between standing and seated postures can be distracting. But the HoverBar Tower by Twelve South addresses that problem. It elevates your iPad to the perfect level for your workout, so you can easily follow online classes or even do a remote PT session. It’s also a great device for those who enjoy working out outside the typical gym environment.
The HoverBar Tower is super easy to set up and use, and the flexible stand can be placed in almost any position. Set it low to the ground for a virtual yoga class or next to a rowing machine, or at eye level in front of a stationary bike for any online workouts. The weighted base makes it very sturdy and ideal to use alongside home exercise equipment.
It’s compatible with all iPad models, even with most cases attached. And if you’re in the market to brush up on your cooking skills, you can always take the device in the kitchen with you to follow healthy, hearty recipes. Priced at £129.99, the Twelve South HoverBar Tower is available from twelvesouth.com, Amazon and Apple.
Groov-e SportsBuds
Even the hardcore fitness enthusiasts among us (including myself) need an injection of motivation from time to time. And having music or an audiobook to get you there can be a game-changer on those challenging days. Ideal for fitness fans, the Groov-e SportsBuds keep users free from wires while working out.
The True Wireless Stereo (TWS) technology gives a fantastic audio experience at an affordable price. The crystal clear sound and powerful bass of the SportBuds will keep you motivated whether you’re trail running or enjoying a beach workout. Providing a secure and comfortable fit with an ear hook design and rated IPX4 sweat resistant, the SportsBuds have been built to endure the toughest of workouts.
Trust me, doing a series of burpees with earpieces that fall out is enough to give up on the exercise at hand. Priced at £39.99, the Groov-e SportsBuds are available from Tesco.
Rocketbook Panda Planner
Not all gadgets must be complicated to use, especially if you find technology difficult to get your head around. And that’s where this handy Rocketbook Panda Planner comes in. And as an old-school journalist, I just love this.
Rocketbook has partnered with Panda Planner to combine inspiration with innovation, and when I first discovered it, it took me right back to my childhood days. The Panda Planner features updated monthly, weekly and daily templates to organise your life as well as goals and motivation templates.
The innovative synthetic paper allows you to write smoothly with a Pilot FriXion pen and then magically wipe your planner clean with a damp cloth to use year after year. There’s something quite therapeutic about that. But don’t despair if you do want to save content without erasing it for good.
The Rocketbook app scans and connects your notes to the cloud to digitally save and share your notes. Priced at £38.99, Rocketbook Panda Planner can be purchased from getrocketbook.com.
Groov-e Light Curve sunrise/sunset simulation clock
Let’s face it the cold weather and dark mornings can be mood dampeners in themselves. The thought of frosty windscreens and icy cold roads can tempt even the brightest morning person to guiltily press the snooze button. But there is a way to feel energised for a morning workout and shift the mindset with this sunrise simulation alarm clock.
The light, which mimics natural daylight, will come on at the selected time, starting off gently and gradually getting brighter until it’s at the optimum level, offering a gentler wake-up that leaves you feeling fresher.
When it’s actually time to get out of bed, a chosen alarm sound or radio station will also be activated to help users wake fully. For bookworms who like to read or those who need the light on darker mornings to get ready, the Light Curve has ten levels of brightness using its LED lamp.
And for those who want to create more of an atmosphere, one of the seven coloured mood lighting options can be selected for a better night’s sleep.
Priced at £24.99, the Groov-e Light Curve sunrise/sunset simulation clock can be bought from Robert Dyas, Groov-e and Maplin.
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