Recently, I was invited to check out Aaptiv. It’s an audio-based fitness app that gives you the crazy motivating experience of a boutique fitness class right in your earbuds. Their classes take the voice of a trainer and perfectly synchronize it with an amazing playlist, so whether you’re working out at the gym, at home, or anywhere in the world, all you have to do is press play on a workout that transports you to a studio experience.
I’ve been using Aaptiv for a little over six months now and I’m crazy in love with their running workouts. They’ve been a great way for me to switch up my go-to outdoor runs as well as treadmill interval workouts without even having to think about it. I have a trainer right in my ear telling me exactly what pace and incline to run while motivating me through.
Let me share a little more about how Aaptiv works.
The first step is to create your account by signing up online or directly through the app which you can find in the app store. (Note, it’s currently only available for iPhone only but coming for Android in the next few weeks.)
You can choose from classes for treadmill, outdoor running, elliptical, indoor cycling, 5K training program, 10K training program, half and full marathon training programs, bodyweight workouts, guided meditations, HIIT, yoga and more!
Once you select your workout category, you are presented with a list of class/workout options. (Fun fact…over 100 workouts are added every month so you always have a new challenge and way to keep it fresh!) Your Aaptiv membership operates like Netflix, you can stream as many classes as you want, whenever you want.
I love, love, love the option to filter the workouts based on class level, duration, intensity, etc. There are workouts available for every skill level and to meet every schedule. Only have 6 minutes and need to decompress? Try the Pre-Meeting Breather yoga session. Need a 20-minute short but intense cycle ride? Try Pop n’ Lock with trainer Kelly Chase. Want to get in a longer outdoor run? Try Candice Cunningham’s 58-minute Chasing the Horizon 6 mile run.
I love warming up for my strength sessions with a short but intense treadmill session. I tried Kelly Chase’s 23-minute Run Wild Workout and did it ever leave me sweating with burning legs.
It was such an awesome progression of incline and speed that felt so great for my body. I had Kelly right in my ear telling me exactly how much time I had for each interval and when to switch the speed and incline. My treadmill running is forever changed for the better.
In addition to the audio prompts from Kelly, I had a rocking playlist to listen to. One of the first questions I asked the team at Aaptiv was about music…because I think music has so much motivational power when it comes to workouts. I was shocked to learn that you won’t find any stock music on Aaptiv. They invested in licensing rights so you can listen to the music you know and love…from Bieber to Beyonce and everything in between.
The yoga offerings are really great for me too. I know this sounds crazy because I’m a yoga teacher and do marketing for a yoga studio but it’s often challenging for me to fit a class into my schedule. My work schedule is either too crazy or after a day full of teaching and training, I just want to go home or workout on my own. Aaptiv offers a wide variety of yoga classes that range from restorative to flow and as little as 20 minutes to one hour. I can roll out my mat and get a quick, quiet practice in at home.
You’re totally sold right? Ready to join? There are three membership options:
- $9.99/month
- $24.99/ 3 months
- $49.99/ 12 months (note…this is a limited time offer and comes out to just over $4/month!)
Still on the fence? Definitely take advantage of their 7-day free trial! You can cancel your membership at any time (no questions asked), so there’s really no risk involved.
Have you tried Aaptiv? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the app in the comments below!
Hi. Are there yoga classes for all levels of yogis? Did you find the instructor’s queues to be informative?
Yes and yes, very much so.
Ohh wow I love the sound of this! I am starting to get a little rundown with the same old running workouts I’ve been doing. I also signed up for a 5 mile run in a month and would love to get ready for it! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Hi Jen! Skyfit sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing! Is there a certain link to get to the free 7-day trial? I think I just paid the $9.99 but I wanted to get the trial…oh no!!??!
Giana
Oh, sorry, never mind! I figured it out!
this sounds really cool. does it have visual cues at all ? like i could listen to my own music or have my headphones plugged into treadmill tv but still see cues on my phone ?
No visual cues but the audio prompts are super clear!
My schedule is getting crazy with work these days and I’m trying to get back into running too…can’t wait to check this out for the days I can’t make it into the studio. Thanks!
You’re so welcome! It’s been such a fun way for me to mix up my running!
Hey Jen! So I decided to do a year’s subscription to Skyfit after reading your post and I just finished my third run … and I LOVE IT!! I had been looking for a way to change things up a bit in my routine, and I need to start training for a half marathon. I am so grateful to you for letting us know about this new program! Take care, LeeAnn
I’m so excited to hear this LeeAnn! 🙂 I’ve been using it on my runs and it’s been such a fun way to switch it up. They are supposed to have a half marathon training plan coming out soon! 🙂
Hi- can you tell me more about the music here? How were they able to license it all? Thanks for the post have just downloaded it and love the spinning mixes!
The music is anything you would here on Spotify or Pandora…mainstream stuff. They went through the same licensing process that these companies do.
I downloaded the app and started the 7-day trial and so far I’m really liking their treadmill workouts (I haven’t tried the other ones). Before I was pulling up treadmill workouts on pinterest and then printing them out and putting together my own music. This app has made that process much easier! Thanks for letting us know about this!
You’re so welcome! I find myself using it a couple of times every week. Especially for treadmill runs!
I just started using it and love it!! Such a great way to mix it up, get motivated, and have great music at the same time. I have a suggestion that your contacts with Skyfit may appreciate. One frustrating experience with using the app was not knowing a certain strength excercise. One workout called for a “bear squat” and I’d never heard that before so I had to stop the workout, look it up, and go back to it because I didn’t want to skip it. Maybe having a pause function, and a glossary with visuals to refer to would be better for non-experts.
Hey there! I think they are actively working on creating video libraries of the movements. Hopefully that will come soon! Happy to hear that you are enjoying it!
Can you get an update on when it will be available for Android? I’ve been waiting a D waiting!
Let me ask!
Hi Hannah – Clara here with Skyfit. Our Android version is now available on Google Play!
Thank you, Jen, for suggesting Skyfit app! I never would have tried it if it were not for you! This app guides me through three and a half mile runs, something that I haven’t done in a long time! I love the variety in workouts, coaches, and playlists. Thank you!!
I downloaded the free trial today. I am 53 years old and just starting to consider transitioning from walking to running. There is nothing easy enough on this app and the music is for 20 somethings. How about reaching out to those of us who want to walk fast and to music we like from the 70’s and 80’s?
I love Aaptiv and have been using it for a year now. I’ve recently moved to the U.K. and am looking for something similar but using kilometers per hour instead of miles when running on the treadmill. Any ideas?
I wish I did but I don’t have any suggestions for you!