Logging workouts with your Apple Watch is a simple way to keep track of your fitness goals. You can set workout goals, measure the duration of your workout, and measure your exertion level by tracking your heart rate during a workout.
If you find yourself getting bored and losing motivation from your usual workout routine, you can find some inspiration from the options in the Apple Watch Workout app.
Its exhaustive list includes many popular exercises such as swimming, walking, running and strength training. But there are some lesser-known options as well, and everyday activities you may not have known are effective exercise, too. Here are the least expected workouts available to track on your Apple Watch.
1. Archery
Looking for a creative upper body strengthening workout? Consider taking up archery and logging it on your Apple Watch. Archery involves stringing a bow, drawing back the arrow, and keeping the bow steady while you aim and shoot at a target at a range. It requires a surprising amount of strength and concentration, which makes for a great workout. Find a local range and buy archery equipment online to give your shot a shot.
2. Fitness Gaming
Not into a traditional workout routine? Give fitness gaming a shot. Note that not all video games rise to the level of fitness gaming. This category is generally meant to track video games that include an exercise component, such as Wii Sports, Ring Fit Adventure, and other fitness games. However, VR games can involve more movement than traditional gaming and can serve as a quick form of exercise. If a video game gets you out of your seat and gets your blood flowing, start a fitness gaming workout on your Apple Watch to see how many calories you burn and track your heart rate.
3. Jump Rope
Looking for an at-home workout that won’t require heavy and expensive equipment? Try jumping rope, an exercise that’s often overlooked but is more difficult than you might think. Jumping rope is a great way to get your heart rate up and get in a cardio session whenever and wherever you have time. Jumping rope really isn’t just child’s play.
4. Social Dance
Can a nightclub double up as a gym? Start a Social Dance Workout on your Apple Watch to see how many calories you burn during a night of dancing with friends. You can track social dancing at a nightclub, music festival, party, wedding or other social gathering. Apple also has a Dance category in the Workout menu, which focuses specifically on dancing for fitness—cardio, Zumba, hip-hop, or Bollywood dancing all count for this category.
5. Tai Chi
Tai chi is a Chinese martial art made up of slow, meditative, whole-body movements. Apple Watch tracks Tai Chi workouts with an optimized heart rate and motion algorithm that was built just for Tai Chi and Pilates workouts and introduced in watchOS 8. While this won’t help you learn a martial art, it is a great way to track your activity. Exercise as you do on your own or attend local classes.
6. Play
If you have kids or pets, you’re probably burning calories and getting some exercise without even realizing it by playing with them. Next time you find yourself running around the yard with your kids or the dog, start a sports workout to see how much exercise you’re really getting. Time to hit the gym.
More ways to track your workouts
The workout and fitness apps on your Apple Watch and iPhone are great ways to record all of your workouts. From traditional workouts like walking and HIIT to more creative fitness activities like fitness gaming and archery, you can keep track of all your fitness metrics in one place.
However, you may need to go beyond the built-in apps for more detailed workout tracking. Thankfully, there are tons of apps in the App Store to help you track workouts with your Apple Watch.