5 Free Health and Wellness Apps That are Worth Trying
Post Date: Sep 09, 2020
Though regularly seeing health care professionals is an important part of maintaining overall health, there are many resources out there that can help you take your health goals into your own hands. Improving your health is a personal initiative, and sometimes the best way to stay on track is to keep yourself accountable through the object that’s always with you: your smartphone. Wellness apps can be a convenient reminder to spend some time each day thinking about your health and well-being. Here are five free apps that we think are worth exploring to see if they can benefit you.
Headspace
Headspace is a mindfulness and meditation app that’s continued to top the most-downloaded charts for several years now. If one of your personal health goals is to learn to manage stress and anxiety, improve your sleep or learn to meditate, then this app is worth downloading. Though many services within the app require a paid subscription, Headspace does offer some of its resources for free. Through Headspace, you can access select guided meditations, techniques to help you focus and relax, even a limited number of workout videos and soundtracks designed for different activities.
Nike Training Club
Created by the leading voice in sports apparel and culture, Nike Training Club (NTC) is an exceptional free health and fitness resource for those who want to pump up their workout routine. NTC has a growing library of at-home workouts to try, from yoga flows to HIT workouts. It also offers healthy recipes to fuel your workouts and nutrition tips to help you stay nourished and energized. If you’re hoping to try some new creative workouts without breaking the bank at a gym or studio, this app is a great place to start.
AllTrails
Though AllTrails doesn’t necessarily market itself as a health and wellness app, it has tons of potential to help you improve your physical and mental health by getting you moving outside. It houses a database of more than 100,000 trail maps internationally, from urban walking trails to backcountry ski trails. AllTrails uses your location to find trails near you and provides you with plenty of detail to help you decide which one is right for your excursion, including difficulty, usage, mileage, and more. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely walk, an alpine hike, or a mountain bike trail, AllTrails can introduce you to all the available options. Hitting the trails is a great way to get moving, take in the fresh air and mentally decompress.
Yoga for Beginners | Down Dog
Yoga for Beginners is an entirely free app offered by Down Dog, a company that also has a more advanced, paid app. This one is designed for people who are new to yoga or haven’t practiced in a while. It breaks down the basics with 9 different courses in Vinyasa, Hatha, and Restorative yoga. You can customize your course by selecting the language spoken and the voice of your favorite trainer. Studies show that yoga can improve flexibility and strength, promote relaxation, and decrease anxiety and stress, and this app provides an easy way to try it out in the privacy of your home.
Apple COVID-19
With COVID-19 still a looming threat, Apple’s COVID-19 screening app is handy for when you’re feeling under the weather and need help deciphering whether your systems could be related to the novel coronavirus. Co-created with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the app will ask you a series of questions about the symptoms you’re experiencing, any pre-existing conditions that may elevate your risk, recent travel, and exposure to others who may have the virus. Based on your answers, the app will recommend a response, such as getting tested, contacting your healthcare provider, or distancing yourself from others. For anyone experiencing symptoms, this is a great resource to help you decide on your next step.
For the health issues that a mobile app can’t fix, contact your local Community Health Partners clinic. Our clinics afford the community 100% access to care, regardless of their ability to pay and without judgment.
